Albion

A formerly amazing place on the decline. When I first visited the restaurant months ago, it was nothing short of a five-star experience. The staff was lovely and attentive; the food was great and coffee was to-die-for. However it has lost its former glory. The pain au chocolate now rather than being artisanal, seems better suited to come from a pack of six. The killing blow was when I ordered a fried chicken burger and was greeted by THIS (refer to attached photo): a sad burnt chicken thigh in a lazily assembled ‘salad’ and buns which would make Buddha cry. The soup was great tho.

Best brunch of the week! The staff was kind enough to let us change our mind a couple of times ^^ Service was quiet fast and the meals were well done well prepared ! Love it. The shop could be improved with more organic products, and typical local products. I Love the whole experience!

Lovely atmosphere. Went with group of 8 at around midday and wait for table wasn't too long. Great coffee. However food was disappointing. About 40min wait. Veggie breakfast portion size was small and everyone's food was bland. Also around £10 per meal. The pastries looked good, should have gone for one of those!

Really stays a nice place, especially to start the day. Breakfast / brunch is always a good idea. The only remark ... change the coffee and croissants, the rest of the food is perfect. These 2 need upgrading.

MOULD IN FOOD! I've had two dining experiences here and they were both disappointing. The menu, the dining area and the fresh produce displayed around the restaurant looks great, but it's not representative of the food. Usually, I wouldn't bother with a negative review, until I was served mouldy food last night. It was bad enough that the steak sandwich was dry and tasteless, the roast chicken tasted like it had been reheated and the cod was clearly defrosted .. but I looked down to see my baked cauliflower was covered in green mould! This really proves my suspicion that the produce used to cook the meals is not fresh! To be clear, the manager handled the situation well, apologising for the mould and did not expect us to pay.. but this is really unacceptable. If this review has saved even ONE person from a disgusting meal then at least I've done my part. DON'T EAT HERE IF YOU DONT ENJOY MOULD

Super busy on weekends, this Shoreditch staple serves mostly traditional English fare with a wee twist here and there. Best for brunch, though it's probably not the best place to linger after your plates have been swiftly cleared.

I had a nice plate of plant-based food, a so-so tomato soup, and a forgettable gin-based cocktail. Nevertheless, it’s still a nice place for lunch. Service is friendly.

Good place to buy your sourdough and some groceries but not the greatest for brunch. The staff is very friendly but the food was just average and slightly overpriced for what you get.

Very friendly and accommodating restaurant across the road from the ever popular somewhat 'arrogant' establishment. Breakfast is superb, I would recommend the Albion Benedict muffin. Our waitress Simiorina was both attentive and efficient. All the staff are friendly and you can tell that the restaurant operates smoothly like a well oiled machine.  Prices are very reasonable (around £15 pp inc VAT and service), food quality is superb, service excellent. Not a lot more to add really, a no brainer, can't wait to go back.

Not very pleased with my experience. It is a cool place in a hipster way but the service is terrible and it ends up being quite expensive. Bread looks amazing but it actually tastes pretty stale The croissants were not flaky or buttery The vegetable selection was quite Poor. Pieces of cold brócoli with cauliflower not very sexy The best thing I tried was the dude of portobello the opposite was the leaf and herb side salad. 3 leaves for €4.50 ? No thanks. They didn't have the yogurt dressing advertised in the menu. The hostess was rude One of the waitress made a mistake and was pretty sassy about it. Only the girl who brought me my very good coffee was actually nice and polite. The salmon on the salmon salad was burnt. Oh well. Not coming back

Take away is a 5 star rating with quick friendly service. Even with a new cashier helping us. She was so helpful and happy. Dine in service was at a very slow pace.

Admittedly it's been a couple years since I've made it to weekend brunch here. Remember it being a great place with excellent food and lovely service. Bought a visitor to London here to show it off but sadly the service was way off -- we did the standard wait to be seated thing, were at the front of the queue, saw some empty seats, lots of staff. Nobody even greeted or acknowledged us for about 5-10mins even though we were right by the til and staff thoroughfare and they all walked straight past with no smiles or even a 'someone will be with you shortly'. We had to ask if the system had changed and we can just go sit on the empty seats to get served... to which the staff member said a waitress will come get us... tick tock. Embarrassing as had just talked the place up. Got sat. Took a while to place order. Luckily the food here was still good so can't fault the kitchen!! Coffee was terrible though. Took forever to get someone's attention for the bill, which was odd as there was a queue so you'd think they would try and clear our dirty plates and give us the bill. What's happened Albion?! New management or something?? Def won't be coming back in a hurry. Such a shame about the service.

