If you’ve been here before, you might already have read the Cafe Piazza review I wrote for Pancake Day, just a few weeks ago. And I’m back with another review of Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria – for dinner time!
The menu is large and complete, and tainted with notes and flavors from all over the world.
So far, I’ve tried the breakfast menu, as well as lunch and Pancake Day treats – and I was really excited to try the dinner menu too!
Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria Review [2023]
I’ve been to Cafe Piazza in Hay’s Galleria, just outside of London Bridge Station, a handful of times already.
Each time was better than the last, and if there’s one thing I’ve always been pleasantly surprised with, it’s the service.
The level of service at Cafe Piazza just makes you feel like you’re dining in a fancy restaurant, when you’re actually in a laidback, very family-friendly London Bridge restaurant.
Now, you probably already know about my passion for London Bridge.
I have written many articles about amazing cafes to work in London Bridge, as well as really cool things to do, and that’s an area I seem to spend my life in.
And well, if you’re like me, you should definitely take a stroll along the Thames and end the journey at the picturesque Hay’s Galleria – one of the most colorful places in London when you want to snap some Instagram pictures.
Cafe Piazza will welcome you with anything from delicious hot chocolate and banana bread to beautiful smoked salmon and much, much more!
Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria Review: Starters
This time around, I visited Cafe Piazza with a friend – and while she was late coming from work, the team was utterly friendly.
They stayed a bit later in the evening for us, which made us feel super special.
(and uncomfortable too – having worked in hospitality for years before turning full-time blogger, I know what a pain it is to have to stay when all you want is to go home!).
Not once were we made to feel rushed, although we did try to eat quicker than we would have, had we arrived on time.
For starters, we ordered the smoked salmon and the peeled king prawns in garlic butter, and both entrees were amazing.
There’s no other word for it; I had already ordered the smoked salmon before, and with its marinated beetroot carpaccio and horseradish cream cheese, it’s a well-balanced dish that I could eat at every meal.
Also because I absolutely love salmon, and that served at Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria is simply gorgeous.
I also had a taste of the garlic butter king prawns my friend ordered, and oh boy.
They were plump.
They were juicy.
I love garlic butter, but combined to those kind prawns, that was a double win.
Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria Review: Mains
I had already tried a couple of hot dishes at Cafe Piazza, so this time – and because it was close to 10 pm when we ordered the mains, I wanted something lighter.
So, I ordered the warm goat’s cheese salad, and what arrived was definitely not what I had in mind.
Rather than your simple, very sad pseudo-filling salad, the Cafe Piazza goat’s cheese salad was actually served half warm.
With balsamic vinegar (one of my favorite things in the world), small potatoes cooked to perfection and creamy goat’s cheese, the combination was just wow in my mouth.
Just wow.
A member of the staff who served us had asked me if I wanted to add a protein on top of that, and I chose some salmon upon recommendation.
It was delicious, but knowing that dessert was coming after, I could not for the life of me ever have finished this huge salad.
Great, great taste, which was a great way to end a work day, really.
Also, a perfect dish for whoever is looking for the best brunch in London Bridge, since Cafe Piazza offers their dishes all day long.
Read: The Cutest Cat Cafes in London
My friend chose something warmer with the fish pie, one of the classic dishes at Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria.
I had a try (obviously, how could I not), and really enjoyed the creamy mashed on top of the fish pie.
I thought the presence of peas inside the fish pie was a fun touch, and the mix of seafood was fresh and really tasty.
The spinach served on the side was also fresh, and it seems to me that every time I dine at Cafe Piazza, the cooks keep getting better – so there’s that.
Read: The Most Instagrammable Cafes in London
Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria Review: Desserts
I honestly just had a few bites of the fish pie, simply because I knew dessert was something I couldn’t miss.
One of my favorite desserts at Cafe Piazza is actually the banana bread, grilled and topped with a smooth chocolate sauce.
Yet, since I had tried it before, I wanted something different to end the evening.
My friend ordered the coffee and walnut cake, which I thought was way too heavy a way to end a dinner meal.
Still tried it, though.
The cream was thick and really laden with coffee, which is something I really appreciated.
You could also taste the walnut, and the combination was really interesting, especially with a coffee at the end of the meal.
I, on the other hand, wanted something I’d never tried before, so I ordered the vegan lemon cheesecake.
I might have to actually write about the best cheesecake in London at some point; after all, it is my favorite dessert.
Well, this one was really interesting, and you could almost have mistaken it with a dairy-made cheesecake.
Tangy lemon and creamy, well, cream – and the crust was also delicious.
This one too was a winner in my book – I never order vegan desserts, ever, except for the Crosstown Doughnuts, and I would definitely order it again.
Read: The Best Vegan Bakeries in London
Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria Review: Drinks
At the beginning of the meal, we were asked what we wanted to drink, and I got to try two of the coolers – the mint & lime cooler and the strawberry cooler.
On the Cafe Piazza menu, you’ll also find the Fentimans Rose lemonade, which is something you have to try at least once in your life.
But since I know it and really wanted this time to be different, I got those two coolers that I don’t remember ever ordering.
I did not want wine, although Cafe Piazza is also a wine bar, simply because I am not drinking alcohol anymore, and the mint & lime cooler is basically a virgin mojito.
Needless to say, had there been a virgin pina colada on the menu, I’d have gotten that – but the mint & lime cooler was fresh enough that it complemented the dishes I got to perfection.
As for the strawberry cooler, it was something like a strawberry soft drink.
One of the members of staff mentioned Cafe Piazza might change it for something more tangy, like a cherry cooler, and I would 100% back that decision.
At the end of the meal, I couldn’t leave without a coffee – decaf given the time. If I remember well, my friend got a hot chocolate, something Cafe Piazza makes very well.
Both were also good, and a great way to finish off and start digesting dinner.
Read: The Best Gluten Free Bakeries in London
Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria Review [2023]
There you have it, my complete Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria review for dinnertime!
I really felt this time around that the menu, while the same as the other times I visited, had improved in quality. Maybe it’s just my impression, and maybe it’s also the company you keep.
In any case, I loved every dish from A to Z – and given the location in one of the best hidden gems in London, the prices are very correct!
I would always recommend you book before walking in, as during lunchtime and dinnertime, Cafe Piazza tends to fill up!
Until next time!
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