Bottomless Beefeater Brunch at Florentine Review

There’s no shortage of options in town when you’re looking for a great weekend brunch, many with their own take on bottomless booze. And for good reason, who wouldn’t want to kick off the morning after the night before with as much hair-of-the-dog as it takes to wash down your favourite meal. This month Florentine, the all day dining restaurant across the road from Lambeth North tube, has joined the party with their “Bottomless Summer Punch Brunch”.

The restaurant and bar has a luxurious yet elegant and clean design, with a lively, friendly atmosphere in contrast to the miserable grey Saturday morning outside. The venue makes a perfect place for brunch with friends or perhaps an informal business meeting. The watermelon juice on offer as a special was great way to start brunch refreshing and sweet, and nicely unusual. Then came the “Summer Punch”, although not as obvious in the restaurant itself as on their website. Don’t miss out on it though! I thought it was a brilliant accompaniment to brunch, light and refreshing but with a reassuring kick to cut through all your brunch favourites.

The menu itself lives up to Florentine’s “All Day Dining” strap-line, with classic breakfast selection and a range of main courses, salads and their freshly made flatbreads. The star of the show is undoubtedly the “Big To Share” plates: the Tomahawk steak and the Ostrich Egg Full English Breakfast. Unfortunately I didn’t feel up to taking on the ostrich egg on my own so we stuck to the spirit of brunch and went for hens’ eggs instead.

The Full English certainly hit the spot, perfectly cooked eggs, tasty thick cut bacon, delightfully spicy sausage, mushrooms and baked beans all atop sourdough toast. It pressed all the buttons I think a full English should: generous, filling, hearty, and not remotely greasy or fatty. The Avocado & Poached Eggs was equally on the money with the yolks running over mountains of smashed avocado.

The desserts on offer seemed too enticing to miss, no matter how unnecessary they may be after a great breakfast, but, lets be honest bottomless brunch isn’t really about necessity is it? Anyway, the Venetian Doughnuts are about as close as it gets to a necessity. The light, crisp batter rolled in sugar holding a delicious marsala cream are a wonderful way to finish off while working your way through a final glass or two of punch.

The Florentine brunch definitely makes the list as one to repeat, with its relaxed, comfortable setting, great food and good value. In fact, I’m currently recruiting friends for a return trip to share the Ostrich Egg Full English, maybe I’ll see you there!

Website: www.florentinerestaurant.co.uk

Address:
6 Hercules Road,
London,
SE1 7DU

Written by Alex Keighley