The Toast Rack Bake House: Wandsworth’s neighbourhood eatery

The locale

Wandsworth Common is a charming place to while away a few hours. Just steps from the Bake House, you can take a stroll around its huge green spaces, see the local windmill, stop to feed the ducks at the pond, play some tennis, cricket, football or softball and take the kids to the playpark. The cafe is perched right on the common’s western perimeter, on the bustling Trinity Road, with buses outside. Plus it’s just a 10 minute walk from the station, with direct trains from Victoria, if you’re coming from the centre of town and don’t fancy the walk. 

If you always stay north of the river, it’s well worth taking a trip south to experience the delights of a suburb that’s home to the likes of actress Emily Blunt, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and popstar Mollie King. And The Toast Rack Bake House is the ideal place to absorb this borough’s community feel.

A retro diner feel

Inside you’ll find vintage-style booth seating, with mid century lamps overhanging your table, teak wood panelling and mirrors so you can keep an eye on what’s going on from every angle. It’s reminiscent of a really posh US diner from circa 1970. Additionally, there are low tables and cushioned wooden armchairs conducive to lounging with a cuppa and a book. Panelled walls are decorated with tasteful arty prints bringing pops of vibrant summer colour to add cheer to your coffee. And, if the sun’s out (or even if it’s not), you can bag a table on the pavement to watch the world go by as you catch up with a friend or enjoy some culinary solo self-care.

How do you like your eggs in the morning? 

Here you can enjoy eggs from the Arlington White hens of Cackleberry Farm in the Cotswolds, prepared royale, sobrassada, paxos, with tofu, or just plain boiled on sourdough with lashings of butter. Or perhaps break your fast with a steaming bowl of porridge topped with some sour cherry and prosecco jam or spiced quince. 

You’ll also find the likes of Belgian waffles sporting toppings such as hand-griddled bacon and vegan sarnies full of fry-up faves on the menu. If you want organic and locally or UK-sourced ingredients, meaty or plant-based, you’ve come to the right place.

Lunch and dinner

As the day progresses, spice it up with some lamb shank bhuna accompanied by Lebanese flat bread. There are salads, hearty stews, gourmet burgers including a vegan big mac, and pizzas. Then as night falls, the menu incorporates a selection of small plates (such as rare roast beef with remoulade, caperberries, cornichons and sourdough) and large plates like Portuguese spatchcock with roasted sweet potatoes and salsa verde. Wash your food down with a spiced milk tea from Good and Proper, coffee made using Alchemy beans, a freshly pressed juice or a milkshake containing Jersey cream. Wine, beer, ciders and cocktails are also available, to take you all the way through till 10pm.

Welcoming four-legged friends

As the common is frequently awash with dog walkers, it’s good to know that The Toast Rack Bake House will welcome you and your pooch with open arms. No matter how big or small, the staff just love to greet your canine companions.

Do some artisan shopping in-house 

As well as being served tasty food, you can peruse The Toast Rack Bake House’s mini-mart deli. Selling the likes of colourful fresh veg, Hackney Gelato, sauces, jams, chutneys, oils, Torres crisps, Tony’s Chocolonely, and of course, lashings of home baking, it’s a top spot to buy yourself some healthy and indulgent treats to take home. So be sure to write your shopping list before you come by for lunch. 

Brunch is a big deal here and The Toast Rack Bake House is renowned for its morning delights. But it’s by no means a one-trick pony; the venue opens right through to dinner, with bookings taken from 5pm (before that you just rock up and try your luck for a table).