The Breakfast Club, Angel, Islington, London

The Breakfast Club - Angel
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31 Camden Passage
Angel, Islington
London, N1 8EA
Phone: 020 7226 5454

There is something special about this brunch cafe tucked away in the back lanes of Angel, Islington. It feels very Islington - quirky and charming. The building is painted an inviting yellow, tables are covered with cheerful red checked tablecloths, and the glass conservatory breakfast room gives the whole place a light and airy feel. The staff are also extremely helpful and friendly, which is always a big plus in London.

The breakfast menu is innovative and extremely stodgy, but in a good way. The servings are very generous and meals arrive in a variety of interesting combinations. The "Big Stack" of pancakes is served with maple syrup, seasonal berries and vanilla icecream. Whilst the "All American Breakfast" features pancakes, eggs, sausage, hashbrown, streaky bacon and maple syrup. They also have simpler breakfast options such as Eggs Florentine, Eggs Benedict and the humble bacon butty.

Other interesting breakfast concoctions include "Bacon & Banana French Toast"; "Chorizo Hashbrowns"; the "Breakfast Wrap" with bacon, sausage, egg, mushrooms and 3 tomato chutney; and the "Huevos Rancheros" with fried eggs, tortilla, refried beans, chorizo, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

If you are looking for something a little less likely to give you a heart attack they also have porridge, fresh fruit salad and mueslie & yoghurt.

Vegetarians are well looked after with two big breakfast options. "Reggie the Veggie" offers falafel, hashbrown, mushrooms, beans, grilled tomato, beans and toast. Whereas the "Veggie All American" has pancakes, eggs, falafel, mushrooms, hashbrowns and maple syrup.

You are still likely to have a heart attack though, particularly if you add one of their Bloody Mary's to the breakfast equation.

The Wolsley, Piccadilly, London

The Wolsley
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160 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9EB
020 7499 6996

Brunch at the Wolsley is a London institution. This is because no one does bacon like the Wolsley - and I mean no one! I know this is quite a grand statement to make in terms of breakfast blogging, but it is the perfection of the Wolsley bacon that keeps me going back again and again. I swear they send their chefs to bacon cooking school to perfect "The Wolsley Method" where the bacon is just the right side of crisp.

The building itself provides another reason for The Wolsley's popularity with Londoners. Previously a 1920's prestige car showroom - complete with grand pillars, Florentine arches, sweeping stairways and marble flooring - The Wolsley retains the glamour and charm of this bygone era.

Now, more on the menu. The Wolsley offers not only your usual "Full English" breakfast fare, but also other traditional English treats such as buttered crumpets, cumberland sausage sandwiches, bacon rolls, porridge, prunes with orange & ginger, and boiled eggs & soldiers.

Pancakes, fresh herb omelettes, Eggs Benedict, smoked salmon & cream cheese bagels, french toast and a wide selection of homemade pastries are also on offer as are healthier breakfast options such as granola & yoghurt, mueslie, bran flakes, pink grapefruit and fresh fruit salad.

Plus they have fantastic milkshakes... and coffee. Oh the coffee concoctions these breakfast geniuses have come up with! You have to try the "Affogato" which is Wolsley speak for espresso poured over vanilla icecream. Or perhaps the "Mozart" which consists of hazelnut liqueur, long espresso, hot chocolate with créme chantilly and almond flakes. Mmmmmmm. (And for the record, I also have to mention that they do a damn fine cream tea with fresh fruit scones, home made preserves and clotted cream... though this is only available from 3:30pm.)

Because of its grandeur, fantastic central location and mouthwatering breakfast menu, The Wolsley is extremely popular with the locals, so you might like to make a reservation. However as they also like to accommodate tourists who are visiting central London for the day, The Wolsley always keep tables available for walk-in traffic which is nice and quite unusual for this kind of up-market, London establishment.

Tom’s Kitchen, Chelsea

Tom’s Kitchen
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27 Cale Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 3QP
Tel 0207 349 0202

Having visited Tom Aiken’s upmarket version of this brunch spot the week before (situated just around the corner and called Tom Aikens) I had very high expectations of this Chelsea haunt and was slightly nervous that I would, once again, need to be rolled down the Kings Road after overeating. But although the brunch menu was good, I wouldn’t call it the fantastic gourmet experience I’d had in his restaurant. But I guess you can’t complain when you compare the bills!

We all enjoyed our meals, however, because we were such a large group (Gemma’s and Monica’s last ever BBC in London drew in the crowds to wish them a teary farewell!) we were only able to order from a limited selection of the menu. So we did look in envy at some smaller groups’ meals.

