The Breakfast Club on Berwick Street — Restaurant in London

We visited yesterday Friday August 1st 2025, around 10.45am. That's us sitting directly opposite the service counter (in case you're looking for us on cctv) It wasn't a great start; the place was practically empty and when we asked for a table the woman behind the counter (low sized, dark hair, glasses) ask if we had a reservation, and when I replied no, there was facial evidence of slight exasperation. We were told (not invited) to sit at the bench opposite the counter. No big deal, but I did notice that the five people/couples that came in after us were seated at tables by other staff, despite no booking, like us. Food was mixed for me; grossly undercooked sausages, tastless eggs, good bacon, good hash brown, nice toast and standard beans. My companion had pancakes and strawberries which she loved. But them's the breaks, as they say, everything can't always be perfect. It's just I can't ignore the name of the place...'Breakfast Club'. You'd think that they would have nailed the breakfast bit, if nothing else. As we ate, a gentleman entered and chose to seat himself at the counter. He seemed a very pleasant fellow, excellent manners, personable, etc. He wasn't asked if he had booked. He did, however commit the heinous act of bringing with him a half paper cup of coffee which he had purchased elsewhere. No issue here, we've all done it; you buy a coffee and then decide that a bit of breakfast would be nice. But I don't think he was expecting the glacial reception or interrogation from the woman behind the counter... He was asked if it was an empty coffee cup, and he replied no, it was half full and still very hot. She made a face (and not a nice one) and indicated that he would have to either throw it away or go back outside and drink it, because, in her words, '...here, we're a bit....' (makes a face and tails off.) This standoff was expertly brought to a conclusion by the worldly gentleman who promised not to touch the cup whilst he was on the premises. Crisis averted. Whilst he was saying this and apologising, she simply turned and walked away. To his credit, he was undaunted and finished his intended sentence whilst observing her retreat. Despite running this gauntlet, I hope he enjoyed his breakfast. If you're looking for him, he's the long haired man with the John Lennon glasses sitting at the street end of the counter. One final observation; the woman's interactions with what I presume were junior members of staff were, on one or two occasions, devoid of any managerial support and benevolence, shall we say.

The blaring Oasis tracks were not conducive to comfortable conversation.

Anyway, we came, we ate, we paid over the odds, we were bemused by the power trips, and we left. We will not...

Food was really good; service was shocking.

Sunday at 1pm, waiting in queue for a table. The server (quite young) is repeatedly clearing tables but not seating any new customers. The result (after 25 minutes of this) is that the queue is massive, and there are now five — yes FIVE — empty tables outside which have all gradually become available, cleaned, and are ready to be seated. The whole queue was very confused why we weren’t being seated as this process made no sense. She sat all 5 tables at once, and then took all 5 orders at once, which (anyone working in restaurants before will know) is terrible planning as it bottlenecks the kitchen.

We then order and ask for water for the table. Water never comes, so I ask a second server. Second server - much more senior-looking and experienced - says yes of course. She then proceeded to not bring the water, but went across the road (in direct view of me) and chatted with (I presume?) her manager for 15 minutes. I had finished my food by the time the original server came again and began clearing plates, at which point I said again “sorry we’re still waiting on our water.” There was zero apology given at any stage. She then brought the water and the bill, trying to whisk us away, even though we’d not asked for the bill. It’s quite rude to deliver the bill to a table before they ask for it as it undermines the experience and feels as though the customer is no longer of use to restaurant.

Unsurprisingly, I explained we wouldn’t be paying the service charge (I always pay service charge and would usually feel really uncomfortable asking for it to be taken off, but I had no hesitation or issue doing so in these circumstances) and when I did the server looked extremely puzzled. She didn’t ask what went wrong or for any feedback and then became rather awkward.

As an aside, the table beside us hadn’t even got their food by the time we paid our bill, despite us ordering at the same time. From overhearing their conversation when they complained to our server, it’s because she’d forgotten to place their order with kitchen, so was now having to rush the food through. An issue which could’ve been avoided if she hadn’t seated 5 tables at once and took 5 orders at once.

All in all, really disappointing as I do love the place and have been a couple times before, but the service needs to improve. Not...

Food was ok but I wasn’t impressed with the overall experience. As the place is so popular and hyped I guess I ended up disappointed. Staff tried to be polite and smiley but as it is so small and busy, I felt that I need to eat and leave. I picked the place for my birthday brunch with my boyfriend and the whole time I was cold, felt squished and uncomfortable. It ended up being far from the cosy & relaxed experience I was hoping for and was under the impression I would get. As we were seated on the not -so-functional gigantic table right at the entrance we got the cold draft, as the door was kept constantly wide open! You would think the host/waiter would encourage the waiting customers to get inside and then talk to them, but most of the time he kept talking to them holding the door wide open. It was not just me and my boyfriend being cold as next to us there was another couple who had to tell the waiter to close the door a couple of times as we were all freezing, by that time both me and the other girl were wrapped in our scarfs. The food arrived after a wait of 20/25 minutes, and we didn’t have much of a choice but to eat ASAP as the cold draft coming from the entrance door would make our food cold in a minute! It might have been a bad timing for my first ever visit there to be on a busy Monday and on my birthday but it is unfortunate and I don’t think I would want to visit again perhaps not at this branch at least. I recommend for a better experience to not sit on the rounded table on the left from the entrance. In addition to all this, my boyfriend tried to ask if he could light up a candle for my birthday but they were too busy to bother with us, that was a minor thing though as all I wanted was a nice brunch which means not just well presented and cooked food but a pleasant experience and feeling really welcomed. Lesson learned: this type of places are not for me and people who like a more slow pace, relaxed atmosphere and look for an authentic genuine experience with a...