Ditch the wait in Shoreditch! It is almost impossible to find a brunch spot in Shoreditch without waiting for at least an hour. Located across from Dishoom, Albion is without a doubt a fallback option for those who think it is unreasonable to wait an hour for brunch (I can never understand how people can wait so long for brunch). They serve amazing fresh breads and classic brunch dishes. Super cute cafe decor and delicious food makes Albion an awesome place to catch up with friends.

Albion has a nice atmosphere. Everything is white with a farmhouse feel and very open and airy with a small outdoor patio. They also have an adorable little grocery for take away foods inside the restaurant. Food is great! Traditional British menu with a slightly upscale feel. Delicious fish and chips and mixed sharing board! Get a beer or cider and you are set for the day. Only complaint was the very slow service. Although we were seated fairly quickly, everything after that seemed to take a long time. Our waitress was very sweet but I felt like we had to flag her down or signal to her everytime time we needed something, including just getting our order taken. Luckily we were not in a hurry and chalked it up to a service style that we were just not used to. Would still go back!

Delicious and I wish I could go back. I would buy a ton more treats and chocolates as well as try the cafe. The grocery/bakery portion of the restaurant is only as big as a kitchen but every product is top notch. We stopped by between the awkward late lunch/early dinner hour. Luckily for us, the bakery was still stocked full. I decided to buy some dessert for later- a giant cookie (the size of a plate) and Queen Victoria Sponge Cake. I was craving scones and the cake was the closest thing to it complete with jam and cream. I grabbed a bunch of Prestat chocolate bars as well. My cousins bought dinner groceries. Fancy pork chops it was for them. Btw, the meat and poultry here is all organic. If you are into food, this is a great shop to browse as they have a lot of specialty and local items. The only thing that shies it away from a 5 star experience are the tiny flies that buzz around the baked goods not covered by glass.

Nice breakfast/brunch place for a brunch in Shoreditch area, having decent coffee. Quite pricey though for what you are getting for. Small grocery selection of fresh vegetables as you enter.

I've been coming here for four or five years, though it has been a while since my last visit, and the food is really great - well presented and has found a good balance between modern and nostalgic, set in a lovely space but the service is never great but is, at least, consistent in this regard. Had a lovely juice, coffee, fruit salad and sausage sandwich but the service is inattentive though polite.

I've now been here 3x. It's a solid 3.5-4 stars, but based on the sandwich value I'm going to round up... Sandwiches: Basically for the price of 1 sandwich (6.95) you get 2 sandwiches. Literally, 4 slices of bread and each an individual large sandwich. I thought it might be a mistake the first time (salmon/cream cheese) but I got the tomato and cheddar last night in the same formation. It's quite a deal, especially if you are hungry. The service is always a bit lethargic. The menu lacks descriptions -- none of the menu items has any indication of what it might be, might come with, or any details. I guess do your best? This seems like it might be an easy fix, especially when some of the items are quite foreign, even to my British dining companion. Pssst, Kedegree is a beautiful thing, just for the record. It's caught somewhere between "nice restaurant" and "cafe style." It's got a relaxed vibe and there are always mountains of pastries and cookies and pies flowing out from the large kitchen. It's almost as if its a large commercial bakery with a restaurant sat in front of it. A row of outside tables for when the sun may be shining, and a sweet little market with plenty of great "quick" takeaways, ingredients, vegetables, fruits and other delicacies. It won't come cheap, but really -- what does? They have Fentiman's Lemonade, so my life was happy. All in all, I suggest it more for a breakfast or lunch and elsewhere for dinner (the menu doesn't really change regardless) -- but a solid spot with some promise shown. If they spiffed the menu a bit and put some pep in their step, this place could be shiny.

British food gets a bad rap. However, I'm sure if the naysayers were treated to lunch at Albion they'd change their doubting minds. Especially if they feasted on the beef dripping chips, cauliflower cheese and kedgeree at this charming Shoreditch caff.

Very nice breakfast place, they did charge me double for the coffees though, so make sure you check the bill before you pay. Service was great, latte discombobulated, but sweet. Dinner was ok, service was not so great and it was dark.

