B decided it was well past time this esteemed blog featured one of THE places to visit in London - Duck & Waffle in Heron Tower, aka the all night diner with the fab view. D&W makes our list by virtue of their ‘Colombian eggs, organic eggs, toast, avocado’ for £11.
Appearance - 3.5/5
As the dish approached the table, we were quite nervous as the avo was all but hidden under the yellow pile of eggs. But rest assured reader, the avo was indeed present! This dish looks pretty nice, lots of primary colours, though we did think it wasn’t the most generous serve.
Taste - 3/5
B’s not a big fan of eggs, but her buddy J agreed - the eggs were only fine. The was an overwhelming flavour of coriander (how Columbian is that?). The toast was also fine, but didn’t taste very sourdough-y to our experienced Australian palates. The avocado was also only fine, as it wasn’t ripe enough. We agreed there wasn’t enough chilli, and in general we liked the dish, but we didn’t love it.
Innovation - 3.5/5
D&W did pretty well here - this is not a dish you see everywhere, and we always love a twist. Thanks for the effort guys!
Cafe - 5/5
Yes, this place is amazing. Duck & Waffle is overpriced, the amount of staff (from the street level door onwards) is slightly ridiculous, but it is a beautiful space and a great experience! The view is stunning, you can order cocktails at breakfast and still be at work on time and you know you need that adventure in your life.
B wants to know though - if D&W is open 24 hours a day, when do they do the vacuuming and mopping?!
Total - 15/20
Cafe details: Heron Tower, The Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY
B headed south for a change. Without any set plans we wandered for a bit until stopping at No. 32 The Old Town, which B’s locally-based mate had heard was good. When we arrived it turned out that No. 32 is a sister restaurant to No. 11 Pimlico Road ... needless to say expectations were not high. However, B forged on and again ordered: Crushed Avocado & Feta On sourdough toast w/ chilli oil (maybe a different chef would mean a different dish?!)
Appearance - 3/5
It looks basically the same as No. 11 - lots of avo and feta on the plate, but in much too large pieces. Very similar to No. 11 - lots of stuff, too large pieces.
Taste - 2/5
Unfortunately, this version is equally disappointing. The quality of the avocado was much improved (pro) and there was A TON more chilli added (con). As before, it was a very oily and difficult to eat dish. I’ve definitely learned my lesson and will not be ordering again!
Innovation - 2/5
Ergh... no. It’s literally the same plate as it’s sister restaurant, and none of the ingredients was particularly interesting or innovative.
Cafe - 2.5/5
The Clapham version of this cafe is definitely a lot nicer than the Pimlico one (and yes, I do say that with malice in my heart towards Pimlico and surrounds in general). But the staff were a lot friendlier (except for a too cool and brusque host), the decor was much funkier and relaxed. On the other hand, I literally watched my ‘freshly squeezed orange juice’ being poured from a tropicana bottle - I mean, c’mon guys?!
Avocado on toast, sticky date pudding and flat whites are popping up on menus from Brooklyn to Berlin as Australian classics enjoy new global popularity
After Instagram stalking this particular avo on toast for several months, B & P decided to get up close and personal and try out Fink’s Salt and Sweet for themselves.
Fink’s Salt and Sweet is nestled in a lovely strip of shops in between Stoke Newington and Finsbury Park. By all accounts from the London food blogging scene their Avocado on toast with harissa and chevre is a must-try dish, so try it we did...
Appearance - 4/5
When a plate comes at you with TWO SERIOUS HUNKS OF GOATS CHEESE, there is not much to over-analyse here guys.
Taste - 4.25/5
The generous serving of avocado and goats cheese, on a thin (hidden) layer of garlicky harissa and beautiful toasted sourdough made this a super satisfying dish. The only nitpicky minus was that the avocado could have used a bit more salt to really boost the flavour.
Innovation - 4/5
Avo, harissa and chevre is quite a unique combination, and it worked gloriously.
