Great Places to Eat - Doh!

Having sung the praises to the @matthewsyard brunch a little while back it looks like I spoke to soon. Went down there this morning looking forward to a nice Eggs Benedict. Disappointment! They have ditched the whole brunch thing in exchange for offering  toasted flat bread sandwiches. I am sure it is lovely whatever emerges from their George Forman type grilling thing, but.... Its just the same as whatever where else does. Its still a fine place, but now just a little bit less special. Growl.

Croydon Eating - Alberts Table

I had been slow to go to Alberts Table because, I will be honest,  I thought it was a bit up its own arse. I had assumed it was the kind of place where thick napkins and a handwringing Maitre D' would be the gateway to routine 'Modern British' food. And what's a restaurant in Croydon doing bandying the Michelin word around. I was wrong.
It turned out to be an absolute pleasure. The menu offered rabbit risotto and a wild mushroom soufflé. There was pork with white pudding and asparagus. There were so many big rich flavours, tastes that one remembers. Mushrooms that actually tasted wild, a feral fungus brought to heal.
The service was lovely, but maybe not in the way the proprietor dreams of. Attempts at formal Michelinish waiting were  cheerfully undermined by a charming amateurish    enthusiasm. It was kind of like the real Staff  had run off and a group of the owners friends were giving it a crack. The waitress viewing the corkscrew with an air of discovery, or the cheese board being presented like a narration from a nativity play. This is not a criticism really. If one likes pompous  yet grovelling this is not the place. If you like great food, taken seriously but with a smile then its a good call.

Great Places to Eat in Croydon - Brunch at Matthews Yard

Matthews Yard is the kind of place I think should exist but doesn't,  but it does. If that makes sense read on. A kind of arty workspace, coffee shop, venue, hangout, meeting space, bar, meeting room cafe place. Its the kind of place the public sector would makes a mess of, and the private sector would never do. I first came across the place last year when the @waterstonescroy book group started meeting their.
One of their most delightful innovations is brunch. A nice range of largely egg based fare, decent coffee in a  laid back environment. I have developed a particular weakness for their Eggs Benedict.  Recently I had the same dish at the much more prestigious Canteen on the Southbank, and the home team wins.

If one is looking for snappy efficiency I am sure the baristas at one of the chains would out gun these guys with their eyes closed. The short queue takes quite some time to serve, the staff exuding an air of discovery with each order. But it is all charming, for now.

It does seem a bit of a lottery when they are actually doing food. Brunch means brunch, don't make the mistake of wandering in for breakfast, and weekday mornings seem to be a no go. But maye if the trade is good they will grow their ambition.