Sutton café becomes award-winning bistro despite difficult start
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 06:18 · Archive
LA Café in Sutton has grown from a struggling 16-seat café opened during the pandemic into an award-winning bistro.
LA Café opened opposite Sutton railway station on 13 May 2021, during one of the hospitality industry's most uncertain periods. Chef-owner Ankur Baria, an Institute of Hotel Management graduate with decades of experience, initially struggled to make the business viable. For the first two years, he made no profit and had to continue investing his own money to cover rent and salaries.
The café has since transformed into what Baria now describes as a high-end bistro, evolving from a traditional café model through daily-changing specials and increasingly ambitious homemade dishes. It has won the Good Food Award four years in a row and secured a second Gold Seal for 2025/26. The bistro also received recognition at the Time & Leisure Food and Culture Awards.
Despite its growing reputation, the dining room remains just 16 seats. The restaurant has achieved a five-star Google rating from over 2,000 reviews and is ranked first among Sutton restaurants on Tripadvisor, where it received a Travellers' Choice award for 2026.
How it is being reported
- How this Sutton spot went from a tiny café to the borough’s most popular bistroWhat began as a struggling 16-seat café during the Covid pandemic has become one of Sutton’s most popular and decorated food spots.This Is Local London · 12 Oct, 05:00
- How this Sutton spot went from a tiny café to the borough’s most popular bistroWhat began as a struggling 16-seat café during the Covid pandemic has become one of Sutton’s most popular and decorated food spots.Croydon Guardian · 12 Oct, 05:00
In this story: Ankur Baria · LA Café · Sutton
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