Cafe - 5/5
Fink’s Salt and Sweet is a perfect blend of relaxed and chic, and the food is all super affordable (the avo on toast was only a fiver!!). We happily spent a sunny Saturday arvo finishing our meals with great coffee and delicious sweet treats. They are also open in the evenings with what looks like a grazing/vego friendly menu. B & P will defs be back!
Total - 17.25/20
Cafe details: Fink’s Salt and Sweet, 70 Mountgrove Road, London N5 2LT
Hubbard & Bell is the cafe inside the achingly hip Hoxton Hotel outpost in Holborn (try saying that ten times fast). It’s conveniently close to B’s work, so a weekday avocado adventure was attempted (I’ll stop with the alliteration now. Apologies). We had: Avocado, sourdough, egg, pistachio (Yes, that is how it’s listed on the menu, I told you it was achingly hip)
Appearance - 3/5
As the friendly waitress bore down on our table, we were very pleased with the amount of avo! It’s nicely smashed, and generously served. The mis-matched china and sprinkling of crushed pistachio also made the whole dish look very pretty.
Taste - 2/5
Unfortunately, this dish was just a bit meh. Of the two poached eggs only one had a runny centre, a big big no no in poached egg circles. We also managed to scope the table next to us, with the same dish, also lacked runny centres. In terms of the addition of the pistachio... well... you couldn’t really taste them at all. After all, pistachios are quite a mild, soft nut, so they didn’t add much in terms of flavour or crunch factor.
Innovation - 2.5/5
Marks for trying here with the pistachio, not a nut I’ve ever come across on avo. However, I feel a more tried and true dukkah or similar would have really livened up the texture, and therefore the whole meal.
Cafe - 3/5
Not sure how to mark this one to be honest - it is a lovely cafe. The decor is hip, the area feels spacious, the people watching opportunities are seriously GREAT! The staff were incredibly smiley and lovely to a T, as well as being the hippest of hipsters (not sure I’ve said this place is hip enough in this post...). However, it’s not cheap (but then again, central London). We tried a few other items on the menu - pancakes, juice, coffees... overwhelming falling in the lower end of the ‘fine to meh’ range. For me the biggest downside is you have to start a tab when you order. I get that given the hotel lobby-ness of the place they are at risk of people walking out unpaid and unnoticed, however it still really grates to have to hand over your card before you’ve had so much as a sip of coffee of a morning! It’s not a nice note to begin on, and it stayed with me like a bad smell for the rest of the experience.
Total - 10.5/20 - If you’re in the area, nice spot for coffee or drinks, but get your avo fix elsewhere
Cafe details: 199-206 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7BD
B Street Deli on Bermondsey St may be good enough for Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, but their avocado on toast failed to excite P’s discerning tastebuds.
P was guided by a local to check out the B Street Deli for a) their avo on toast and b) the prospect of celeb spotting (apparently Eddie Redmayne has been known to frequent the establishment).
Unfortunately we seemed to have caught the cafe on a bad day as nothing really went right with their Avocado on toast...
Appearance - 3/5
Apart from the weird looking poached eggs, the board of avocado on toast looked pretty standard. Given the very basic menu description, on first glance the dish neither excited nor disappointed the beholder.
Taste - 2/5
Heading straight to the flaws, the dish delivered not one but TWO big fails...1) the bread was not toasted and was not sourdough ..seriously guys come on ...it’s not that hard just toast your damn bread! 2) there was an eggshell on the poached egg...I don’t even know how that’s really possible but there you go. The avocado itself..was fine...but there was no real chance of recovery from the previously stated flaws.
Innovation - 1.5/5
There was literally nothing on the avocado except salt and pepper, and the minor points are coming for the tomato and rocket salad served on the side which did add flavour. P’s friend did say that on previous occasions the cafe had offered avo on toast with feta and sourdough but unfortunately today was not the day for such extravagances.
Cafe - 4/5
B. Street Deli is actually quite a cosy and warm cafe with wonderful customer service, which makes it all the more disappointing that their avo on toast was so mediocre. They have a great selection of baked goods, so maybe steer that way if you drop in for a visit.
