Simon (Islington) wrote on 4 May 2010

Wow! This place has changed a lot over the years. While I've read reviews in the past saying that the staff are rude, I went there again this week after 2 years and the staff are fantastic! You always get a smile when you order food and everybody seems so happy and like they're there because the enjoy it.

I don't understand a previous post about the "hardcore animal rights extremists" and think this is just some silly post by someone anti-vegan! I was told about some recent changes in Pogo by a girl who seemed pretty unbiased about it, but the place still has an amazing and friendly vibe and I'd definitely recommend going!

Adey (Hackney) wrote on 13 April 2010

Pogo has changed staff - and very much for the better. New menus, new faces - a real focus on what veganism is and the work that still needs to be done to reduce animal suffering.

jeejay (hackney) wrote on 12 March 2010

POGO was until very recently run by locals in Hackney as an alternative vegan social venue.

This has changed since the walk out of the Hackney locals running the place which has now been hijacked by what Hackney call an AR extremist group and who now see POGO as a "state sponsorered honey trap".

There is no way on earth that I will go in there again.

Liz (London) wrote on 15 March 2009

I can hardly believe that some of the earlier reviews are of the same place! Overpriced? Small portions?

Granted, I have been to Pogo only twice, but both times I got huge amounts of food for a very reasonable price. I was there just yesterday and had the breakfast, which contained a huge pancake, rasher, sausage, beans (homemade, not from a can), scrambled tofu, mushrooms, and potato wedges. I can't imagine anyone who would consider it a small portion. My girlfriend got a burger and a generous pile of potato wedges with a slightly spicy and very tasty garlic mayonnaise dip.

We were there right when it opened, so it was not very busy (about 4 - 5 tables occupied) and everyone seemed to be just waking up. But this gave it a very relaxed, kind of like hanging out in a friend's living room feel. I guess that's not for everyone. But if you know that's what you're going to get, rather than a standard restaurant atmosphere, it can be quite pleasant.

We left very happy with the entire experience and vowing to go more often.

Rooi Bosch (Hackney) wrote on 13 February 2009

Pogo is one of my favourite places in Hackney and practically my second front room.

The carrot cake is magic and there is always something on the menu to make me happy.

Service, atmosphere, and portion sizes (mine are often too big!) all vary like the wind but if you can't take off your busy-bee london-hat and appreciate the wonder of this cosy cafe then you don't deserve to be in there.

Sunday brunches are ace and deserve a special mention although it has started to get a little too crowded recently for my fragile sunday morning head.

Watch out for the occasional crazy dog, mad kid, or hungover staff-member and don't be afriad to politely ask them to change the music if you are not in the mood for Nina Simone on repeat or some crazy intense beats :-)

I am a little confused about some people commenting on it being expensive - if you can find better value for money home-cooked mostly organic veggie/vegan food anywhere else nearby please do let me know!

Vanessa Miller (London) wrote on 18 November 2008

My girlfriend and I went to Pogo Cafe on Sunday, and it was awesome! The cafe was really busy, but this didn't seem to make any difference to the quality of the service we got, although they were a tiny bit slow. The girl behind the counter was obviously rushed off her feet, but was very friendly and we got a lovely breakfast, fantastic coffee, and a slice of chocolate-cherry cake that was out-of-this-world!
The place isn't super swish, but it is just a cafe, not a restaurant. At first I thought it ws a little expensive too, but i found out afterwards that all the food is organic, so given that I'm perfectly happy.

Kieran (London) wrote on 5 September 2008

I was very disappointed with my visit.

The staff seemed completely disinterested in the customers, preferring to chat with their friends instead. The food was mediocre at best, but the whole place was very tatty and dishevelled. Was worried about what kind of germs I might be picking up.

Definitely won’t be visiting it again.

Vanessa (London) wrote on 2 February 2008

We went here a short while ago and were most disappointed by it in every respect. The staff are shockingly rude and the food tremendously overpriced and in very, very small portions. The atmosphere was a combination of dead and cliquey and the toilet was a mess. We would never go here again and recommend that others avoid at all cost.

Gina Matt (London) wrote on 29 December 2007

Don't waste your time...overpriced menu had limited choice and consisted of mostly fast food, the quality of the food was very poor, cleanliness of the place left a lot to be desired. Would not recommend!

Julie Browne (London) wrote on 8 November 2007

I have been in to the pogo twice recently and both times the staff have been incredibly friendly and helpful, and i have enjoyed the food so much. I had some great cake, chocolate fridge cake and an excellent lemon cheesecake, both huge treats. I also had divine freshly made potato wedges , which were perfect, and I hope to come to pogo on a regular basis in future, it is so relaxed and warm, a real treat for vegans and ridiculously cheap for such great food.

Sean Michael (London) wrote on 29 September 2007

Wen there today and it really is fantastic now. The specials are longer taste like they were made at the beginning of the week and frozen! More like good vegan home cooking. Also the burgers are ace and the vegan cakes as good as you're going to get (love to know where they get them from) also fantastic chilled atmosper. GO AND SUPPORT THEM!

Lara (London) wrote on 7 August 2007

What a lovely community run cafe & space. Been there twice recently and the food & cakes are great. I'm not veggie/vegan but the full breakfast was so good I've decided to replace my weekly fry up with it. Staff are lovely, relaxed & volunteers. A great place to hang out and catch up over a coffee too. I highly recommend it if yr not looking for anything high ended.

Bealos (London) wrote on 9 September 2004

This place is a little bit of vegan heaven in Hackney! Formerly "Pumpkins" the café has ressurected itself with a menu including wheat or maize wraps (full of beans or tofu or vegan cheese and lots of salad), crepes or waffles for breakfast, vegan shakes with yummy flavours like chococrunch and super healthy smoothies. Also there's my favourite raw food salads with sprouted beans and olives.