Although I enjoyed my homemade granola, I did find it a bit too sweet for my liking. But my poached pears in syrup were delectable! What I did like about the menu was the fact that you could mix and match smaller items – each costing a reasonable £2 - £4. Sal had the chocolatey brioche toast, which looked divine, while some of the hungrier members of the group dove into the full English breakfasts.

The atmosphere is clean, crisp and casual and the staff were very helpful and polite. I think one of the biggest selling points, and one of the reasons I’ve been back since, is the fact that Tom’s Kitchen prides itself on serving organic, ethically sourced and in-season fresh produce – and I think you can taste the difference. Definitely worth a visit, but maybe in a smaller group.

Notting Hill Brasserie, Notting Hill

Notting Hill Brasserie
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92 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 2PN
Tel: 0207 229 4481

A perfect combination of traditional Sunday roast AND jazz! The Notting Hill Brasserie is an extremely classy establishment with polished service, hearty fare and an extensive wine list, perfect for a Sunday lunchtime tipple.

The restaurant is set in a beautiful terraced house and if you didn’t know about it you could easily walk on by. It is best visited when the weather is cold and rainy (ok, that doesn’t really narrow it down in London) as the inside setting is warm, cosy and inviting.

You can choose from a set menu of either 2 or 3 courses for £25 or £30 respectively. If roast isn’t your thing, there are plenty of fish and veggie options. My baked halibut was great and and apparently the roasts were pretty good too. Everyone raved about the golden roast potatoes cooked in goose fat. I was full after 2 courses but managed to fit in a third… as did all the others.

Afterwards, we visited the Book Warehouse to pick up some bargain basement books.

The Dove, Hammersmith

The Dove
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19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, London, W6 9TA
Tel: 020 8748 9474

The Dove has all of the essential ingredients for a quaint riverside pub - bella vistas, hearty fare and a wide variety of ice cold beers on tap. But what I like most is its Guinness Book Of Records claim to fame - it is officially the smallest bar in Britain at a cosy 1.27m x 2.39m!

Established in the 17th century, the Dove has long been a haunt of celeb guests, including Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway and A.P. Herbert (making it the perfect place to review these authors perhaps?!).

We visited on a slightly chilly day and so sat inside by the roaring log fire. There also happens to be a conservatory area and a patio by the river where you can relax on more summery days. The Dove is also a great spot to view the famous annual University Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford.

The menu was extensive but we couldn't go past the traditional Sunday roasts that had all the trimmings including Yorkshire Pud. The servings were extremely generous and easily washed down with a couple of jugs of English Pimms.

La Fromagerie, Marylebone

2-4 Moxon Street, London, W1U 4EW
t: 020 7935 0341
www.lafromagerie.co.uk
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Cheese, glorious cheese!!! Brie, stilton & camembert... and a whole lot more actually. This is the home of cheese (if you didn't guess it from the name). But not just any old cheese - cheese that is sourced directly from artisan producers.

They have every type and regional variation you could dream of. Whether you would like cows, sheep, goats or buffalo cheese... soft, semi-soft, semi-hard, hard or blue cheese... cheese from France, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland or the United Kingdom... cheese with a name like Abbaye De Trois Vaux, Appleby'S Cheshire, Explorateur, Fiore Di Latte, Poiret De La Meuse, Raclette Berghoff or Provola Lago Scuro... the list goes on.

What I love about brunch at La Fromagerie is that it is totally original and totally fresh. It has a distinctly "farmer's market" feel to it from the moment you first enter and pass through what is essentially a market place on your way to the cafe out the back. Here you can enjoy cheese and charcuterie plates along with seasonal dishes using the fresh produce they have delivered from the markets in France, Italy and UK each week.

For breakfast, home made seasonal jams and chutneys are on offer along with freshly baked breads, brioche and pastries. The Spanish Farmhouse Breakfast is a real treat with a distinctly Continental flavour. Consisting of cured hams, Chorizo, Manchego, Garrotxa, Picos de Europa & Membrillo with crusty breads, farmhouse butter with yoghurt, fresh juice & tea or Piantagioni coffee. You'll be hard-pressed finding room afterwards for one of their delectable homemade biscuits or cakes. For something lighter you have to try their fresh homemade Granola as it is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. So is their mueslie with French Vardon yoghurt. If you are as big a fan of it as I am you can also pick some up to take home with you on your way out.

Situated just off the Marylebone High Street with all of its beautiful shops, visiting La Fromagerie for brunch is a special weekend treat. It seems that the locals are also onto the secret so you will very likely have to wait for a seat at the long wooden table or one of the few tables for two. But there is plenty to keep you occupied while you wait, including the fully stocked "farmer's market" style shop at the front and a walk-in cheese room where you can browse the wooden shelves of perfectly ripened cheeses each labelled with their own unique tasting note.