Total - 10.5/20
And no there were no celebs to be spotted :(
Cafe details: B. Street Deli, Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UB
One of B’s favourite Saturday activities is a visit to Broadway Market. This Saturday, her visit was extra delightful thanks to the lovely ladies at Knead, and their fresh multiseed English muffins with smashed avocado, chilli, lime and coriander (for the bargain price of £3!)
Appearance - 4.5/5
How cute are these muffins?! I thought this looked great - lovely green avo, very generously shmeared and what looks like a good amount of chilli and coriander flecked throughout. It’s also ridic fresh, these muffins were cut in half and toasted while we waited.
Taste - 3/5
Well the muffins are delicious (Knead also make amazing crumpets which we tried with salted caramel peanut butter spread, oh my freaking god, YES!). And I loved that the avo was very smooth, almost whipped. However I don’t think these avos were ripe enough, as they weren’t very flavourful. They could have used more salt and pepper and less coriander, which rather dominated each bite. Our resident coriander addict P probably would’ve loved this...
Innovation - 4/5
The use of an English muffin (especially a fresh one from a speciality bakery) is a really lovely take on traditional avocado on toast. the smoothness of the avo, while probably not everyone’s cup of tea, was also a very welcome change.
Tempting muffins, crumpets and spreads at Knead
Cafe - 3/5
Okay so Knead isn’t really a cafe - it’s a stall (but a cute one!). They serve other baked goods with a wide range of spreads (honeycomb, chocolate, jam, etc etc) and what we sampled we loved! Knead is in the side bit of Broadway market which means it’s much quieter and less manic than the main strip, and there’s a tables and a patch of grass upon which to enjoy your snack.
Now we know that most weekends there’s nothing better than rolling out of bed and heading straight to your nearest source of caffeine and avocado sustenance...but sometimes...just sometimes you may be alert and inspired enough to make brunch from scratch at home #cray
This list of avocado on toast recipes is for such an occasion:
How Sweet It Is’ Mexican Grilled Corn Avocado Toast
Sprouted Kitchen’s Avocado Tartines With Gribiche Egg Salad
Food & Wine’s Avocado Toasts With Oaxacan Sesame Sauce
Bon Appetit’s Your New Avocado Toast
Love and Lemons’ Loaded Avocado Toast
With Food and Love’s Avocado Toast With Cilantro Lime Cashew Cream
Dishing up the Dirt’s Pomegranate and Pistachio Relish on Avocado Toast
P went apartment hunting with her new housemate A, and found the little neighbourhood cafe Friends of Ours in Hoxton.
Friends of Ours has only recently opened in February and brands itself in the style of an “Antipodean” cafe (i.e. like ones you’d find in Australia/NZ). Calling yourself Antipodean seems to be a thing now in London - but if it means I get good coffee and avo on toast more readily, I ain’t complaining.
P ate:
Smashed avocado with fresh chopped tomatoes, house made chilli chutney, smoked bacon and poached eggs
Appearance - 3.5/5
Ok so technically in this picture you can’t actually see any avocado - but in real life I was really happy with the generous avocado I could see under the fluffy poached eggs. I was also excited by the herbs, tomatoes and general prospect of flavour.
Taste - 3.5/5
The pluses: the eggs were poached perfectly, the avocado was creamy, and the bread was sourdoughy. The minus for me was that I found the chilli chutney to be very sweet and it actually overpowered the dish. I’m thinking that maybe with the addition of bacon this flavour may have been balanced out - but in its absence I didn’t love the dish as much as I wanted to.
Innovation - 4/5
While I wasn’t a fan of this particular chilli chutney - I commend the cafe’s attempt at loading up their avocado on toast with tomato, parsley, and what appeared to be a dusting of dukkah. Using a more tangy/spicy chutney would have definitely boosted the flavour.
Cafe - 4/5
Friends of Ours is in a cute strip of shops on Pitfield St. The service was excellent, and they have a great variety of fresh brunch and lunch options. I was slightly disappointed by their coffee, but now that this is gonna be my new hood I will definitely be back to try other menu options!
