A sandwich is so much more than just two hunks of bread with a bit of filling. And no, I’m not about to try and convince you that clearly non-sandwich items are also sandwiches by virtue of being ‘bread with filling’. Instead, I’m referring to the fact that tireless innovation and creativity from some of London’s sarnie slingers has elevated the lunchtime, meal-deal staple beyond being just a humble sandwich. It’s now much, much more. One such place that is taking the sandwich to new heights is the recently-opened Cafe Mondo.
Naturally, we had to check it out, so our Tom Forte went on down to chow down. (A task that some might say is, indeed, his forte. Sorry, Tom.)
Here’s what he thought:
Nestled away in Peckham, in a charmingly retro-looking spot, Cafe Mondo is just down the street from Mondo Sandwiches’ pub residency at the Grove House Tavern. Don’t worry, though, they’re not about to stop slinging sarnies from this favourite local pub. Instead, the new Cafe Mondo allows them to experiment with new offerings, and expand into a different type of service.
Cafe Mondo’s many hats
It’s important to know what you’re in for when you head to Cafe Mondo. Just because they’re famous for their sandwiches, doesn’t mean they’re always serving them. In fact, across their opening hours, the site transforms between multiple identities. And that’s not to mention how frequently they sell out!
Image: @cafe_mondo_se5 and @mondo.sandwiches, via IG
From Wednesday to Sunday Cafe Mondo opens for coffee at 10am. Ready-made sandwiches are then available from the counter at around 11 or 11:30. And then at midday each day, they start to serve their full menu of made-to-order hot sandwiches.
But be warned, they sell out of bread almost every day. Plus, on the weekend there’s likely to be a queue and a wait of at least 20 minutes for sandwiches. As always with popular London eateries, going during the week (Wednesday to Friday) will see you treated to a more chilled experience.
And then there are the evening sessions. From Thursday to Sunday, Cafe Mondo is open as a bar in the evenings, with a special menu of plates and snacks available from the kitchen. It’s important to note that they do NOT serve lunch sandwiches at the evening sessions. But, of course, you’re welcome to come and get a drink, soak up the vibes, and sample the rest of their food.
As well as serving up distinctly less ‘sandwich-y’ fare, Cafe Mondo is inviting all of their cheffy friends to come in and cook up a storm for these evening sessions. Keep an eye out on their socials to find out about their next collabs, and the exciting food and drink they’ve got coming up.
The Museum of Stones
Oh, yeah, did we mention that? Cafe Mondo is more than just a sandwich shop and bar. It’s also a makeshift art venue, thanks to Kaye Blegvad’s Museum of Stones, which you can find in the back of the venue.
Image: @kayeblegvad, via IG
The Museum contains exclusively stones that have absolutely no value from a monetary or scientific standpoint. They are “entirely natural, un-altered by human hand”. And there are no “gemstones or mineralogical rarities here” either. It is quite literally just a Museum of Stones – and I for one, absolutely adore it.
So, next time you find yourself in Peckham, be sure to check out Cafe Mondo. In fact, scratch that; we reckon you should make an active effort to head on down and check out the exciting new opening.