Cafe Laville

453 Edgware Road, Little Venice Parade, Maida Vale, London, W2 1TH
Phone: 020 7706 2620
Website: www.restaurant-laville.co.uk
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Set right above the beautiful Regents Canal, at the Maida Vale end of Edgware Road, Laville would have to be one of my favourite places to brunch. Whilst it doesn't look much from the road, when you go inside you'll discover why - its picturesque setting affords you views right down the tree-lined canal.

In the Summertime they open the cafe's glass doors right up and put tables out on the little balcony overlooking the water. As you sip one of their freshly squeezed juices you can watch the canal boats glide across the water and underneath the cafe itself. In Autumn the scene is even more beautiful, with the leaves turning a riot of oranges and yellows, which is then reflected in the water below.

The breakfast menu is fantastic with a choice of reasonably priced special deals. These include my favourite, the 'Early Italy' where $5.50 will get you scrambled eggs with cherry tomato and basil on fresh roasted ciabatta bread, washed down with a freshly squeezed orange juice.

They also do the more traditional 'English Breakfast' along with other hot breakfast options such as Eggs Benedict; scrambled, poached or fried eggs; and omelette. You can also choose from a wide array of reasonably priced breakfast sides such as bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes or even salmon.

If you are looking for something a bit healthier they offer yoghurt with fresh fruit, mueslie or almonds & honey. Then, as you are being so good, you can afford to treat yourself to a slice of one of their amazing cakes, including the traditional English favourite, Banoffee pie. Their hot chocolate with cream is also a speciality and is sure to hit the spot on a cold Winter's morning.

The Gun, Docklands

Address: 27 Coldharbour, Isle of Dogs, Docklands, London, E14 9NS
Nearest Tube: Supposedly Canary Wharf but get the Docklands Light Rail to Blackwall, its easier.
Ph: 020 7515 5222
email: info@thegundocklands.com
www.thegundocklands.com
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Location, location, location. Sitting on the outside deck of The Gun and looking out over the water across to the old London docks and the Millenium Dome, is a very special London experience. When it gets too cold outside you can go and sit by the roaring log fire in the pub's 'sitting room' or head to the front bar for a glass of red wine or one of their many English ales. However if it is brunch you are after, head straight to the dining rooms which were once frequented by Sir Admiral Nelson and his mistress.

Our large group was easily accommodated and for once everyone arrived at nearly the same time as each other... though this is probably because we all got lost trying to find The Gun and turned up at least 40 minutes late for our reservation - which the Gun staff were really nice about.** As it was our Christmas BBC, and it was more like lunch by the time we had all arrived, most of us went for the Roast Beef - it was the only roast on the menu and the breakfast options were quite limited. Both meals were quite nice, though Sally said her monkfish ossobuco was dry. The veges on the other hand were superb. The potatoes were crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, the greens were luscious and juicy and the parsnips.. oh the roast parsnips! We then all moved onto desert. I opted for the apple and blackberry crumble which came with ice-cream. Annie & Alison went for the Lemon brûlée with sable biscuit which they raved about. We then finished the meal off with teas and coffees before swapping Christmas presents and paying the bill (£30 each) and then heading off to try and negotiate our way back to our respective train stations - with a few drinks under our belt mind. In summary, great gastro pub, great location (once you find it), great ambience, nice food, amazing parsnips!

**Note: I later read in the TimeOut Eating Guide that The Gun is popular with the city workers from Bank and Canary Wharf who arrive in a 'procession of black cabs' every lunch time. Note: they all get cabs. Not a bad idea considering that trying to find the place from Canary Wharf tube station is a logistical nightmare. Hence my advice to get the Docklands Light Rail to Blackwall and walk from there, as it only takes about 5 minutes.


This London Brunch Review was by the Brunch Book Club London. We like to visit great breakfast cafés and brunch restaurants around London and provide independent brunch reviews. We only make recommendations for good brunch places in London such as The Gun, Pub & Dining Rooms, Isle of Dogs, Docklands, near Canary Wharf.