Total - 15/20
Cafe details: Friends of Ours, 61 Pitfield St, Hoxton, London N1 6BU
B’s mum is in town and staying in the rarely explored territory of west London. Yes, B feels a bit like a fish out of water there - but, she’s not one to turn down an opportunity to try a new cafe that serves avo! Which led her to No. 11 Pimlico Road, and: Crushed Avocado & Feta On sourdough toast w/chilli oil
Appearance - 3/5
First glance this seems like it’s going to be okay! The serve is very generous, there’s lots of avo and lots of feta. But it looks a bit standard. Some nicer plating, an interesting garnish, or just a little something, would have made all the difference here.
Taste - 1/5
This is one of the least satisfying plates of avo I’ve ever had the misfortune to try :(
The avo was completely overpowered by the (average-tasting) feta and the whole dish was very very oily. The hint of chilli was nice, but the avo really wasn’t celebrated or featured at all. It also turned out on closer inspection that the avo was over ripe and brown in spots, and if this was actually sourdough then I’m a monkey’s uncle - frankly I expect more for £8 worth of brunch! Finally, it’s not taste related, but I really hated the large chunks of avo and feta - they weren’t an easy size to eat at all and the whole thing was just more difficult than breakfast should be!
Innovation - 2.5/5
I guess it’s innovative to serve the avo and feta combination not smashed? Maybe some people (weirdos) prefer large chunks for breakfast? As above, there’s sincere doubts about the origins of the bread, and the quality of the ingredients in general was poor, so no extra credit there.
Cafe - 2/5
Errrghhhh it’s Pimlico what can we really expect? B ate very early on a Saturday, and there was only one other table occupied upon arrival - but we still didn’t get a window seat because the tables were booked. DON’T get B started on the complete and utter ridiculousness of booking brunch! The staff were fine, though not particularly warm and in general the vibe is a bit impersonal.
Why Am I Eating That? - When it comes to dining out there’s no denying that Australians live in the lucky country, but how often do you consider how a particular dish came to be?
SMASHED AVOCADO
Forty years ago, when Katrina Myers’ parents planted avocado trees on what’s now the Barham Avocados farm in New South Wales, most Australians had never heard of the fruit. Those born into the first half of Generation X lived avocado-less childhoods, while Generation Y and beyond were raised on the first smashed avo to hit our plates – baby food.
Australians are eating around 60 per cent more avocados per annum than they were 10 years ago, according to Avocados Australia Ltd...
One reason we’re seeing its proliferation on menus is it’s a low-labour and high-demand dish – with big profit margins. Whipping up a large batch of smash is simple: add lemon to prevent oxidisation, some olive oil and salt and the chef is good to go...
As for the spread of smashed avocado to New York and international cities – Granger has no doubt that, “Australian cafe culture is responsible for all of it. I’m certain of this.
B & P met some friends for a Saturday brunch in West Hampstead at Wet Fish Cafe.
As B had a rugby game to get to later in the day, we thought it would be a good excuse to check out something en route to Wembley, and catch up with friends in the environs #twobirdsonestone etc
We ate:
Avocado, feta, lime, chilli & sunflower seeds on toasted sourdough
Appearance -
4/5
The plating was a lovely, spring-like exuberance of colour. This dish appeared to be more of a breakfast bruschetta than a classic avo on toast, but who doesn’t love bruschetta?
Taste - 3.5/5
The first thing that threw P was that the toast wasn’t actually toast so much sandwich bread. Despite that, the ingredients adorning the bread were a great medley of flavours - the feta and chilli added sharpness (the chilli was actually spicy and had a great kick), the cherry tomatoes added freshness, and the sunflower seeds were a nice textural addition. If the bread was toasted this would have scored much higher...but alas.
Innovation - 3.5/5
We thought that the sunflower seeds were a great touch - and while we have seen this in Melbourne, it’s a less common sighting for London.
Cafe (restaurant) - 3.5/5
Wet Fish Cafe sits on the high street at West Hampstead and offers a cosy, comfortable environment. It’s probably more traditional/old school than hipster but the coffee was good, and we were easily able to secure a table for five during peak brunch hour. We think it’s a great cafe to hit up if you are in the area, but nothing to go out of your way to visit.
