Elsie Cafe in Haringey

Went out with my girlfriend, she enjoyed a nice mint cocktail. To be honest I come here quite a lot, it's got good food for cheap prices. Extremely enjoyable. If you're here for a little while you should really go visit them.

I order quite a bit as I work from home, they miss a item every time I order, (which I have not been compensated for despite it amounting to over £15) they no longer pick up the phone so I can prompt them to add in the correct items. Just poor has really gone down hill, use to be a quality cafe to order/eat at.

Since changing hands I have visited once and will not return. I'm sorry, you've got to try harder! I cannot see how this will survive, there is so much good quality, competition locally, this doesn't even qualify as a passable greasy spoon. I noticed another post which referred to the same dish we ordered. Poached eggs, avocado on toast, mushrooms. Full marks for consitency, our dishes were exactly the same! Overcooked mushrooms, half a tomato, toasted 'Kingsmill' type white bread (who serves this locally?), sliced avocados that were a little on the hard side. As for the coffee, our Americano was so weak I couldn't finish it. The previous management ran a good little eatery but now, no wonder it's deserted.

Nothing bad about the place or the people who work there. It's all good but the food is very average and we felt we were misleading by the TripAdvisor note. A place with this food shouldn't be above 3 honestly.

This was somewhere we used to go out of our way to visit for Sunday brunch. Today was the first time we'd been since lockdown and we were so disappointed to find it has been taken over by someone new and has changed in everything but name. The fenced off area in front has disappeared and tables and chairs now go down almost to the bus stop with no barrier between. Inside the furniture and layout more resemble a greasy spoon than a smart cafe. And speaking of spoons, they've been replaced with wooden stirrers. The attractive selection of cakes on the counter had gone to be replaced with a selection of nasty looking pies and pasties being kept warm in a glass fronted case. Some of the original dishes have remained on the menu, but what I ordered wasn't a patch on what it used to be. Avocado and poached eggs on toast was on a piece of sliced white that hadn't even been toasted properly and was like eating glue. The accompanying mushrooms had been cooked to the point of desiccation and the vine tomatoes looked like half a salad tomato. The best I can say is that the poached eggs were cooked properly and well. Sadly not worth the money and we won't be returning. It looks like others have voted with their feet too as it always used to be busy - not the case today, that's for sure.

Great service, very relaxed atmosphere and spacious whether sitting inside or out. Friendly staff. Delicious home baked cakes. Nice coffee. Reasonably priced. Void of theatre.

Really enjoyed my day at Elsie's with friends We had a lovely time in the beer garden which is tucked away at the rear Freindly welcoming staff Will visit again real soon

Visited one of my favourite breakfast/brunch places on 9 May after lockdown restrictions lifted knowing it's been taken over by new owner/operator. Extremely disappointed. No more sourdough bread, but the cheapest sliced white processed bread. Asked for butter for my toast with poached eggs. The dish came with two small eggs on unbuttered toast, making the bread soggy. On trying to spread the butter it proved too cold, if not frozen, and couldn't be spread, by which time the eggs were cold. My friend askedfor bacon with her poached eggs and was served one rather pathetic, and overcooked rasher. Both her capuccino and my latte were weak and tasteless. Sad that what was once a favourite, amongst a fair number of competitive restaurants in the area, has become so disappointing as I am doing my best to support local independent businesses. Unless things improve hugely at Elsie's I won't be going back. ☹☹

I simply enjoyed my experience at Elsie Cafe. Lovely and friendly staff, delicious food. their space outdoor in the sun is what you need right now. Highly recommended.

Lovely cafe Very clean great decor Food was good Only issue was that the lady serving had her mask on badly when walking around serving people It was missing her nose completely - even when we asked nicely she didn’t fix it She didn’t stay 2 meters when serving to compensate for the non mask It would have been 5 stars if she had

We were lucky enough to have a table in the sunshine today. We enjoyed a delicious brunch with good coffee. The service was a little slow, understandably because the place was really full inside with young families. Nice place, good vibe.

Run by great staff, freshly cooked food including lovely veggie food. Spacious, colourful, friendly.

We took our dog to Elsie cafe for lunch which is dog friendly. The cafe was really pleasant. A little bit over priced for a very greasy omelette and over cooked fries! The eggs benedict was ok. Not really well presented due to only one young lad working in the kitchen. Would go back purely for being dog friendly.

A cafe with a relaxing atmosphere and truly independent feel. Brunch is excellent with a good range of meaty and veggie options and coffee is great too (and locally roasted, I think). Service is friendly and efficient. We went a bit after 10 on a Sunday and got a table for 2 easily.

This was my first visit and I will return. Lovely cafe with free bottles of tap water and glasses. The coffee was lovely. I ate a brioche with Halloumi and chips - naughty but very very nice! Stayed for a few hours chatting and felt welcomed. Great staff, good music, pleasant paintings.

Had brunch with my husband. Food was fresh and a good choice. Good variety for vegetarians too. Had a very friendly atmosphere with families with young children there as well as couples. Ambience was calm and no one rushed you to leave your table once finished. Reasonably priced. Would recommend you to go there.

Quaint little cafe serving good coffee and great breakfasts. Anything from a light bite to a hearty substantial full english. Great for sitting in the sunshine and watching the world go by. Very friendly staff and dog loving too.

