Monday, July 6, 2015

Fellini Fun For Families and Friends

The Place
Fellini caffee restaurant is easy to find on a corner near the central crossing in Hatch End as you walk or drive downhill to the shops from the nearby the railway station. You can drop the disabled at the door and park at the back in a public car park for a small fee or if you feel lucky and prefer to save your pennies even if it means walking a few steps look to find a free spot in nearby roads.

The restaurant is large with outside seating suitable for sunning yourself in summer or smoking on a clear day when the awning roof can be retracted to let in the light or covered swiftly at the first spot of rain which is spotted by alert staff long before the diners have even noticed. You are protected from the gaze of passers by and traffic noise or fumes by half-glassed walls which lets in light while providing privacy. As you see from the photo, currently even for coffee and cake outside you get a white table cloth.

If you are just ordering coffee and cake you will probably be directed to the outside area as the tables inside are often reserved and laid for larger parties.  Frankly, a bit of outside noise from traffic or inside ambience provides privacy if you are having a tete a tete or gossip or even meeting a lawyer or talking business.
The apple tart came with a choice of cream or custard. As you can see in the picture the pistachio ice cream was amusingly decorated with a spiralling wafer.

It's a popular place for birthday parties - you see the balloons and hear the music turned on when a cake is brought in.

The set meal menu is in racks outside.The pricing can be quite confusing. The two course pr-dinner time set meal is available every day but you must not just order but leave the table free by their busy hour of 7.45. (Check the menu for the latest price and conditions.) You can also have some dishes as starter or main course at different sizes and prices, and some dishes such as lobster cost extra and are marked with as asterisk and marked on a list with a 'supplementary' meaning surcharge price.

Birthday party with balloon.

Fellini restaurant has been in Hatch End for years at three different locations with the same affable owner. If you have trouble making yourself understood, or understanding the menu or bill, just ask for the efficient and friendly manager or the owner who will soon sort you out.

What has changed over the years? They still have a children's ice cream selection, and ice cream by the scoop. They still have the charming murals inside. If you order dinner they still serve bread and butter and a mayonnaise dip with vegetables to dip in such as olives and carrot sticks.
We had apple tart for tea, and chicken in lemon with great saute potatoes for dinner. My friend ordered lobster and a side order of spinach.

Ten percent is automatically added to your bill which sorts that out. If you are on a budget you know where you are. If you want to leave more, up to you.
Tables have white cloths. Altogether a good place if you want to sit around for an hour or two talking and putting the world to rights.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, photographer, author, speaker.





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