Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Cafe Lemon is coming to an end
It has been over nine years since Cafe Lemon opened in 2006, which was also exactly 100 years after the same premises were established as a Lipton Tea House in 1906!
We pride ourselves in having been the first ones to bring a modern Cafe culture in Harringay and we still endeavour to provide good service and high quality food to our customers. Only in the last two months we added organic, fair-trade and free range products to our menu and a couple of weeks ago we introduced discounts for students.
Unfortunately, however, high rent, forbidding business rates and ongoing daily costs are forcing us us to consider selling to very eager buyers from the kebab restaurant business, which one of them is already in Kebab business in Stoke Newington.
While often being busy at weekends, the lack of offices in the area deprive us of the regular customer basis of weekday, lunch-break customers. Add to that Harringey’s £3 per hour parking charges, plus the more-than-occasional rainy day and our income just isn’t enough to support us into the future.
Sadly, with my business partner we came to the conclusion to keep Cafe Lemon going for at most another 5 months. During this time we will continue to do our best to improve food quality and service. If, however, by around April 2016, we will still be struggling to pay our bills, the Cafe will have to be sold and turned into yet another kebab house.
Please help us to stay alive and remain part of the Green Lanes vibrant catering community!
Tags for Forum Posts: cafe lemon
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Lipton tea house in 1906.jpg, 380 KB
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Philip on
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Still looking for that good cafe. Even Green Lanes Cafe, which I like, has thumpy music. Its not loud but the last thing I need at lunchtime is stressful repetive thumping. Its not for customers....it never is. I have asked them twice to turn it down, and they did; but I shouldn't have to so don't go there any more.
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Permalink Reply by Cem Kaplan ( Cafe Lemon ) on
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Thank you all for your interest and wonderful ideas. We are incredibly touched that so many of you took the time not only of writing here with comments and tips, but also of making a dedicated 'Save Cafe Lemon' Facebook page!
We will certainly take on board as many of your suggestions as possible, including simplifying the menu and prioritising the quality of ingredients.
Meanwhile, since the beginning of September we have introduced some changes in response to customers' previous concerns. For example, due to popular demand, we now only serve Heinz ketchup and HP Brown sauce. Also, we have new friendlier waiting staff and a new chef with extensive restaurant-level experience. We have listened to parents and carers and have now purchased a baby changing unit which we'll put in the toilets, once some technicalities are solved. Finally, we are including more locally sourced foods in our menu, such as Baldwins' sausages and bacon, plus, from tomorrow, cakes and biscuits made by two Harringay residents.
Please keep supporting us and we'll continue to do our best!
Everyone at Cafe Lemon
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Ok let us know when higher quality foods are in? You stated some time ago that you would be serving an organic/free range fry up, but don't think that happened. Also will you consider that if staff must play music it is kept at background level? (music is always for the staff, not the customers) Will return if ....
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Hi Philip,
I can confirm that we have been serving a 'Gourmet breakfast' since the end of September this year.
It includes a free range duck egg, a free range Cumberland sausage (purchased from Baldwin's), thick cut finest bacon (also from Baldwin's), organic baked beans, plus mushrooms, tomatoes and hash browns (the last three items are not organic). The breakfast is served with sliced bread.
As for the music, this is not played for the benefit of the staff, although we hope they enjoy it too. In addition, many customers regularly compliment us on our music selection and find that it adds to the Cafe's friendly atmosphere. On occasions, we actually had some customers complaining that the music was not high enough and that it did not help to drawn background noises such as people's conversations.However, we are sorry that you still find it too loud. Please feel free to ask us to turn it down while you are there and we will endeavour do so.
Hope this helps
Kind Regards
Cem
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Permalink Reply by Leigh on
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I'd be really sad too, especially as Cafe Lemon is a pioneer of bringing some very welcome changes to Green Lanes. It's very easy to dole out advice and criticism when you are not on the side of trying to keep a business together. I very much appreciate you are trying to thrive under very difficult circumstances. As someone who loves a decent coffee, strong tea and nice food, I would agree with what someone else posted regarding focusing on good quality ingredients and simplifying the menu. In the meantime, I'll make more of an effort to wander down Green Lanes (I'm at the Wood Green end!) for a yummy breakfast. Good luck.
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We're very sad to hear you're thinking of closing down. Every Saturday morning my partner brings our daughter to Lemon for breakfast (while I get a lie-in!) and it's something they both look forward to. We often pop in during the week too, after swimming. We would be very sorry to see you go and the area really doesn't need another kebab restaurant on Green Lanes! I really hope you can be persuaded to reconsider.
Reading the other comments, I do agree you might benefit from simplifying the menu, so you're not having to order so much stock. You offer so much, yet I expect days, if not weeks, must pass before certain dishes are ordered. Maybe work out what are your most popular dishes and stick to those and a few other options?
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That's a shame
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Permalink Reply by David Martin on
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Im afraid I agree with Lauren. I do like Café Lemon and have been there a lot but I think a revamp is probably needed. It is great to hear that new ingredient have been introduced, but ultimately the outside has to shout that, as people aren't going to pop their head in and ask.
I know that is all money but it is the cost of keeping up with the times...
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on
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Yes, I think that was my impression of the place and why I've never been in. It seems more "caff" than "cafe" to me.
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Permalink Reply by Betty Careless on
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Personally I like the decor - I things it's cosy and welcoming and I like the little bits of local history on the walls. Each to their own I guess there's plenty of opportunity locally to sip your coffee in the presence of industrial lighting fixtures and exposed brickwork! Service was a bit hit and miss but seems much better lately. I'd agree the menu is too big (there must be quite a lot on there that never gets ordered). I quite like the music and don't find it particularly loud. My only other comment would be that it's quite chilly near the door if it's opened and the waitresses seem very keen on propping it open - maybe they need a fan at they're end?
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Permalink Reply by KP on
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Yes agree with Sarah and David I'm afraid. It needs a total revamp on the outside before I would be tempted in. It just looks a bit cheap at the moment and if I was going for a coffee with a friend I would rather go somewhere that looks a bit nicer
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