In a Nutshell: A trendy resto in a very trendy area that surprisingly delivers on food quality (and top-notch people watching). There's the Boundary Hotel and its posh Rooftop Bar above...and Shoreditch House across the street. I was a tad nervous that I'd get stuck in some overly pretentious East End douchery at the Albion, but the ambience (though still very much hip) struck the right balance. My fellow photographer friend and I were lucky to snag al fresco lunchtime seats (it gets busy around here) and the proximity to all the street activity and passerby fashions on Boundary/Redchurch street was worth the price in itself. On to the food: The menu is very British, and dishes were listed with minimal description. That made me a tad nervous. My recommendation is to ask your waiter what they'd recommend, for the "Rabbit in Mustard Cream" wouldn't have been my first choice...but dammit it was good. The actual presentation of the meal was tremendously more attractive than the terse text on the menu. It would be the best rabbit dish I've ever tasted (others have been too gamey for my preference), and the mustard cream was well-balanced, appeasing my fears of a tangy onslaught all over the meat. For dessert we split a rhubarb crumble, which came with a lovely warmed custard to help neuter the sweet punch of the rhubarb flavor. Add to the mix good tea, affordable wine and unfussy service, and you have one of my more delightful restaurant experiences in London of the summer. The Albion may just have converted this reluctant American into liking British fare. Golden Tip: Come early, and if you can get a seat outside (especially when the weather is excellent) DO SO.

Places like these make it difficult to keep your new year's resolve of losing weight. Albion had the most amazing collection of baked goods that you'll find hard to resist. And the fact that it is just a short walk away from my place of work means that I'm making my way here every morning for an early croissant. Best things on the menu: * the almond croissant, which I maintain is the best in London * the coronation chicken sandwich, filling, yummy, and the bread's delicious * macaroons * the giant cookie

My belly hurts, my head is spinning and I feel a little sick yet still I loved every moment of this. No I'm not drunk, well maybe I am, drunk on foooooood! I can't even remember the name of the dish but it was their signature one with fish and rice and curry and goodness all rolled into one sweet sweet bowl of loveliness. This place is ideal for both lunchtime scoffing and evening dining, a professional feel that isn't intimidating and is welcoming. Yes we had to wait a while for the food but the service was quick and the food scrumptious. They even has home made Bourbon biscuits - I KID YOU NOT! As you walk in you are greeted by an array for freshly baked goods including bread and cakes...if you don't eat as much as I just did you may be able to nibble on on the way home.

It is a very cozy restaurant, simple and do what its good at. I had their British Charcuterie, Skirt and Chips, and Break & Butter Pudding. I am very impress with the British Charcuterie. It comes with a bit of pickles and curry sole slaw thingy. They are super tasty! Their Skirt and Chips is ok, I would order something else. Their Break & Button Pudding is fantabulous. It comes with a cream buttery sauce for you to add on and this might be possibly one of the best desserts I had in London. There are other interesting dishes like Leek potato and Stinking Bishop pie, Fish pie, poached pears and more. They serve breakfast also! I will definitely hit this up again. The End.

Albion. Oh well, I like it. I am almost disappointed as I write this. The first time I went there was the opening weekend and the love in had already started. Reviewers sung 'Conran is back' 'Conran never left' 'Conran is god'. Which was interesting as the food was dire. Cooking was done by heat lamp, not by stove. Every dish brought out was wrong (as in brown bread not white, hard boiled eggs not soft, completely wrong dish, bacon when it should have been a sausage, the wrong drink). Then the bill was wrong. It was a debacle. The counter culture experience was enjoyable because I got to say, "everyone is wrong, this is terrible". However, the good reviews have kept coming. Yelpers love it. So I buckled. We went on a nice sunny Saturday afternoon and got a prime table outside and got ready for it. And it was good, not amazing, but good. The kedgeree and vegetarian fry up were better than fine; M&S-esque (but nothing more). One thing I don't quite get is how stingy they are with the bread? The bread and butter pudding I then had was great. The staff were friendly and brought marmite or butter or anything we requested as quickly as they could. The sun was shining. There were beautiful people all around us. It was good. We topped it off with a look at the grill on the roof. As soon as it is sunny I shall see if I can get a long term lease there. It looks amazing.

Good for breakfast and lunch, using local English materials. Friendly staff are nice and very comfortable to stay in the restaurant.

One of the best places in Shoreditch to go if you're looking for a delicious little Sunday brunch. Make sure to get there early though because they stop serving breakfast around noon and the queue is quite long (but very well worth it). We ordered a latte, cappuccino, muesli with yogurt and berry compote and cheesy focaccia with onions. Absolutely delicious. It hits the spot if you're looking for a divine way to start off your day. The atmosphere is wonderful as well. We sat at a wooden communal table and were surrounded by lots of lovely people who were all catching up and looking for a delicious brunch just as we were. On our way out, we couldn't help but grab a loaf of bread to-go. I highly recommend doing so! Nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked bread. I highly recommend popping by!

Great fresh and warm pastries served daily alongside fresh fruit and vegetables! My favourite local shop.

Super cool rooftop venue that we used for a large work group. The food was yummy, although not enough in quantity but that was probably our own fault in ordering. It was rainy and cold but the space heaters and inside section kept us protected. I can imagine when the sun is out the rooftop area is even better!

