Brunch @ The Modern Pantry, Clerkenwell

In a nut shell: unbelievably good food, sensational coffee ... slightly lacking in atmosphere.

The 30th December, with most of London a post Christmas ghost town, is perhaps not the time to see anywhere at it's best and so it was slightly to be expected that this renowned Clerkenwell cafe come restaurant would not be exactly buzzing. 

Having said that, even if it had been full, the white tables and chairs make it feel slightly more clinical than cosy and not exactly the kind of place you want to get settled into for hours.  On the plus side,there is a lovely wooden floor which adds a homey feel and the smell of coffee that overwhelms you as soon as you walk in the room is just too good to be true. The beans are roasted down the road at Caravan and deserve all the praise they get. 

The food is also top notch. My perfectly poached eggs came with sourdough toast and juicy sweet slow roasted tomatoes and I was very soon over my disappointment at the fact that they had run out of spinach (which was also meant to be included) and the option of a side of crushed avocado - I had seen on the online menu - wasn't on offer. The organic apple juice, served with ice and lime went down an absolute treat as, of course, did the exquisite coffee. My friend chose crispy bacon and poached eggs on muffins with an expertly made hollandaise.

From the look of what people around us were tucking into, the food was all pretty fantastic and the cocktails looked great too.