Rita's
Rating: Eggs Benedict
London brunch review - Rita's. Have you heard of Rita’s? I can tell you this is a star on the East London horizon! From the outside of this restaurant placed at a crossing on Mare Street you wouldn’t think what gastronomic treasure is hidden behind the glass door. We arrive early which gives me the option to choose a table and also take some pictures of the interior with no one in it. Lucky me! The dusky pink, the small lamps and the fresh flowers on every table make you immediately feel like you have arrived in a good place. The service is super-friendly and the specials, which are written on a blackboard on the wall, are pointed out to us. I still feel I’ve missed out, because my stomach was just too full to squeeze in a piece of the “Pumpkin Pie with cinnamon cream and toasted marshmallows”.
I wouldn’t call Rita’s the typical brunch place. So, when you expect “Eggs Royal” then you better go somewhere else. Every dish is a delight and as you can read from the menu in the pictures eggs and fruits are there, they are just combined with weird ingredients. A very disappointing fact is there is only filter coffee :( I might bore people with my commentaries on good coffee, but I can’t help it – in 21st century London where baristas reach stardom, Latte Art is discussed in some circles on an everyday basis and buying differently roasted beans every weekend is on the cards a good espresso machine should be part of the basic equipment of a restaurant.
So, I go ahead and order “Ham hock hash & duck egg” with a ‘normal’ hen egg on the side – I want to find out, if there is actually a big difference in taste. They are both served as a fried egg and I know now certain people will tell me off, but the looks are the same and the taste is only slightly different. Sorry, gourmets!
We also order the “Fried chicken & waffles” with two different sauces on the side. It would have been a great hangover cure, but on a Saturday with no alcohol leftovers in your bloodstream the ingredients were a bit dry or could have been freshened up with some salad on the side maybe? However, the “Patty melt” is delicious exactly as it is being served. All that goes down extremely well with the spicy Bloody Marys decorated with a big caper split in 2 halves and the water on the side which is served in a Rita’s branded bottle. Loving it!
As a dessert we all share the “Blintzes with warm fruit” – have a look at the picture and then tell me this is something you could resist? So, if you are not in the mood for the ordinary – go to Rita’s! And in general –
go for brunch, London!
Cappuccino: .................................................................................... ---
Bloody Mary: ...................................................................................£7,00
Ham hock hash & duck egg ............................................................£9,00
Rita's, 175 Mare Street, London E8 3RH
Open: Tue 6-11, Wed - Fri 12-3 & 6-11, Sat 12-4 & 6-11, Sun12-4
Phone: 020 3096 1530
Email: hello@ritasbaranddining.com