This is definitely one of my favourite places to lunch in Shoreditch, or to buy your fresh groceries from for a home made lunch. The outdoor seating is super charming and indoor is even more beautiful with fresh products stacked up against the walls and a fridge area with fresh cakes and breads. Very cantina atmosphere. Agreed the waiting time for a table is a little long but in fairness you can use that time wander around and look at all the fresh products they're selling. The food and atmosphere is still super worth it. Healthy simple fresh food and they make a mean scallop and there's a dish I used to love with cottage and cheese. Definitely commend! You couldn't find a better location.

The food here is pretty good. The BIG problem is service. The moment we walked in no one gave us menus or even to seat ourself. I had to flag down a server to get menus, to ask for water, to ask her to take our order, and then it took 20 minutes to get a latte. On the way over the latte was spilled over my lap. On top of this the food continued to take a long time to arrive and no apologies were ever offered. Update: just heard two servers are out sick so that explains the service. But also saw a cockroach walking across the banquette so still not happy.

Service: EXCELLENT (yes, even in the UK, service can be stellar)! Food: EXCELLENT Atmosphere: Lively, but peaceful between meal times... perfect place for mid-morning or mid-afternoon tea, coffee and pastries. They were busy, and they didn't pressure me to order or to leave once I was done...so I took my time with my tea and read. I really liked my waitress (the one that looks like Scarlett Johansson) because she was patient and super helpful with choosing one of my last meals on my latest trip to London. I ordered a new menu option which was a stewed beef... amazingly tender and flavorful without being to salty. This place definitely proves that English food and customer service can be excellent. I also bought some scones on my way out - which were delicious.

Northern? Missing Yorkshire tea? Or do you just love the breakfast comfort food? Answered yes to any of these question? Then get yourself down to Albion. You'd be mistaken to think this East London gem is just for locals, or would do terribly fancy breakfast foods you've never heard of before. What Albion do best are the classics. Their sausage baps are on point, with the much loved additions like a drippy fried egg, bacon, the works. Being a Yorkshire lass, I was skeptical as I looked over the menu. Sausage bap, you say? I'm going to judge you heavily on how well you do this. Gotta say, in addition to the friendly staff, delicious coffee and reasonably priced options; they really smashed it out the park with my favorite breakfast treat. Not a chewy bit to be found, the sausages were perfectly cooked and well seasoned - really need to find out where they source them from and stock up my fridge at home. Nothern or not, if you're missing classic, amazingly done and decent sized portions you should really add this place to your list of regular breakfast spots. You'll find them tucked behind Shoreditch House, just opposite the overground and next to A.P.C - perfect for some post-food shopping. Albion, I love you.

Amazing food, came for breakfast after visiting the flower market on Columbia road. Be prepared to queue. I wouldn't recommend large groups. Had duck eggs on toast ...lovely. Only negative.... The knives weren't very sharp to cut food. Only a slight negative.

Awful service. We walked in on a Sunday at about 3:45pm, between lunch and dinner so not very busy but seemed to be fully staffed. The girl who sat us nearly rolled her eyes in annoyance, as if she couldn't care less if we ate there or not. We were given menus promptly by a different waiter, but were then left on our own for 25 minutes, despite being next to the till and in full view of the entire staff clearly looking to order. We even asked two separate waiters if we could please order, only to be told "someone will be with you shortly". After another 10 minutes when no one did, we left. Will never return.

We went there for a late breakfast during a weekday and found seats in the sun, which was lovely since it was quite chilly out already. The staff was very friendly and we had a laugh about changing tables several times to achieve the optimal sun exposure. We ordered an omelette, two flat whites and a coronation chicken sandwich with chips. As it was coming on to lunch time, there were already some business luncheons going on and we could observe the creative crowd munching on salads or fish & chips - the latter looked amazing, a huge portion that I would not have been able to manage. I was not able to manage my food either, by the way, as the coronation chicken sandwich turned out to be two sandwiches, made out of lovely white bread, with the coronation chicken itself being very tasty. What I loved most however about the meal were the chips - chunky, with the skin still on, and - I believe - cooked in the oven. You might guess that the chips had something to do with me not finishing off the sandwich - yup, I guess you're right! But: have a look at the other sandwich half I took home with me - this is definitely not for beginners! To round off the meal I had a glass of rosé wine which was lovely. I have not seen much of the interior, although passing through on my way to the bathroom I did observe the place and found it to be very nicely done, with white being the dominating colour, and lots of food on display, as the Albion serves as a bakery, too. I could have purchased bread, danish and lots of cake on the spot, it all looked so delicious. Surely one of the most popular spots in Shoreditch, and rightly so.

