When Greenberry Café opened in late 2012, we praised the adventurous cooking and welcoming atmosphere. Returning most recently in 2015, the kitchen radiance has dimmed and the global reach been curtailed. Greenberry’s simple breakfast menu is served until 3pm; at noon it segues into a traiteur list (salads or simple plates such as Stoke Newington smoked salmon with soda bread).
A more substantial menu is also served at lunch and dinner; lamb rump with risotto from the specials board was a decent enough dish. But on this visit, we found the service perfunctory at best, frosty at worst. It took a concerted effort to get our waitress to crack a smile, and simple questions about the menu were answered with an ‘I don't know’.
During the day, Greenberry may be a little too family-friendly for some; in the evening, everyone from dog-walkers (and their pooches) to groups of friends pile in to the unfussily decorated room. It’s a great haunt for locals, but unless the service manages to thaw out a little, it’s not worth a detour.