A 'Classic' in Devonshire Road
Home-made treats at the Classic Image Cafe Gallery
This cafe is one of Chiswick's hidden gems. Located on Devonshire Road, part of the fraternity of independent traders that give W4 its unique identity, it has been serving delicious breakfasts and home-made food for several years.
With an abundance of burger and noodle restaurants, it sometimes seems like the humble sandwich or piece of cake is being squeezed out in Chiswick and the traditional cafe is getting harder to find.
Classic Image Cafe Gallery appears to be defying all trends and has a loyal following who come for the fluffy omelettes, the delicious cheesecakes, and the lovely calm atmosphere where you can either sip a quiet coffee with the newspaper, or catch up on gossip with a friend. Here tea remains a ritual, no plastic cups of foamy coffee in evidence and classical music plays softly in the background.
I stopped in for lunch with two friends recently. It was a bitterly cold day and we were cheered by the warm welcome from owner Kyra von Schottenstein, and the cosy atmosphere of the cafe. It is not an enormous space, but there is an outdoor 'deck' area which is very popular in summer.
The cafe has two menus- a fuller version from Friday through Sundays (when they are generally busier, with people enjoying generous breakfasts and Club Sandwich) and a slightly less extensive one from Monday through Thursday (soup, sandwiches, egg dishes, cakes and bakes).
Almost everything is home-made at the Cafe using organic free-range ingredients- their baked cheesecake is especially highly praised, omelettes are always popular, and the soup is deliciously warming in cold weather.
There is a daily newspaper and stylish magazines available for customers to enjoy if they are having a quiet break.
All the cakes are on display and I was delighted to see that they have a selection of at least two gluten-free cakes everyday and can provide toasted gluten-free bread for those who are gluten intolerant.
Two of use chose omelettes. I opted for a smoked salmon omelette which came studded with black pepper and was beautifully presented with a side salad and toast. My friend, who is vegetarian, enjoyed a cheese omelette.
It was an unexpected delight to find potato latkes with smoked salmon on a menu and these were as hoped: small potato pancakes, a large portion of smoked salmon and a little pot of sour cream with chives. And how nice to have a properly dressed salad rather than a bare lettuce leaf.
But it was the huge slabs of cake that ensured our return: the waitress recommended the almond and coffee cake and she got it absolutely right. The cake was moist with coffee syrup marbling it and a thick layer of icing thickly covered with toasted flaked almonds. All of this was washed down by a constantly replenished pot of tea and an ogling of the vast range of beautiful cards. We also sampled the cheesecake, which my friend described as the best she had ever eaten, and there was a mighty portion of orange/almond cake, served warm with cream.
While enjoying the food, we also had time to cast an eye over the wonderful selection of greeting cards as well as beautiful wrapping paper, ribbon and note cards plus a selection of hand made English chocolates. The large range of its distinctive framed prints, that decorate the wall are also for sale.
With the memory of those delicious cakes still in my mind, I can't wait to revisit the Cafe and support a truly local and individual business.
Anne Flaherty
Classic Image Gallery Cafe, 15 Devonshire Road, W42EU
telephone- 0208 9959977
December 12, 2014