There’s a new kid on the London sandwich block, and he’s cool as shit. South Londoners will have been aware of Mondo Sando for a while now, serving some of the best subs, sarnies and sides across the city (most recently, and currently, in residency at Grove House Tavern, Camberwell). Now the team have taken things one step further, opening their first standalone location: Cafe Mondo. Abiding by the words of the late, great Warren Zevon – “Enjoy every sandwich” – the space is a one-stop shop for all things breaded, battered and beautiful. Mixing the delights of US deli/diner/dive bar culture with the traditional British caf/chippie, Cafe Mondo slouches with ease from daytime luncheonette to evening drinking hole. They also have excellent music taste and the best tees in town. It’s an all-in-one, and we love it.

Having eaten our way through the menu, we asked them to take us through their dream Christmas dinner party and they didn’t disappoint. We’ll meet you at Dracula’s Castle for some flambé-action and Missippii blues – Merry Christmas y’all!

Ideal dinner party location…

“It’s Christmas – we’re looking for opulence, a certain timelessness. We’re either booking out the first night in Dracula’s castle (he always lays it on thick) or the Hindenburg, pre-explosion.”

Ideal dinner party playlist…

“When we need a festive playlist there’s one place we turn to: Tom Zahir’s A Very Decatur Christmas. Put on Michael McDonald’s Christmas on the Bayou and let les bons temps rouler!”

Ideal dinner party guest…

“This is easy, the ghost of Christmas Present from The Muppet Christmas Carol. Even Scrooge likes him, and he dies of old age after a few hours so he can’t outstay his welcome.”

The best dishes to serve…

“It can be hard to deviate from the Christmas dinner canon this time of year, and that means it can be hard to be memorable. Our advice is: flambé. Whether wrong or right, people don’t forget.”

The best drink/cocktail accompaniment…

“Probably hot buttered rum if you’re at Draculas. He never drinks wine.”

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