Colbert, Chelsea

Chefs are always on the lookout for critics, and even bloggers, but sometimes they should maybe look a little closer to home - Oriel on Sloane Square allegedly closed (according to some newspapers and websites) as the landlord Earl Cadogan of Cadogan Estates had a bad meal there and subsequently refused to renew the lease.  Hopefully he likes the replacement Colbert a little more, the third restaurant from The Wolseley and The Delaunay’s Jeremy King and Chris Corbin.   

Colbert is very much of the same grand European café style, with a distinctly Parisian feel with its brass, marble topped bar and leather booths.  They serve breakfast from 8am until midday, with the menu from midday featuring croques and sandwiches, salads, viennoiserie and crustaceans and caviar (the couple next to us were tucking into two tins of caviar for their brunch - I'm pretty sure this only happens in Chelsea). 

We went for Sunday brunch and chose from the eggs section – the scrambled eggs were soft, rich and generous with smoked salmon (£8.50), and the eggs benedict had a perfectly poached egg and buttery hollandaise (£7 for the small).  A lovely spot for a relaxed brunch in polished surroundings.

www.colbertchelsea.com/