Total - 14.5/20
Cafe details: Wet Fish Cafe, 242 West End Ln, West Hampstead, London NW6 1LG
Say you have a blog about avocado on toast. Say you live in London. Say you are looking for more blog fodder. In such a situation, it is perfectly normal to spend half a day googling ‘best avocado toast in London’, right? Glad we agree...
B’s extensive research led her to Hackney favourite Healthy Stuff and: Sourdough toast with mushed avocado, maldon sea salt, chilli flakes and olive oil and/or feta.
Luckily, B had R with her so both versions could be sampled (you know... for science).
Appearance - 3/5
Okay not the most exciting of plates ever I’ll admit. But on a second look it checks out pretty well: really excellent, not too ripe or unripe avocado, sufficiently mashed, and with very visible flakes of salt and chilli. The side salad was probably a bit of a waste of space though.
Taste - 4.5/5
I’m calling it now, this is one of the best avocados on toast I’ve eaten. And that’s mostly down to the bread - omg this is awesome sourdough. There isn’t enough sourdough used in London cafes. The bread was the perfect mix of chewy, cripsy crust and amazing rounded sourdough flavour. The avo was seasoned perfectly. I shock myself by saying this, but it’s such a great plate of avo and toast the feta doesn’t really bring much extra.
Innovation - 4/5
In Melbs, the use of sourdough toast is pretty much standard. In London, it’s gets a extra point, as it’s so rare! Other than that, not particularly innovative, but I think HS deserve props for using such high quality ingredients to really raise this dish to a new level.
Cafe - 3/5
Healthy Stuff is half organic/hippy grocery and half cafe. It’s very tiny, with only about 5 tables (though we didn’t have a problem getting a seat), and the walls are lined with all sorts of vegan and grain/dairy/lactose/taste free groceries - if this is your schtick, you’ll love HS. Either way, it’s a very sweetly decorated space (yay fairy lights!), the produce is of very high quality and we enjoyed hanging out there with yummy smoothies and a bit of vegan cake to round out our brunch. Minus points for an extremely loud smoothie maker in a tiny space.
Total - 14.5/20 What you really need to know is: I will definitely definitely be back!
B recently had a (lovely) holiday in south east Asia. Whodathunkit, but it turns out it’s not too hard to find delicious avocado and toast in the (not really) wilds of Cambodia and Bali.
First up - Sister Srey Cafe in Siem Reap, Cambodia. B was very lucky to have the lovely PD, a Siem Reap expert, to offer considered and robust advice on where to find the best cafes/bars/shops/massages, and Sister Srey Cafe was at the top of the list with smashed avocado on toast, with feta, tomatoes and pesto.
Appearance - 3/5
It’s always a bit exciting to see your favourite Western food coming towards you when you’re overseas, so I was pretty pleased with this spread. Really the only change I’d make would be a more generous serve of avocado.
Taste - 3/5
My big concern here was the quality of the bread. Any seasoned traveller knows that good bread can be a bit of a tall order in Asia. While this toast was so slightly on the sweet side, it was pretty darn good, and I enjoyed it. The pesto was a welcome addition for a bit more oomph as the tomatoes and avo weren’t particularly flavourful.
Innovation - 4/5
In Melbourne or London, I’m not sure this dish would get super high marks for innovation - but in Cambodia, getting a dish with multiple components served on a chopping board seems like the height of sophisticated hipsterdom, and Sister Srey deserves props for that.
Cafe - 5/5
The best thing about Sister Srey - even better than finding a cute, Melbourne style cafe with good coffee and happy service amongst the tourist tat of Siem Reap - is that this is a cafe with heart. The Australian sisters who run Sister Srey are focussed on giving a helping hand to the local community. Not only does Sister Srey offer balanced hours, training, and fair pay to young Khmer students who need to work while they’re studying, the Cafe also puts a percentage of profits into improving access to education, health and hygiene for locals. B’s top tip for enjoying Siem Reap - spend the afternoon escaping the heat in this lovely space and feel good on multiple levels.
