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MUNCH BUNCH Absolutely finds out if South West London’s breakfasts and brunches live up to the hype
BEN’S CANTEEN B AT T E R S E A
Your local fail-safe with good vibes and even better food Hang out; indulge: have fun” reads the Ben’s Canteen chalkboard. Not a difficult task when you have as fantastic an atmosphere as this Battersea rest-stop. Warm, relaxed, totally cool: the unassuming corner café’s wonderfully chilled atmosphere is precisely the thing you crave on a Saturday morning. Ben’s Canteen is a safe haven for nursing fragile bodies (be they weary from the week or last night’s festivities), and its reputation certainly precedes it. With a winged pink neon heart mirror and breezy interior, the unpretentious industrial design provides the perfect backdrop to tuck into equally unfussy fare. Sunny staff promptly take your drinks order and swiftly return with silky-smooth coffees (in your choice of ‘civilised’ cup size or heavy duty mug) and mason jars of Bloody Marys for those in need of hair-of-the-dog remedies. As the outside queue starts to extend and toile de Jouy plates of Smashed Avo
arrive at the table, it’s increasingly apparent that the legend of Ben’s Canteen is true. A sourdough chariot covered in nutty, mushed avocado bears a softpoached egg and roasted vine tomatoes, where their tangy-sweet taste is rounded out by the rich, gooey egg yolk. Perhaps, though, the main star of this morning meal is the Banana Pancakes. Made on a griddle and served in generous, three tier stacks, people apparently leave if they can’t get them. Understandable, considering their fluffy state and almostmolten bananas. The pancakes’ oozey salted caramel sauce and ramekin of thick maple syrup confirm this menu option’s ‘cheat day’ status. With a view for thirds
140 St John's Hill, SW11; benscanteen.com
MILK BALHAM
Your destination for breakfast classics with an original twist ack with a bang after a brief closure and refurbishment, Julian Porter and Lauren Johns’ all-day café Milk is the place to be on a Sunday. As my friends and I hovered expectantly by the door, the queue grew from a trickle into a tsunami with punters protruding out into the street. There may be a brief waiting time but the food is worth it. Seated outside in some of the last rays of autumn sunshine, we perused the menu after ordering tea. This arrived in adorable B
of THIS MORNING meal is the BANANA
ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES
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by way of the updated Sweet Corn Fritters (finished with smashed avocado, fetta and chilli jam), Ben’s Canteen is a fail-safe pick-me-up whenever you stop by. u Stephanie King
The main star
PANCAKES
MILK
BEN’S CANTEEN
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