Konditor & Cook

I read great reviews so couldn’t wait to try it for myself. I think I was too excited over the cakes and the whole place but it didn’t live up to my expectations. To start with, it’s not a place to go and lounge with a book, at least not for me. I wouldn’t invite a friend there either. It’s best suited for suits :) having a business meeting. And that is who the place was filled with anyway. The ambience is zero, feels quite ‘empty’. Next bit, cakes. Well, they’re not bad but I have had much better. I ordered hazelnut noisette cake which was just all right, very filling and the frosting was far too creamy for me, to the extent that I had to scrape it off. I much prefer something lighter and more moist. I bought a piece of curly whirly cake and chocolate brownie to take home. Brownie was yummy, the cake itself was quite moist, but tasteless but again frosting — far too sweet, ended up in the bin. Next, my flat white. It came very hot which I love about coffee but the taste again was weird. I can’t put my finger on what it was I didn’t like. It wasn’t the best, let’s put it that way. The only thing I was impressed with was the service, the girl who took my order was very friendly and smiley. So all in all, there are far better homemade cakes and much better coffees out there. Oh, and there’s no WI FI :(

I always stop into Konditor & Cook on the back of the Gherkin for a little treat when I’m craving some good homemade food. I know they are typically known for their cakes but the lunches here give you quick access to homemade classic dishes.
I usually get the enchilladas, chili con carne, fish pie (super good!) or one of the daily quiches. The menu changes daily and there is rarely a time I don’t find something to drool over.
If you go I highly recommend the Boston Brownie, Raspberry Chequerboard Cake and the Millionaire Shortbread from the bakery.
My only issue: Take the mushrooms out of the Mac n Cheese! Seriously, who puts mushrooms in mac n cheese???

This location is always very busy. The raspberry checker board cake, victoria sponge cake, and giant meringues are my favourites. I don’t like that many whole cakes are not pseudo protected behind glass right where people line up to pay.

This is simply the best place to get a take-​away lunch in the City.
A daily changing menu of hot meals is available at reasonable prices. The food is all of a very high quality; all meat is free range. Soups, pizza and jacket potatoes are also available every day. Delicious sandwiches are stocked too.
They are probably most famous for their cakes however. The brownies are splendid. They serve a wide selection of other (mainly English-​style) cakes (whole and slices) as well.
Situated at the rear of the Gherkin.

K&C is an incredible bakery. This branch, located at the bottom of the Gherkin, feels larger and looks more upmarket than the other K&C branches at Gray’s Inn Road, Waterloo and London Bridge. The seating area is more spacious, and the baked goods and service are of the highest quality.
My favourite item here is the Boston Brownie which is out of this world. Pure chocolate-​y goodness, with chunks of chocolate, nicely counter-​balanced by the tartness of fresh cranberries. Quite possibly the best brownie in the whole of London.
Given the location, this place is popular with City folk for breakfast and lunch. In addition to cakes, K&C also serves salads, sandwiches and savouries, each between £6 to £8, if I recall correctly. Soup cost around £3 to £5.
If you’re looking for a place where you can chill for a bit at the bottom of one of the most recognisable, and most photographed buildings in the city, then come here after 3 pm. You’ll also find that after 3.30 pm (I think), they run a promotion where you can purchase cakes in bulk (i.e. four or more) for a discounted price.
UPDATED ON APRIL 22 2010: Sad to say, K&C no longer have the discounted 3.30 pm four cakes for £6+ promotion. Instead, every Friday, after 4 pm, cakes will be sold at whatever time it happens to be, with whole cakes going for £16 at 1600 h, £17 at 1700 h and so on. There’s also a loyalty card scheme whereby you get one stamp for a coffee, and if you get five stamps on the same street, you get a free coffee and a pastry/​cake/​magic cake/​sandwich for £1 (the card’s designed like a monopoly board).