The Breakfast Club London Bridge — Restaurant in London

It’s Sunday morning and I’m tired from staying up all night photographing a couple of old Route master buses around London and I should probably head home but I fancied breakfast first so I headed to London Bridge from Westminster as I’d always enjoyed the breakfasts at the Breakfast Club before, though it’s been a while since my last visit. I arrive 10 minutes early and despite the tables outside being set ready for service and the window between the reception area and the outside being open and also set for service I go through the open front door and just check with the young lady at the reception desk that it is indeed 07:30 that they open. This being confirmed head back outside to sit and wait at one of the tables. Not really a problem as it’s a lovely warm morning with the sun beating down to keep me well warmed in the slight breeze. 07:30 comes and one of the four cyclists who were also waiting at one of the tables heads inside to order their drinks but comes out again saying that the waitress will bring out menus and to take their order, so I sit tight. However when the young lady I’d spoken to previously, and who had been told the I’d wait outside until they were open, brought out the menus she only brought enough for the cyclists. I left a suitable amount of time to allow her to return with more but after a few minutes headed inside to either get a menu or a seat inside. I was finally brought a menu and once the waitress had taken the cyclists orders was asked if I also wanted to order a drink or was I ready to order my food, having only been given the menu two minutes before! I ordered a small orange juice and asked for a few more minutes to make up my mind about my breakfast choice. My juice was duly delivered and I ordered the Eggs Benedict, served here with crispy bacon rather than the traditional ham, and a Bloody Mary to further slake my morning thirst. I lifted my glass of orange juice and proceeded to remove four of what turned out to be 8 ice cubes from the small glass of orange juice! Really?! Was that volume of ice totally necessary?! Next came the Bloody Mary. Modestly garnished with a sprig of Basil leaves, a couple of gherkins, a pickled onion and a long green chilli on a bamboo skewer. Drinking this was aided by the inclusion of a much welcome paper straw. Shortly after the Bloody Mary came the Eggs Benedict and I should really have realised something wasn’t quite right when the young lady selected a steak knife from the container and told me I’d need it to cut the muffin! Sure enough the muffin was so hard that sawing it with a knife was the only way to get through it! The bacon wasn’t so much crispy as it was slightly soggy cardboard! The eggs though were beautifully poached, if not quite as runny as I’d have liked, and the hollandaise was well made. Overall, not greatly impressed by either the food nor the service, for which a seemingly mandatory 12.5% service charge had been added to the bill, although I don’t recall this being noted on the menu. Time to find a new breakfast venue methinks, or maybe I should have gone for the...

OK, I just have to share this experience as it was so far from what I expected. We arrived for breakfast and were shown to our table by the hostess. Friendly waiter then came to offer us drinks and ask if we had any questions about the menu. Ordered coffee and juice and they arrived in a timely fashion. Staff were super friendly and the drinks were excellent quality. So far so good ... then it went a bit pear shaped.

I ordered the breakfast as did my guest and we ordered the Home style potatoes to share. Breakfast was fine if nothing special, but the potatoes arrived in a sriracha sauce which I didn't mind so much, but they were cold, very overcooked and soggy. Far from the menu description. I drew the waiter's attention to it and he took them away and spoke to the hostess who said something to him and he returned with them and said that they were meant to be like that. I didn't want to make a fuss so I accepted that. I took another bite and they were fully cold and nasty so I left them. When he came to clear the table I said - 'Thanks, but I haven't eaten this as they were awful.’ I asked for the bill. Then came the second issue. The bill came and he brought the card machine at the same time. I saw the total on the bill (the potatoes had NOT been removed) and the card machine was presented to me with a screen that showed a menu for how much tip I wanted to leave. As I had NOT been impressed, I selected 10% and paid. £53 for TWO people with one coffee and one juice each was very steep. Only then, having paid I checked the bill in detail only to see that there was a service charge of £5.38 already applied. That infuriated me. As I waited for my friend to return from the bathroom I asked the waiter about the potatoes and he said that they had changed the menu and the Sriracha sauce was now coming on the potatoes. I said that I should have been told that when I ordered them, but either way, they shouldn't have been left on the bill when they were clearly poor standard. He spoke to the hostess again, and she dismissed him. Then while she was showing another group to their table we stood to leave and she had to brush past me to get to the other table, I said goodbye and she completely disregarded me. No goodbye, no sorry you didn't enjoy that ...nothing! Just looked through me and ignored me.

I can take people having a bad day but that was completely rude and quite frankly has turned me off the Breakfast Club completely. Before you let someone manage your restaurant I think it would be advisable that they are properly trained and have a customer focused mentality. I have never felt so incensed by a staff member’s attitude in any dining experience I’ve ever...

A Worthwhile Wait for a Vibrant Start to Your Day (with a Killer Soundtrack!)

The Breakfast Club at London Bridge truly lives up to its reputation as a beloved spot for brunch enthusiasts. Even on a bustling morning, the half-hour queue to get in was a testament to its popularity, and I can happily report, it was a wait well worth enduring. Stepping inside, you're immediately struck by the vibrant atmosphere. The decor is an eclectic mix of retro and playful, creating an energetic buzz that's infectious. Adding another layer to the fantastic vibe is their brilliant music playlist. It perfectly complements the lively surroundings, keeping spirits high and toes tapping without ever being overbearing. Despite being busy, there's a surprising sense of cosy intimacy – it feels like a well-loved neighbourhood joint, not a sprawling, impersonal eatery. The food itself is a visual and culinary delight. Each dish is beautifully presented, looking almost too good to eat (almost!). More importantly, the taste delivers on the promise of the presentation. From classic full English breakfasts to more adventurous pancake stacks, every plate leaving the kitchen looked incredibly appetising. Adding to the positive experience were the friendly staff. Despite the constant flow of customers, they remained attentive and personable, making sure everyone felt welcome and well-cared for. In conclusion, The Breakfast Club London Bridge offers more than just a meal; it offers an experience. The half-hour queue might seem like a hurdle, but the vibrant atmosphere, beautifully presented food, friendly service, and that absolutely brilliant music playlist combine to create a busy but cosy haven that's perfect for starting your day on a high note. Highly...