My Review of LLS Café Waterloo – a healthy take-away food spot just around the corner from Waterloo Station, with lots of tasty vegan and gluten-free options.

Where: 29 York Road, Waterloo, London SE1 7NJ

Website: http://www.llscafe.com/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/llscafe/

Menu: http://www.llscafe.com/waterloo-1/

CHECKED OFF MY LIST: 31^st October, 2018

GLOWCATION:

Recently I started working with an amazing plant-based resource, Glowcation. They feature and review plant-based eateries from all around the world, and I am so excited to have been named their latest Glow Star!

My first assignment was to check out the lovely LLS Café in Waterloo, and I was so appreciative for the opportunity to check this lovely spot out. My friend and I spent a very happy morning and afternoon eating our way through breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. I would still go back to try more of the menu! There were so many vegan and gluten-free options, all clearly marked, making it a great spot to grab a quick and healthy bite, particularly if you’re out and about in London.

ATMOSPHERE:

LLS Café Waterloo is bright and cheerful, with a buzzing atmosphere. People were in and out all afternoon, grabbing food to-go, yet the space never felt overcrowded or too busy. It’s a relatively small and cosy area, with limited seating. But I easily spent the afternoon sitting at a corner table with a friend, catching up over different courses of food. Free cookie samples on the counter were replenished throughout the afternoon, and we even got to try a couple of new hot chocolate recipes that they were testing, which was an extra treat! Our server, Andreia, was especially hospitable and kind and made our visit even more memorable.

MY SHORTLIST:

Breakfast:

• Green Goodness Smoothie
  • The first order of business was to select a green drink to try, and I was immediately drawn to the beautiful teal green colour of this green goodness smoothie. Made with avocado, banana, spirulina, and coconut mylk, it was deliciously creamy and full of nutrients.
• Tropical Bircher Breakfast Pot
  • For breakfast, I went for this Tropical Bircher breakfast pot, as I loved the summer vibes it gave off. The pot was sweet and creamy from the coconut cream and raspberry coulis, and the buckwheat granola on top added a wonderful crunch. The pot was on the small size, but it was a light and filling breakfast.
• Mocha Chia Breakfast Pot
  • My friend let me try her breakfast pot as well and it was rich and smooth. I’m not always the biggest fan of mocha flavours, but this I enjoyed.

Lunch:

• Vegan Ciabatta
  • This sandwich was just as epic as it looked! We decided not to toast it, given that it had some fresh salad and veggies inside. I think we made the right decision. The BBQ jackfruit was so flavourful, the red cabbage and cucumber added a delightful crunch, and the beetroot mayo and rocket added extra hints of sharpness and flavour.
• The Golden One Salad
  • There were several vegan and gluten-free salad options, but this one was my number one choice. I just loved the vibrant colours! There was a lovely mixture of tastes and textures from the miso dressing, baked sweet potato, turmeric cauliflower, and sunflower seeds.

Afternoon Tea:

• Turmeric Latte with Oat Mylk
  • If you know me at all, you’ll know I have a bit of an obsession with turmeric. So, whenever I see a turmeric latte on the menu, I just have to try it. This one was a stand-out to me – just enough sweetness to balance out the turmeric and black pepper, and incredibly creamy from the oat mylk.
• Cashew Popeye Muffin
  • This was one of my favourite surprise finds. My friend suggested trying out this savoury muffin, and it was absolutely delicious. The texture was fluffy and you would never have guessed it was both vegan and gluten-free.
• Pumpkin Brownie
  • We finished off with the Pumpkin Brownie because this time of year I’m all about those pumpkin flavours (you might have noticed =P). The pumpkin flavour was very subtle, but it gave the brownie a moist and dense texture that felt indulgent without being over the top. It was the perfect decadent ending to the whole feast.

You can check out the full review I did for Glowcation on their website! LLS Café also has another location in Hampstead that I am hoping to try out in the future. Definitely pop into either if you get the chance!