Total - 16/20
Next up, B headed over to Bali to see the other B and P! They were similarly well prepared with cafe recommendations, and so on our final morning in Seminyak we headed over to Sisterfields. (The sister connection is a totally random coincidence, but a neat one!) B wasted no time in ordering: Smashed avocado, semi dried tomatoes, popped capers & feta with lime sea salt on wholegrain toast.
Appearance - 4/5
I mean damn son! Have you seen a better looking plate of avocado recently? Generous avocado, generous feta, seedy bread, important/interesting garnishes of lime/dill.... this is a tough plate to beat!
Taste - 4/5
I have never in my life tasted, or even heard of, a popped caper. Turns out, they provide a delicious briny burst of flavour and a lovely soft texture - not at all overwhelming or crunchy as feared. Really everything about this was great: solid bread, solid seasoning, great combination. As with Sister Srey, this wasn’t the best avocado I’ve ever tasted (perhaps not the season) and so that would be my only quibble.
Innovation - 4.5/5
Popped capers! Brilliant new idea which really elevates an old favourite. The dill was also lovely, and I loved the tomatoes were semi-dried for a change over fresh.
Cafe - 3.5/5
Walking into Sisterfields you’d be forgiven for thinking you were back in Melbourne. The tiles, the pops of neon on black and white background, the aesop products in the bathroom - this is a very nice cafe. It’s also very busy, and let’s be honest, given that we’re in Bali there are a few douchenozzles to be found crowding these tables. The service was quick and friendly, but I guess the whole place feels a bit impersonal, and not particularly Balinese.
Believe it or not, but this is actually the first JOINT review by B & P on this prestigious site #ridic
As P is currently taking a brief sojourn in the north-western suburbs, B trekked here to check out how they do avo on toast on this side of town. We consumed:
Smashed avocado - with lemony white beans, tomato, chorizo and rocket on toasted sourdough
Appearance - 4/5
As you can tell by the photo the plating of the avo on toast was suitably cheery, with a nice array of contrasting colours. We also like the camping style tin plates, which help keep things casual.
Taste - 3.75/5
The white beans, tomato and avocado combined really well to create a smooth dish. The rocket added a fresh, peppery contrast without being too overbearing. The few criticisms we had were that the dish was a little on the oily side, and would have benefited from a dash of lemon to cut through (hence the marks off from getting it to 4 points). The dish comes with chorizo too for those who are in to that sort of thing, but these herbivore authors can’t attest to how good that would taste.
Innovation - 3.5/5
The addition of tomatoes, white beans and rocket really boosted the dish, and took it away from the ho-hum of the standard avocado on toast fare.
Cafe (restaurant) - 4/5
The Belsize Park outpost of Ginger + White is a cosy, split-level cafe which we had no trouble getting in to on a Saturday morning. We sat at a communal table and enjoyed some delicious coffee, and chit chat with our fellow brunchers. The staff were a bit frazzled at times, but overall our cafe experience was positive.
P ventured in to the elegant Dean Street Townhouse upon her brunch companion's suggestion, and was charmed by the Soho institution and its offering of:
Avocado on toast, poached egg
Appearance - 3.5/5
Now the descriptor didn't give a whole lot away, but I was pleased with the visibly generous serve of avocado, and dainty sprinkling of chives. The poached egg looked pretty cute too (if it's possible for a poached egg to do so).
Taste - 3.5/5
Really Dean Street Townhouse have it all figured out because by providing absolutely no description of the dish, I had minimal expectations that were delightfully exceeded. The avocado on toast was flecked with chilli (always going to go down well in my books), the egg was poached perfectly, and the wedge of lemon rounded out this simple dish pretty well.
Innovation - 2.5/5
Lemon, sprinkling of chives, chilli...not a whole of additional pizzazz going on here.
Cafe (restaurant) - 4/5
Dean Street Townhouse is pretty fancy, without being overly pretentious. The coffee was decent, and the service was quick (although perhaps a tad too over-attentive). They are definitely going for a dim/mood lighting vibe so may be a good option for when you are hungover/ want to avoid bright lights.
Total - 13.5/20
Cafe details: Dean Street Townhouse, 69 - 71 Dean Street, London W1D 3SE