The Waterway

54 Formosa Street, London, W9 2JU
www.thewaterway.co.uk
Ph. 020 7266 3557

Popular with its stylish, affluent locals this chic Maida Vale gastro-pub is always buzzing whatever the time of year. With an amazing waterside location overlooking the Grand Union Canal, the massive outside deck is a lovely place to be during the London Summertime. The cosy inside bar-lounge, with its comfy sofas and crackling fire, also makes it a great place to lunch on a Winter's Day.

Due to its beautiful canalside location, the Waterway is a great place to while away your Sunday morning reading the complimentary weekend papers and enjoying a coffee and pastry or two. Whilst the breakfast options are limited, the lunch ones aren't and they serve up a mean Sunday roast carvery with full trimmings.

The modern European menu changes with the season. Light salads, fresh fish and gourmet burgers cooked on the outside bbq are highlights of the Summer foodie scene. Whilst the traditional roast carvery and warm soups make it a great Winter lunch destination.

The only catch is the service, which struggles to cope with the large number of groups who take advantage of the long wooden tables on the outside deck. But thankfully, this is not a deal-breaker for such a fabulous find.

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.

Aubaine Boulangerie & Patisserie, South Kensington

262 Brompton Road, London, SW3 2AS
Ph: (020 7052 062
www.aubaine.co.uk
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Three words sum up this fabulous brunch place - charming French waiters. They are so friendly and efficient, you feel like you are somewhere other than London... like Provence perhaps? Well, not quite, but it is a very nice change to have amazingly polished service.

The service is also very prompt, particularly when you are an hour late for your reserved hour and a half time slot. (England happened to switch onto daylight saving that day, and some of us kind of forgot.) Aubaine is so popular with the locals, you are given time slots.

The breakfast menu consists of a great selection of croissants, fresh crusty baguettes and delightful pastries as well as light and fluffy omelettes where you can choose your own combination of toppings.

Great coffee and a relaxed, true café ambience make this a lovely place to go for Sunday Brunch. You can also pick up some delectable macaroons at the pastries counter on the way out!

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 Aubaine Restaurant, Boulangerie & Patisserie, South Kensington.

The Wallace Restaurant, Marylebone

The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, W1U 3BN
Ph: 020 7563 9500
www.wallacecollection.org
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Set in the massive glass conservatory at The Wallace Collection museum, this newly opened restaurant is the perfect place to brunch on a sunny Winter's day. Whilst the service is nothing to write home about (our meals all came out at different times and we had all finished our first course before patient Sally was served hers) the food is really great. Karen & I started off with the Sugar Crepes which were mouth-wateringly good. The others all had omelettes. Then because we all had food-envy, Karen & I had to share an omelette and the others had to share some crepes. Michelle blissed out with the Tarte au citron (lemon tart) whilst Mon looked equally enthralled with her Tarte Tatin (puff pastry with caramelised apple) After our magnificant brunch, we all headed to the nearby Regent's Park to run 50 laps around Queen Mary's Rose Garden. Ok, not really, but after all of these fantastic brunches we really need to introduce a strict exercise regime into the routine!

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 Wallace Collection Restaurant, Marylebone.

Scoffers, Clapham Junction

Address: 6 Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1ED
Closest Transport: Clapham Junction Overland Train Station
Phone: 020 7978 5542
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If you are looking for a hearty, home-cooked breakfast... but cooked by someone else.. and not at home... Scoffers fits the bill. The servings are generous and there is a good selection of breakfast options on the menu including the classic full English, vege breakfast, eggs benedict, and scrambled eggs on toast with a choice of sides including hashbrown and bacon. The prices are extremely reasonable and the atmosphere is very casual - the glass conservatory with a real fig tree growing through its roof adds a nice touch.

However, as the prices are extremely reasonable and the atmosphere very casual, then it goes without saying that you shouldn't expect any special favours from the wait staff or the kitchen. Well, so we learned. Poaching an egg rather than scrambling it is just too difficult - unless you are ordering the eggs benefict of course... Bad luck for you if you were told that the orange juice would be freshly squeezed but they ran out of it and you get the bottled version.... Your friend is going to be late? She'd better hurry or she'll miss the brunch menu as it changes on the dot. Lecture, lecture, lecture. The local greasy spoon café would have been more flexible! Everything was just all too difficult, which put a bit of a dampener on what would have been an enjoyable brunch.

Based just up the road from Clapham Junction's infamous Northcote Road, Scoffers is a great place to go for a weekend brunch if you are on a budget. If you aren't on a budget, then I would turn around and head back to Northcote Road or Clapham Junction where there are better restaurants.

This London Brunch Review was by the Brunch Book Club London. We like to visit breakfast cafés and brunch restaurants around London and provide independent brunch reviews. We only make recommendations for great brunch places in London. Unfortunately, this is not one of them.