It’s happening.
The team behind the cult sandwich outfit Mondo Sando are opening their own place.
Well, they will once they’ve raised the dough on their kickstarter page. And given that they have an estimated bajillion hardcore fans, it doesn’t seem like we’ll have long to wait.
They’re planning to open a luncheonette-meets-dive-bar in Camberwell, which has been their home turf for the past couple of years. What started as a lockdown delivery service led to a long-standing residency at Grove House Tavern – and before you panic, they’ll still be running the kitchens there, too. But Cafe Mondo is an opportunity for them to run their own day-to-night sandwich-centred fever dream, with a takeout hatch, a front porch and a secret garden amongst the site’s many charms.
As with any modern establishment, they’ll be leaning heavily into nostalgia for the decor. Expect all the signatures of old-school caffs: aluminium tables, napkin dispensers, willow pattern china and plenty of tat. In fact, they are putting out an open call for tat, so if you can’t donate cash to the project maybe you have a spare wall clock with a cool neon bubble rim hanging around.
If you do have cash to donate, however, there are some tasty rewards on offer in exchange for your hard-earned bucks: some are literally tasty, in the form of free sandwiches for life and dinners for two, and others are more metaphorically nourishing, like exclusive zines filled with secret recipes; T-shirts that will make you look cool and attractive; custom-made hoagie jewellery; and the power to make the team wear a face paint design of your own creation for an entire service.
What else do we know? Well, they’ll be making a lot of sandwiches, obv, including long-standing favourites like their BLT, Mondo Frango and Fish Finger sarnies. In the evening, they’ll branch out to other comfort dishes like chicken schnitzel, patty melts and deep fried treacle tart. There are also whispers of karaoke, pagan rituals, and a museum of stones.
Sounds like it’ll be a hard rock cafe.
NOTE: Cafe Mondo might open in the autumn. Then again, it might not. Check out their kickstarter to tip the scales in their favour.
Cafe Mondo | 42 Peckham Road, London SE5 8PX
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