Milk

• Where? Balham, 18-20 Bedford Hill
• How Much? ££
• Book ahead? No (expect 20-40 min queues during peak times on the weekend)
• What? Cafe & Brunch
• Vegetarian options? Yes
• Vegan options? Yes
• Gluten free options? Yes

Situated in Balham, which is quickly becoming a trendy hotspot for independent restaurants and cafes, it is no surprise that Milk has caught the attention of London brunch lovers. This tiny cafe has recently stirred lots of attention, hailed online as the best brunch spot south of the river.

Modest in size, Milk’s popularity has become a sizeable challenge, with customers facing a long line of hungry foodies during peak times and at the weekend. Whilst their website claims that customers will have to queue for no longer than 20 minutes, I would anticipate waiting up to 40…but is it worth it? Absolutely!

The Food

Despite its size, Milk boasts an impressive menu, offering a range of classics as well as some alternative options. There is both indoor and outdoor seating (with heaters), with the capacity to seat moderately sized groups. The service is fantastic, the staff are really friendly and the food is served promptly even during peak times. I highly recommend a visit, whether you fancy a sit down meal or just a cup of coffee!

1. Sweet Maria £9.50

8/10 – Whilst this wouldn’t typically be my first choice for breakfast, I saw a few of these being served up whilst waiting in the queue and just had to find out what all of the fuss was about.

The sweetcorn fritters are amazing. Whilst they don’t hold much flavour on their own, they soak up all of the delicious, sweet tomato sauce and have such a lovely texture. Paired with the thick, buttery halloumi, the flavour combinations and textures all complimented each other perfectly. My only criticism is the addition of avocado, which in my humble opinion, was unnecessary. The lime flavour was overpowering and didn’t work with the rest of the meal. Other than that, this was a brilliant dish that I will most definitely be ordering again.

2. Young Betty £10.10

8/10 – Whilst this wasn’t my order, I have received raving reviews from my friends, who all agree that this meal was delicious. The burnt butter hollandaise went down particularly well and the bacon was met with equally fond opinion.

3. Hash Browns £4.50

7/10 – Can you really go wrong with a hash brown? Apparently not. This hash stack comes with a dusting of grated Parmesan on top, a welcomed surprise. Crisp and buttery, a classic crowd pleaser.

4. Banana Bread £6.70

10/10 – I can easily confirm that this is the best banana bread I have ever eaten. I am not exaggerating when I say that this dish had each and every one of us salivating after the first bite. The halva butter and pumpkin seed tahini is so light and buttery, balancing the sweet banana flavour perfectly. Whilst we managed to share one of these between five of us, I will be coming back to devour a whole slice next time!

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