Brunch in Clerkenwell

A couple of my friends are coffee maniacs which is priceless as they can give you excellent tips of where to have really good independent coffee around town. So the other day I went out with my Sarah to have brunch, even though that I promised after reading Anthony Bourdain’s book Kitchen Confidential not to eat brunch again, and actually also not to eat fish on a Monday in a restaurant. Anyway temptation of a lazy Sunday before Thames festival I ended in St Ali having brunch.

The Place

Inside

They opened in April, Australian concept, just a simple cafe place, wood everywhere, giving a rustic but industrial appearance or it might just be the huge coffee roasting machine at the back, no reservation which is becoming a common practise here in London, open from 7am to 6pm seven days a week.

The Roaster

The Menu

Got to the place ordered a filter coffee from Guatemala, and My Mexican Cousin breakfast, you know to keep everything in a Latin-American state of mind. Sarah got bits and pieces from the menu, scramble eggs, thyme roast mushrooms, and a tomato salad.

The Guatemalan

The Mexican cousin was ok, it was corn fritters, baby spinach, grilled halloumi, and kasundi with poached eggs. I think the fritters were too dry, it needed some sort of sauce to take it to next level. The coffee was magnificent, good aroma and taste. Overall a nice brunch, relax, good time to catch up and wind up on a Sunday afternoon.

The Mexican Cousin

Sarah's Cousin

Mexico reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Diplomat's Club” when Kramer is betting on flight arrivals.

Earl: This could be Mexico City.

Kramer: Come on Seattle, let's go.

Earl: Come on, Mexico City!

Kramer: Seattle, yeah!

Intercom: Flight 42 from Mexico City.

Kramer: All right, come on, let's go again.

St Ali

T: 020 7253 5754

Coffeehouse

Area: Clerkenwell

Borough: Islington

Twitter: st_aliUK

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