I stumbled upon this place after a Sunday evening movie at the Electric Cinema on Redchurch Street. We wanted to grab a bite afterward, and unfortunately as it was a Sunday, there weren't too many options available. I have heard great things about the brunch here, but had never considered it for dinner. After a brief look at the menu, we agreed to dine here simply because we were starving. We got the cheese straws to start and I ordered the half pint of prawns, while my friend got the roast venison. He asked the waitress if that was enough food, and she said the venison didn't come with much, so he ordered chips as well, but when the food came it was definitely too much with the chips. The venison was beautifully pink and came with a large pile of roasted root vegetables. The cheese straws were delicious and had a great herb mix in them, and also came served in a little mountain of at least 15. My prawns were pretty disappointing, as they were quite small, and the restaurant didn't have cocktail sauce available so I passed on the mayo and settled on dipping it in lemon juice. i definitely wouldn't recommend them. I had the same dish at The Well in Clerkenwell and I found that far superior. I didn't particularly enjoy my experience here, but from what I'm told, brunch is the star of the show (and attracts long queues), so that could be a reason for a return trip.

Being a mere "fan" of the Albion may not exactly capture my groupie status as I wait patiently (patience is a relative term...) for the buns to come out of the oven ... ...wait for it ... wait for it ... wait for it .... GO GO GO! MOVE! NOW! BUNS ON THE MOVE!! And subsequently shove one in my face, two in my purse, and five in a box for my flatmates. There must be some British crack involved in these buns (as is often the case...) because I just can't get enough! Freddie J recommended this warehouse turned British-culinary church of delicious and we sat for a light lunch in the cafe area. The highlight of our time together was a most adorable tea cozy that was literally a knitted tea-pot shaped jumper. Although my sandwich was attacked by mayo, which I despise, it was still gone in 60 seconds due to the speciality cheese involved. Perfect for a light lunch with a friend or a 1-man work party, (free wireless = gold) The Albion is definitely something you will be hearing much more of, be it by press, foodies, or friends with their mouths full of buns.

I practically had a nasal orgasm when I walked in to Albion. The intoxicating smell of fresh bread definitely made my nostrils tingle and my mouth drool. And the bread did not disappoint as a little bread bin of warm soft flavorful bread arrived at our table upon request. I love the space--simple, elegant yet casual, and just a place I want to sit and be because the white interior and big windows make me happy. The menu is varied--British specialties a la carte, sandwiches, assorted veg. I went with a pricey but delicious crab omelette, and the price tag was worth it because the crab was so fresh and delicious and there was a lot of it. I don't know what they put in the eggs (maybe cream, maybe crack?) but they were insanely delicious. We ordered a side of cheese cauliflower and it did not disappoint. Service was slighly off--I think it is because we were at the end of the long alley, so it doesn't really work for the waiters to flow down there to be able to check in. The only problem is that I wanted to eat so much there--next time I will be taking a to-go bag home with a sticky bun and a cupcake.

Nice spot to grab a great meal. They have really interestingly setup tables for one (which was me!) So that was cool and less awkward I guess. Had the kedgeree, mushy peas and their sauvignon blanc wine. All 3 were excellent and the server explained the kedgeree to me also. Overall a nice place for a meal in a mellow environment.

How Fast Can Excellence Slide? VERY, in the case of Albion! I first had a magically memorable meal at Albion in Shoreditch in 2015. Everything was 5-star fabulous -- from service, to decor, to -- above all-- food. The rognons (kidneys) were perfection incarnate, slightly smoky and perfectly cooked. My dining partners loved the fish and chips; and the giant chocolate chip cookie at the end was breathtaking. Cut to 2018-- Easter Sunday. This time, we trekked to Albion on our last day in London, and really wish we hadn't. The restaurant was quiet (it was around 6pm). The staff was inept ("It's my first day," said our waitress). The problem wasn't that she didn't know the menu to answer basic questions ("how is the calf-liver cooked?"); SHE DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH!!!! I had to write out our order (yes, MOI, the diner). The food was stale, abysmal, and seemed warmed over-- even the once fabled chips (fries). And the chocolate chip cookie was still giant-- just stale, hard, and better as a ping-pong bat. We were terribly disappointed and wish we'd headed instead to Dishoom across the street --it's another old fave that just keeps getting better). So, Albion: get over your laurels. This meal was really worse than anything served at a backwaters airport at 2am. Get your staff an English lesson; teach them your menu (it's only 6 items for dinner, if I recall!); source those fresh ingredients; and for heaven's sake, redeem your pride if your clients are ever to return. This one will surely not! This was a truly abysmal meal on every front. NOTHING redeemed it, alas.

