Lunch at the Bull and Last, Highgate

We visited the Bull and Last in Highgate for a friend’s birthday lunch. It proved to be a great choice for our group, which included two-year-old twins, as it was basically full of women and children – indicative of its friendly, unstuffy approach to food service.

Saying that, the food has its challenging moments – not least the breaded duck tongue that formed part of the adventurous duck platter board. The board included some winners, in the form of a smooth duck pate, and some losers like the duck prosciutto, which, I’m told, tasted like sweets?!.

More successful perhaps was our fish platter – a board overflowing with marine delights including a very buttery potted shrimp, a delicate beetroot-cured gravadlax and a truly delicious smoked mackerel Spanish-style croquette - I could have happily guzzled a dozen.

As our two-year-old lunch buddies impressed us with their tool-making skills (using large caper berries on stalks to transport ketchup from their dad’s plate into their mouths) the rest of the gang tucked into pub standards, including mahusive, succulent, pink burgers. I tried a smoked haddock and cream tagliatelli, which was rich to the point of sickly – I couldn’t quite get through the mini portion I’d ordered in the vain hope of being 'good'. Pasta swimming in double cream with a raw egg yolk thrown on top for good measure wasn’t quite what I’d pictured.

Overall though, the food was very competent and there were some inventive touches, so it’s a thumbs up. You will get a warm welcome from the folks at the Bull and Last – even with a double-width buggy!

Brunch at the High Road Brasserie, Chiswick

This sophisticated, buzzy spot on Chiswick High Road has been my go-to place for a relaxed Saturday brunch for over a year.

Saturday mornings in the Goody Bite household are, well, non-existent. We usually manage to drag ourselves out by around 2pm with rumbling stomachs and no inclination to venture further than a few tube stops – so it didn’t take us long to discover this classic brunch venue. Problem is -  this being London and all - everyone else has the same idea and it’s sometimes hard to get a table. If there’s just two of you though, just turn up – they can normally find you a small corner in which to soak up your hangover and get started on another with one of their delicious Bloody Marys.

The Brasserie is on the ground floor of High Road House, owned by the stylish Soho House lot, so the decor is quite something. The floor is covered in individually decorated tiles and the well-stocked art-deco style bar is very glam.

Eggs are the most important part of any brunch for me. Here, they are perfect – firm yet runny every time. The High Road offers the full house of eggs-on-muffins-with-hollandaise (Benedict, Royale and Florentine).  I always order a Royal and a Florentine on the same plate and they never seem to mind. I usually notice fellow brunchees on neighbouring tables gazing at my combo longingly with a ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ look on their faces.  HA!

Anyway, my review? Come and try the eggs at the High Road and order a Bloody Mary. I’ve eaten here in the evening and it’s overpriced and the food is hit and miss, so opt for their brunch to start your weekend with a smug smile on your face.

GB Top Tip: Pop next door afters for a browse at the ‘I want to own everything’ Old Cinema. This vintage and antique homeware hypermarket is amazing – if you’re a millionaire. For the rest of us it’s a great place to take notes before getting it all on eBay.

'The combo' jealous?