The Breakfast Club, Multiple Locations

If you live in London, the chances are you've heard of The Breakfast Club. With restaurants across London, from Hackney Wick to Croydon, you're probably never too far. Having lived just up the road from the Battersea Rise restaurant, it was common to see a queue out of the door so assuming it was worthy of that queue, I decided to go. 

Now, if you read a lot of my blogs, you'll be very aware that I LOVE sharing. Whoever I go to dinner with I try and convince them to order a main each and split them. I have this need to try everything and hate committing to just one - I mean, what if I get food envy? So I successfully convinced my breakfast date to share an eggs Benedict, some maple bacon pancakes and their 'home-style potatoes' with a jug of fresh orange juice. 

Unfortunately, it turns out that The Breakfast Club doesn't quite live up to it's reputation. Luckily, we booked a table so didn't queue but if I had been one of the unlucky ones waiting outside, I wouldn't have been happy. It seemed to have that anti-climax feel which I believe is due to it being so popular. The food was average and I've definitely had better. What it is that people love so much about this place? 

The pancakes were bland (although they look delicious!) and flavourless, the bacon fatty and the maple syrup portion too little for the number of pancakes you get. Their 'home-made potatoes' were baffling. I know they're described as potatoes so it may serve me right, but they are literal potatoes, not fried, not chips but some kind of herby roastie. Not what I would expect with my breakfast at all and also very bland. The eggs Benedict offered a little more flavour and were possibly the best part (except the juice) but even so, they weren't anything to write home about. 

The atmosphere and interior was pretty standard, nothing too exciting but nice and tranquil. Usually with places like this, you're paying for the decor or some quirky trait, but it was all very vanilla. London has so many small cafes and brunch venues that have a lot more to offer so in my honest opinion, I wouldn't waste your time or money here.

The Breakfast Club, it's a thumbs-down from me.