Ah Albion, gentrification incarnate. Not content with singularly homogenising the aesthetic of Britain's interiors with that bastion of modern design, Habitat, Sir Terence Conran has only gone and opened a restaurant slash hotel slash cafe on the site of Victorian London's most notorious slum and in the process likely pushed my rent up by a good 30%. Sure, I thought, it'll be grand being able to get a good coffee not twenty yards from home. That is if I can still afford a humble brew twelve months from now when those who formerly patronised Conran's bastion of pedestrian Sloaniness, The Bluebird Cafe, have treated The Boundary's opening as some kind of gateway drug to residing in formerly run down and out Shoreditch. Gripes aside, Albion does look very pretty. Lending Boundary Street a chic air and some much needed outdoor seating. Gripes back on the agenda: the service is not great. OK, I've only been to Albion for coffee, juice, etc and I understand my experience might have been elevated from the mediocre had I tried some food but Albion really is let down by its disinterested if sweet service staff. Oh, and the uniforms, as if it were actually possible, render the service staff even more invisible. Greige jackets a la H&M circa 2002? I think not. We are in Shoreditch after all Sir, time to brush up those design, and more importantly, service credentials...

Macbooks. A sea of Macbooks. Come here on a weekday evening and find an army of 20-somethings, faces aglow from behind their individual Macbooks, surfing the interwebs on the Albion's free wifi. Other than that: The food was mediocre. And overpriced. The service was abominable. Aloof, inefficient and unconcerned. The clientele was way too cool for me. (And I'm pretty cool. Ahem.) The Meantime Pale Ale I ordered was delicious. Once I sent back the Porter the server brought me mistakenly. But the fresh, free homemade bread was divine. And accompanied by the soft butter on the table - Perfection.

How have I not reviewed the Albion?! I've been here like 18 times. The Albion is a funny one, it's like that ex you keep going back to because you're too lazy to find someone new. Whenever I need to take someone to a breakfast place and my steadfast favourites are busy, I drag them to the Albion. But I'm not crazy about their breakfast, they have big jumbo sausage sandwiches and English breakfasts. However, I don't always want that much grease on my plate, so I order granola and toast. Their toast basket does come with great slices of doorstop bread and a butter dish that you can just slather on and not worry about anyone judging you. My friend did order eggs on toast and got one egg on a slice of toast for about 6 quid. Errr.... And for lunch, I've ordered the huge doorstop sandwiches and cauliflower cheese. I think this place might be great and I just don't get it because I can't really fit that much stodgy carbs in my tummy. It's proper British food, comfort favourites that I adore and ones my dad would like, mackerel, kippers, etc. If you have visitors from out of town that you want to take to a beautiful, light-filled restaurant that serves classic dishes, then this is the one! And for dinner, well I've cracked it on the dinner front. Just order mains and a dessert and you won't get the stodge-overload. I had the chicken and leek pie and it was flaky pastry perfection. We ordered a side of cauliflower cheese and dripping chips and struggled to finish them. Albion, I think we will forever have this crazy relationship. And I'll keep coming back. I just can't quit you.

If this place were just a bakery it would still get four stars. The sheer volume of wonderful breads and cakes is incredible. There are home made classic cakes like Battenburg, Victoria Sponge and Bourbon biscuits on offer, it all made me very happy. Beyond being a pseudo bakery The Albion stocks an amazing array of jar'd pickles, mustards and all types of wondrous things. The Albion although excelling as a traditional bakery with extras, is a British restaurant selling darn good British tucker. There were four of us dining in the open kitchen, simply but stylishly decorated restaurant. We all had different dishes and each one was superb. I had a Chicken & Crayfish pie with a side of Beef Dripping Chips. It was so good. I also devoured the cauliflower cheese, numerous rounds of bread and munched my way through much of my colleagues' plates. The Albion is a great restaurant of which I would certainly recommend trying for lunch. The prices are at the high end of reasonable but well worth it.

I was so excited/anxious to try the Albion that perhaps I set my expectations too high. I loved the idea of an affordable British bakery to finally bring back some of those traditional British baked goods that seemed to be disappearing in England. So when I had the opportunity to try it while staying at a hotel nearby I was excited. Unfortunately, it's another gentrified, hip, of-the-moment cafe/bakery. Don't get me wrong as the baked goods are very good (I never tried the regular menu items as it was always packed and hard to get a seat---even for one) but it wasn't worth the price or attitude. Seems like the staff there know how popular of a place it is, so it's brimming with attitude especially if you don't order the right things or run up the bill. When i went there for tea one day, I wasn't the only one who was abandoned by our waitress as 3 other tables had to get up and track down someone to pay their bill----I almost thought about walking out without paying (it was under 5 quid) but thought better of it and barely left a tip. The Boundary project itself seems dead as even the pub down the alleyway no longer serves food (per edict from the owners I was told) so the Albion is the only choice there. But do yourself a favor and walk out into Shoreditch as there are plenty of other better places with less attitude, cheaper prices and good food.

