St Clements Café has a sterling reputation as a beautiful brunch spot. Nella Guagenti paid a visit to see what the buzz was about.
My heart skipped a little beat when we entered the St Clements café on Sunday morning, after I'd seen the incredible display of homemade cakes, pies, quiches and nibbles on offer. It all looked good; properly made from scratch by real chefs so I knew it was going to be difficult making a choice. I looked around at other customers’ plates for inspiration. The space was already bustling with grown-ups in the main cafe, sun-seekers sitting outside in the front courtyard and young families claiming the large, airy basement. The all-white décor with chic paintings, posters and mirrors, plus flowers on the tables combined to create an uplifting ambience. We sat in the upstairs area, where the tables were tightly squeezed in, so it felt like we were all sharing our mealtime together in a friendly family environment.
This closeness also meant that we could ask the nice people next to us what they had eaten. They were regulars and happy to recall the dishes they'd tried on previous occasions. Other customers were busy telling their friends what to eat and comparing notes, I could tell the food really mattered here.
The choices were numerous and interesting; ranging from porridge and homemade granola to a variety of eggs on toast dishes, including baked eggs with chorizo as well as a squash and sausage hash with eggs. Exciting choices aimed mainly at adults I felt. A bacon sandwich is the obvious choice for a teenager and this was jam-packed with bacon and avocado in a soft brioche bun.
The large plate of herby beans with poached eggs, mushrooms and spinach looked amazing and tasted divine. The beans came in a thick tomatoey sauce that was made from scratch in the café kitchen: no taste of overly sweet tinned sauce here! I opted for the leek, pea and chard fritters with avocado, rocket and a supreme harissa sauce. The fritters were flavoursome, soft and satisfying. Again this was all made in the café’s kitchen, including the harissa sauce, and you got all the full flavour of the fresh ingredients.
The waiters were friendly and relaxed and I didn’t mind the slight waits in between service. Our coffee was creamy and mild arriving promptly, and there were two options for hot chocolate drinks – the powdered version or made with melted chocolate – a real mouth watering luxury! We took home two of the cakes and these were each accompanied by a fruity compote and some crème fraiche. The Tunisian orange cake was soaked in fragrant orange syrup and tasted unbelievably good, served with some tangy orange slices. The lemon and pistachio slice was less distinct in flavour but also enjoyable, served with a mush of refreshing pink rhubarb.
I would mention that the food was not cheap, with the bacon brioche costing £8.50 and the beans and fritter dishes between £11-£12 each. At £5 each for takeaway I would have liked larger portions of cake – wouldn’t we all! – but the high quality of the food more than justified the slightly dearer cost. I would definitely recommend a visit.
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