Hot-on-the-crumbs of the Cereal and Porridge Cafes, toasties are the latest addition to London’s sizzling single snack cafe trend. Promising quick and comforting sustenance in the tricky starvation hour between work and play, I decided to succumb to the cheesy delights of The Melt Room on my way to an evening out.
Office Breaks The Melt Room
My love of the toasted sandwich dates back to halcyon childhood days when my father’s fleeting appearance in the kitchen heralded cheese and beetroot toasties as the culinary dish of the day. Low on refinement but high on the feel-good-factor, the toastie is to snacks what jam roly-poly is to desserts.
Office Breaks The Melt Room
Arriving at Melt Room on a bitterly cold June day, bright, halogen lights and funky cheese-themed décor beckon me into an IKEA-styled cavern filled with the comforting whiff of toasting bread. Taking the toastie to unimaginable new heights, the menu ranges from speciality cheese through to Barbecue chicken, Pastrami, lamb and pork shoulder. Vegetarians can also get stuck into hummous, broad beans, feta and rocket. I am however slightly less convinced by the sweet option – Nutella and Mascarpone Melt anyone?
Office Breaks The Melt Room
As a traditionalist, I opt for the speciality cheese (£4.50) which appears steaming in its own paper bag in under ten minutes flat. Composed of Red Leicester and Cheddar, the intriguing addition of zingy Gruyere adds a touch of fondue finesse to proceedings – and reminds me of the more refined Croque Monsieurs and Madames from across the Channel.
Office Breaks The Melt Room
In the toasted sandwich world, size matters and I’m knocked out by the door-step-style sourdough hunks which mop up the molten flow of cheese from its lava-like epicentre. The thicker bread also serves to protect against mouth roof burn, – a frequent hazard when eating toasties. Within ten minutes, I’m wiping toast crumbs from my face with a warm feeling of contentment and no desire for dessert – which is probably just as well when faced with the Nuttella and Mascarpone option.
For a quick snack on-the-go, the toastie provides just the right level of sustenance to see you through peak hunger periods. Ideal as a light lunch, post-work snack or even replacement kebab at the end of the night – it never melt so good.
Have you tried any of London’s snack cafes? Share your thoughts here.