At last New Cross has a café that caters to the hordes of academics & young professionals that populate this down-at-heel area. There’s only enough seating for 20, plus two outdoor tables, so you might need to wait, particularly at weekends for the all-day brunch. Patience will be rewarded with gutsy flavours & quality ingredients. Popular dishes include sweet potato & leek cakes with haloumi (streaky bacon optional) & baked eggs with chilli & sage. Daily changing salads & sandwiches keep regulars returning, as do savoury brioche pizzas with interesting toppings such as smoked ham & caramelised leeks. The house-blend coffee comes from Higgins of Mayfair (suppliers to the Queen), craft beers are from Kernel Brewery & Cheddar Ales, & a short list of natural wines is on its way.