A very cosy restaurant in Shoreditch, the trendiest part of London nowadays. Food is delicious but staff seems a little exhausted because of the crowd. Their own beer Albion Pale Ale and Sticky Toffee Puding is really worth to try. #stickyttoffeepudding #albioncafe #shoreditch #london #sweet #dessert #pudding #

My mental list of things to do today included: -Eat something massive -Order a bloody mary I accomplished both with ease. I will say though, that either it's my personal inability to focus on things before eating or they need to work on their headings, because I was convinced for the better part of 10 minutes that I only had a drink menu as no food jumped out at me. A breakfast bap and a spicy bloody mary later, I was back on track. There's a bit of a queue on the weekend but it seemed to move fairly quickly. Yeah the clients are a bit middle class hipster, but if you're sitting among them, what does that say about you? I'm not sure I can acknowledge those moanings as a valid complaint from people who commute with ipads in their backpacks. If you don't like the curb appeal of... um anything near Shoreditch high street, you could always get brunch in Dalston...

Just popped in for a quick breakfast. I had a flat white and porridge with dates. All was yummy and service was great.

I'd be willing to give the place 5 stars, as it's got a very nice atmosphere, friendly service, and excellent British cuisine. The location is convenient for me, and the space is quite large. The food seems more traditional than St. John's, but the flavour a little more muddied. It's hard not to compare the two, and I'll definitely have to come back here to try a few more of the dishes before making a final decision, but so far, st. Johns comes out on top. Though I will say, the bread and coffee I had were both fantastic. I also ordered a steak and kidney pudding. My first really. It could have used more gravy and perhaps the crust could have been a bit less spoungy, but I have no basis for comparison. The food came out quite quickly. They play music inside, so I think for a date, this place might be a little better than st. John's... But it's not my fav

First proper dinner out in London and I was very impressed. For starters the French bread and home made butter were out of this world. I would literally go back just for the butter. Started out with champagne and oysters followed by venison as the main course. The venison was one of the most tasty meat dishes I have ever had, seasoned to perfection. The only qualms I had was the service, I was there with a friend of mine, a gentleman a bit older than me, and I felt overlooked for being a younger woman. Our waiter was Italian and a bit pushy and pretentious. Other than that it was a fantastic dinner. The Johnny Walker Green Label was a perfect finish.

Not impressed by their breakfast, not at all... You do get a nice view of Redchurch St and all the hipsters and east enders strolling around in their vintage outfits... But when it comes to food, this place was a disappointment. The crab omelet was a let down by how 'airplane' or should I say air 'plain' it tasted and looked like on my plate. It was sad. Not to mention the price I had to pay for a sad plate. My side broccoli was mediocre, cooked till soft, but that's easy. Their other breakfast menu items are just standard, such as yogurt and other types of scrambled eggs and pastries. The sandwiches are huge, a bit more impressive I guess.. But a sandwich is a sandwich, it's easy as well. The only thing I would recommend from here is their to-go bread and pastries inside the restaurant. Well well well, it is east london, so it's gotta be pretentious.

I laughed at Scott L's review that shared that Albion is "a cutesy place where cutesy people go and enjoy cutesy dishes". *applauds* I'm not sure if I qualify as a cutesy person, but I did totally enjoy both the place and it's offerings. Cute? I'll take it! I didn't eat at the cafe, so my review is not for the sit-down option at Albion. My friend recommended the place, having read up on the Shoreditch options in great detail (you can take a researcher out of the office, but not the researching impulse, it seems. Thankfully, I get to benefit from her delicious research). We showed up close to closing and were welcomed by a beautiful display of quince and other holiday fruits, and two gorgeous Christmas wreaths. The decor of the space is expertly done, as it feels both accessible and very special. Cold dishes, salads and sandwiches, pressed juices and local beers to go. The baked goods tower on different display platters and are serve-your-own: macarons, chocolate chip cookies as big as your head (no foolin'), salted caramel tarts overflowing with sweet filling, baked bars. FORGET SWEET TOOTH, THIS IS FOR A FULL SET OF SWEET TEETH. Yelp note: some reviews seem to hint at mixed service but, if anything, we had over-enthusiastic staff (3 people helping 2 customers). Bonus points for reminding me of some spots in Brooklyn (nothing like channelling your home-continent 'round the holidays!). Would certainly recommend.

