Lantana, tucked away on Charlotte Place just off Goodge Street, takes its name from the flowering weed common to Australia, and has brought a
little piece of the Antipodean brunch scene to London since opening in 2008. With a focus on great coffee, including the
now ubiquitous Australian & New Zealand export of the flat white, and a relaxed
menu, the small café was packed on a chilly Sunday afternoon.
The brunch menu is full of tasty sounding dishes – the cinnamon
French toast with blueberry compote, honey ricotta and almonds on the next
table looked deliciously fruity, but we went for a couple of the savoury
options. My corn fritters worked well with the salty streaky bacon, spinach, flavoursome and juicy slow-roast tomatoes and cool avocado salsa and crème fraiche.
M went for grilled halloumi with more
slow-roast tomatoes, poached eggs, houmous, toasted Turkish bread and dukkah
(an Egyptian nut and seed sprinkling) – all parts were cooked well, especially
the golden cheese and flaky soft bread, but there was little too much going on (we
decided there wasn’t a place for cheese, eggs and houmous on the plate
together).
The bill came to £27 including service, with a good latte
and lovely infusion of fresh lemon, ginger and honey. The baked goods also looked fabulous – little
buttery friands sprinkled with poppy seeds, nutty blondies and a chocolate
slice filled with a gorgeous cerise cherry filling. The place is a little cramped and service
started off a bit brusque, but some really interesting brunch dishes. Along with weekend brunch, Lantana also
serves breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday, and has a takeaway shop next door called
Lantana Out – it’s just a shame my office isn’t a little closer.
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