“Nutrition for Life” is the mantra of Chiswick’s Crucial Cafe. Ruth Wood the founder, and a clinical nutritionist, is passionate about the life-changing power of nutritionally balanced foods.

Alongside her team, she creates super healthy meals, salads, cold-pressed juices, smoothies and snacks using the highest quality fresh ingredients, sourced from local suppliers.

There’s plenty of raw dishes and you can enjoy them all in the spacious and relaxed space as well as delivery free to your door if you live locally.

The good news is you don’t need be a member to use it.

The setting

Crucial Café is a well kept local secret. It’s tucked away in the Hogarth Health club – in a side road off Chiswick High Rd.

The café has a relaxed feel and you can sink into one of the red velvet sofas or lose yourself in their Eames black lounge chair for hours on end. It’s an open, large space with an in-built conservatory and plenty of outdoor tables in the garden that overlook a much-used tennis court. The conservatory is also home to laptop friendly counters and two communal tables.

Expect post workout lycra and a selection of individuals armed with laptops and lattes. The staff are super-friendly and Ruth herself is often on hand checking on the food and giving nutrition tips.

The little things

There’s free wifi and lots of plug sockets available. Crucial use biodegradable packaging and the space never feels crowded.

The green juice test

Crucial presses two green juices on site – Supergreens and 4 Greens. Supergreens (featuring celery, kale and pineapple) is slightly sweeter due to the pineapple. 4 Greens has kale, celery, cucumber, lime and coconut water. Both are large, refreshing and served in a Kilner jar.

What we ate

The fresh salads and specials change regularly and there’s plenty of choice.

Between two, we had: a perfectly poached egg with avo on toast; a wild rice and kale side salad with halloumi; sliced avocado and halloumi on a courgetti salad with kale and heritage tomatoes; and a deliciously, substantial protein bowl of beetroot, banana, nut milk, strawberry and brown rice protein topped with chia and pumpkin seeds, nuts, blueberries and coconut shavings.

Finally, we caved into the spiced apple and date crumble with creamy almond milk custard.

The portion came in its own tin and was enough for two. We managed one each (!) and it is quite possibly the best crumble we’ve ever tasted!


The bill

Poached egg and avo on toast  £7.00
added Halloumi  £3.00
added Avocado  £2.50
Protein Smoothie bowl  £6.00
Spiced apple and date crumble with almond milk custard  £4.00
Green Juice  £4.00


What else?

Crucial offer detox packages they can deliver to you door locally and for a small charge beyond their area.

What made us glow

The friendliness and attention to detail in the delicious food.

It’s a Glowcation HQ favourite we visit time and time again.

Crucial Food

The Hogarth Club,
1A Airedale Ave,
Chiswick,
London W4 2NW

020 8747 4047
  • you may also like
    Meet the Glowstar: Jenna Hope, @jennahopenutrition

    Meet the Glowstar
    Jenna Hope @jennahopenutrition
    Jenna Hope, @jennahopenutrition has a Masters in Nutrition plus a first class Honours degree in nutrition and exercise from Nottingham
    Matcha Mylkbar, Melbourne

    Melbourne, St Kilda’s
    Matcha Mylkbar, a Melbourne matcha paradise
    “Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival of life on Earth, as much as the evolution to
    Meet the Glowgetter: Rubies in the Rubble's Jenny Costa

    Meet the Glowgetter
    Rubies in the Rubble’s Jenny Costa
    Jenny Costa, 32, started Rubies in the Rubble in 2012 fighting food waste with chutneys, ketchups and condiments created from