Way too expensive. Tasteless bangers and mash for £9.25. No atmosphere. Only one vegetarian main dish. The staff doesn't know the menu. The cakes looked good, but we didn't try. Shoreditch doesn't mean that you are automatically hip and trendy and great. You still have to deliver quality. And your prices should be in reasonable relation to quality and service.

- cozy, nice and homely restaurant/breakfast place (we went there for breakfast) - pretty popular therefore you should go there early (long queues from 10 am on) - nice variety of breakfast dishes (diff. eggs, pastry, joghurt, etc.) - loved the rosewater fruit salad with joghurt (7.50 GBP), the almond croissant (large; 3.60 GBP) and the grilled sweet potatoes with eggs (9.50 GPB) - fresh orange juice (3.30 GBP) - friendly service Conclusion: We loved this place and definitely would come back for breakfast or just to buy some pastries to take away!

In a word: HORRIBLE Tasteless, overpriced food in a faux-naif atmosphere populated by bearded out of towners waggling their Sperry topsiders around while talking about their 'way cool' business plans. I love breakfast, I love eating out, I love Welsh rarebit, I even love faux distressed furniture (oh the shame) and I don't mind paying for the luxury of any of these but The Albion really disappointed me. The service was dire, my rarebit was revolting and soggy, and the clientele around me were so snotty and loud that I almost left half way through it was such a moribund experience. The only reason I gave it two stars rather than none was because the tea was ok and hot. And I'm generous.

Albion @ The Boundary Project (Pics at The London Foodie) I had meant to come to Conran's new eatery since Time Out awarded it 2009's "Best Cheap Eats" in London but only made it with Dr G nearly a year later, for a late brunch last Saturday. I was impressed by the understated elegance of the building and décor - as a former light industrial building, some of its interesting features were maintained (or sympathetically incorporated) like the refectory style cream tiles, the factory lights, and the large windows which let plenty of natural light into the Café. I also loved their food shop and open plan kitchen - the large baskets of fresh bread, cleverly positioned at the entrance of the building, welcome you into the Café and help to draw in even the most reluctant of punters. The menu is reassuringly simple with some British classics and "caff" style dishes that will appeal to anyone. Prices are not bad either with most dishes costing less than the £10 mark. I was pleased to see Greenwich Meantime beers on their menu @ £3.75, one of my favourite brewers in the country. I was lucky to attend a private tasting by this fantastic, independent beer house a couple of years ago, and was completely stunned by the quality of their beers and the passion of the founder/speaker. I always order GM beers whenever I see them available, my favourites being London Porter, Union and the coffee beer. Dr G and I ordered a couple of staple dishes - I went for the "Full Albion Breakfast" @ £9.75 while Dr G had "Kedgeree" @ £9.50. I would have liked to continue the complimentary tone of my review and say that our food was as great as the décor, food shop, and beers, but unfortunately both dishes were rather disappointing. My breakfast looked great but did not taste it - the saving grace was the streaky bacon which was delicious, and the perfectly cooked eggs. With the exception of the baked beans, which were in fact not properly baked, and were very hard and nearly inedible, everything else was just passable. Dr G's kedgeree was an interesting choice - I cook kedgeree at home sometimes (one of my favourite brunch dishes) but had never seen a version like Albion's before. It was not a kedgeree, it was a risotto style dish made with basmati rice and cream. It had no discernible pieces of fish, be it smoked haddock or salmon - the fish had been I guess "pulverized" as there were no "flakes" to be seen. It was basically a fishy rice dish with cream, and was seriously lacking in seasoning. After the beautiful décor, the lovely bread, the charming service, expectations were high - I was gutted. As I waited for my food to arrive, I envisaged bringing some of my overseas friends and relatives who normally visit me in London for a taste of British cuisine - but judging by these two dishes, I would rather take them elsewhere. Tom of TomEatsJenCooks recommends The Modern Pantry when entertaining visitors from outside London for both a good brunch and the wow factor, but I still have to try this Clerkenwell place. I will report back as soon as I do. The total bill was £30 for two, including 12.5% service. This is not bad (£15 = main + beer) although for once I will have to disagree with Time Out as I can think of quite a few places where my 15 quid would be better spent. Verdict - Another classic example of style over substance - great décor, efficient staff, gorgeous looking food shop but seriously mediocre food. A possible Shoreditch choice for tea, cakes, or Greenwich Meantime beer.

Walking around looking for somewhere to hide from the heat found this place. I had the salmon and cream cheese doorstop- nice and big making the £7seem worth it. Downsides- the bread was stale (I think they weren't used to knowing how to store bread on 30' hot days) - the salmon sandwich also had pickled cucumber which may appeal to some but not me, and the teapot handle was too hot to touch! Upsides. Food was yummy, staff were lovely, baby change facilities in the toilet.