Top 5: Ways to Eat Brunch in London This WeekendBy Alicia Grimshaw
If there’s a new brunch menu in town, we’re the first to know. Take a trip to east London for Passo’s West Coast brunch, or head south and get your mitts on WILDFLOWER’s vegan eats. Wherever you’re heading to this weekend – have a good’un, people:
1. For a US-Style Brunch: Passo
What: Passo has been smashing brunch out the park since opening in the capital last year, and if you haven’t made it there yet – you’re missing out. A little corner of chilled out, West Coat-style heaven near Old Street roundabout, Passo’s brunch menu features an inspired variety of brunch time delicacies.
Eat and Drink: Healthy options include golden milk overnight oats and chia seeds, and cardamom, honey granola with yogurt and seasonal fruit. Classic brunch dishes have been given a Passo twist like the Shoreditch bagel plate, featuring smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, pickled cucumber; the four cheese toastie topped with fried egg and mustard; and the burrata and basil omelette served with rocket and red onion salad. Get your sweet fix by ordering the banana and buckwheat pancake stack or the deliciously different panettone French toast with mascarpone and berries.
Where: 80 City Rd, Islington, London EC1Y 2BJ
2. For a New Brunch Spot: Pomona’s
What: It’s all change at Notting Hill’s neighbourhood restaurant Pomona’s as it welcomes the arrival of highly talented and passionate local chef, Wolfe Conyngham. With a focus on freshness, sustainability and lovingly prepared food, his new brunch menu is inspired by global flavours.
Eat and Drink: At the weekend brunch is delivered sunny side up. Dishes include pancakes topped with whipped mascarpone and berries; French toast with maple syrup and bacon; and organic natural Greek yoghurt with granola, strawberries and honey. Savoury fan? Opt for the avocado toast topped with poached eggs, or the hot smoked salmon on sourdough toast with scrambled eggs. Add a coffee or smoothie, such as Express Kale (kale, almond milk, mango and honey), Party Chard (apple, chard, peach and strawberry) or Chia Fix (coconut yoghurt, pineapple and chia seeds) to sip alongside your chosen dish.
Where: 47 Hereford Road, London W2 5AH
Photo Credit: Steven Joyce
3. For a Thai Brunch Menu: Smoking Goat
What: Looking for a Asian inspired brunch this weekend? Head to Smoking Goat Redchurch Street for their all-new Thai brunch menu. Head chef and co-owner Ali Borer has created a menu focused around freshly made roti, cooked from scratch on a charcoal skillet in the open kitchen.
Eat and Drink: The rotis accompany green curry with smoked brisket, burnt ends and curried saffron eggs with lardo. Larger breakfast and lunch dishes include an aromatic Thai style fried chicken with curry sauce from Het Yai (a Thai town famous for its fried chicken) and daily variations on D’tom Kha, a cleansing and heady fresh coconut milk and galangal soup served with smoked fish and bitter herbs. Sweet dishes include freshly made doughnuts with Kachanaburi province wild honey.
Where: 64 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ
4. For a Veggie/Vegan Brunch: WILDFLOWER
What: WILDFLOWER located on the fifth floor of Peckham Levels is a haven for plant-based nosh and veggie goodness. Head chef Joseph Ryan, who has previously worked at Hoi Polloi and Salon, has created a menu of approachable, affordable, and inventive brunch bites.
Eat and Drink: Munch on a variety of plant-powered dishes such as the roasted tomatoes on toast drizzled with basil oil, seitan sausage sarnie with red onion jam, harissa scrambled tofu on Brickhouse sourdough toast, and the almighty vegan full English. There’s oodles of veggie bites too like the baked eggs in tomato and roasted pepper sauce with yoghurt and flat bread, and a cheese and leek toastie. And for some carb lovin’, there’s Brickhouse sourdough toast served with jam, marmalade and spread aplenty.
Where: Peckham Levels, 95A Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST
5. For a Greek Brunch: Hungry Donkey
What: Hungry Donkey has launched a weekend brunch menu available every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm at their Spitalfields site. Expect authentic Greek flavours, a number of homemade cakes, and popular Greek Gin, Ouzo.
Eat and Drink: Highlights include: Bougatsa, warm semolina custard filo pie with cinammon; Strapatsada, scrambled eggs with fresh tomato, onions, Cretan Mizithra cheese and sourdough bread; and the Hungry Donkey – eggs sunny side up, Greek sausages, peppers, mushroom and onion on sourdough bread. The Big Donkey is a Greek take on the beloved fry up, and features fried egg, Greek sausage, mushroom, gigantes beans, halloumi and Greek pita bread.
Where: 56 Wentworth St, London E1 7AL