A lovely, convenient cafe with great brunch and breakfasts menu. Fresh produce, cooked well with friendly attentive staff. Good selection of cakes, coffees, teas, smoothies and shakes.

Visited for the first time and it certainly won't be the last. There was a lovely buzz in here so I was glad to get a table! The coffees are absolutely delicious (just what I needed at the time) and the Halloumi salad was SO...

Settled in the leafy area of Crouch End Elsie's Cafe is a real gem. Nice and cosy and welcoming. You can bring your dog, your babies, your mum, your teenagers and your granny and always get a warm welcome and delicious food. Just want a...

The decor gave me a head ache and the whole establishment stank of desperation. The staff all seemed self important and the food was below average. I had beetroot soup which lacked depth and flavor, the coffee was awful, good job I didn't get a...

Visited here with friends for afternoon tea. It looks great and they have done a lot to make the place welcoming and interesting. The service is attentive. Unfortunately I was put off the cafe when I used the toilet which was smelly and less than...

I love living in Hornsey, honestly it is one of the last enclaves in London that the high street is not overtaken by vanilla chain restaurants. Having a good local cafe like Elsie's is a godsend. We've been here for brunch a few times and...

Delicious sausages, very friendly staff, nice toast, comfy seats. I like it there and my brother also had a nice time!

This location has had a number of restaurants over the years but this one looks like it will work. Had lunch there several times since the New Year and impressed by the whole experience. Menu extensive and varied (and veggie friendly). Service attentive and friendly....

There was nothing fundamentally wrong with Elsie's. It was neither good not bad, fast not slow. The environment was nice though!

Lovely atmosphere very clean shabby chic staff quite friendly we ordered tea and cake which was very nice. The only criticism is it was quite pricey.

Our local cafe and we love it! The food is always good and staff are friendly. Always take friends and family here when they visit.

My first visit introduced by my sister in law who lives locally. Quite a few unusual items on the menu as well as old favourites. I had delicious substantial pumpkin and chestnut soup with toasted sourdough bread for brunch, and we shared two cakes as...

I was quite impressed with this place when it first opened despite some misgivings expressed by a friend but definitely underwhelmed the last time. The coffee is served in tiny cups so you really need two to feel you've had a coffee, immediately creating a...

Stylish interior with very tasty food. A little expensive for what it is and perhaps pricier than the other crouch end cafe's but nice all the same. Thumbs up.

From the moment we walked in I new it was going to be good! Having just moved here I got the impression it was a local favorite where people had been coming for years and years. After talking with "Claire" the owner I found that's...

I love this cafe. It has a fabulously relaxed vibe with chill music and fun art on its walls. The staff are so friendly and the food is delicious. Avocado and poached eggs on sourdough is my favourite with a flat white. I am in...

This popular brunch house has made a transition to the evenings. Rather complacent attitude has resulted in an identity confusion! Is it a bar or is it a restaurant? Charging extortionate service implies restaurant but food selection more in keeping with a bar! It really...

Heard lots of good things about Elsie, so gave it a try today. Lovely, kooky place, with great service and great breakfast/brunch. I had avocado, poached eggs, tomatoes on toast, and some cheeky of bacon and sausage on the side. It was all delicious. The...

We were just walking by on our way to Crouch End and thought ooh let's try here. Thank goodness we did - what a gem! We were immediately welcomed by the lovely owner Claire. I had a tasty Americano (obviously good quality coffee beans) while...

Everything was great, friendly staff, good and reasonably priced food and great location. Will definitely go back again

Great cafe looking out onto busy street, near Alexandra Palace. Really friendly staff and good range of menu options, both breakfast, lunch and..... cake!! Nice little touches of water bottles and glasses, great interior and sun trap patio outside. Somewhere a long way away from...

We've been to Elsie's twice now, and on both occasions we've had young ones with us, which is a challenge. The staff are very friendly, and the food has generally been very good, with some minor points: the sausages (both children's as well as the...

Tried this for the first time today, safe to say I was very impressed. The veggie breakfast was lovely and came quickly. The general vibe and atmosphere was great too.

Had a meal there with couple of friends. Time we were there I'd expect the service to be ok as it was quiet at the time. Food not great, just ok. Sausage was cheap, portions quite small but the bill wasn't. Also I found the...

Went here for lunch today--very reasonably priced & the ice cream shakes were delicious but beware they are very filling.Service was a little slow & we had to wait quite a while for our drinks but the electricity had tripped out

This is a lovely little cafe. They have a large outdoor terrace which is perfect for brunching in the sun! Great food, fantastic service. My only reservation is that they place a 10% service charge on the bill. Although this is discretionary and the service...

A really welcome addition to the area , friendly staff, good quality food like chilli, and soups and cheese on toast . Not open on Mondays or generally in the evening but a really good place to pop in for a snack or a quick...

It's great to have Elsie's so close to home - we've had lovely brunches there since it opened. Brilliant to see it become part of the local community and excited and the evening events they have planned. Definitely worth a visit

Recently opened, this gem of a cafe is really proving to be a hit with its local clientele. Wide variety of teas and coffees - most I'd never heard of! Lovely fresh food and great ambience. I had a great full Elsie breakfast - there's...

Very pleasant place to have breakfast or lunch. Food was delicious, service was very friendly. Had a lovely selection of cakes, and deli delights. Great place to sit and watch the world go by. Will return soon.