Drunch

As you may remember, I mentioned I may have gained a few extra unwanted pounds but have been eating super healthy since (with the exception of that amazing, salted caramel cruffin) and I’m seeing them magically melt right off! Now I’ve suddenly become one of those people who like to bore everyone around them with their constant healthy chatter, rabbit food snaps, and tweets about calories burnt in the gym today. So, when I was invited for a meal at Drunch, a restaurant that offers various healthy options, I agreed instantly.

You may remember Drunch from my previous brunch series where I raved about their weekend roast and delicious pancakes, but this time I decided to order lunch items. Their menu is an all-day menu so you can still opt for their breakfast items but why would you possibly do that when they have truffle mac and cheese, beef tataki, or crispy duck!

Making a choice of what to eat was proving to be a difficult task so I opted for one of their fresh juices – the antioxidant supreme made of strawberries, blueberries, and sweet mangoes.

I finally made my decision on what to eat so here we go.

A big, juicy piece of steak arrived with broccoli, hasselback potatoes, and cream of spinach. The steak had been cooked to a medium to medium-well as oppose to the medium-rare I had requested but nevertheless the meat was tender and easy to cut through. The char from the grill added a fantastic smoky taste however when it came to the fat, it was quite chewy and not that enjoyable.

The hasselback potatoes were done well and deliciously crispy, the creamed spinach could have done with a little more salt, and the broccoli was good. Considering the dish is priced at £18 do not expect a super high quality, mouth-melting steak, but Drunch do provide a good steak that has been superbly cooked at a fraction of the price charged at other halal steak restaurants.

To keep it light, I opted for a half portion of the salad which came piled with healthy goodies such as butternut squash, seeds, nuts, quinoa, avocado. This made a refreshing addition to the meal, and you are also able to add a portion of halloumi, chicken, or both, to the salad to make it into a full dish! The huge slice of bread that they serve with the salad is tasty and would be perfect with a spread of creamy butter.

By this point, I had managed ¾ of my steak and almost finished my salad. I was in no position to order dessert even though they looked incredibly mouth-watering. These desserts are made fresh every day by a lovely lady who then delivers them to the restaurant, and some of the goodies include a “R.I.P Diet” cheesecake (so relevant to my life), a very popular oreo cheesecake, brownies and much more.

I was unsure about the flavour combination, but having been convinced by Drunch that this 24 hour infused tea was really yummy, I decided to give it a go. I opted for the hot version and received a little pot of tea with a slice of orange peel, and a glass of honey to accompany it. I loved the spicy kick the tea had from the cinnamon which was then toned down by the sweetness from the orange peel and honey – a different take to your usual mint tea and the perfect way to end a meal!

The wait for the food was a little long however this was expected as all of Drunch’s dishes are made to order. The service was both attentive and helpful, and the daytime atmosphere is quite nice and quaint, which is good after a long day of shopping in Oxford Street!

Here  is more food from my previous visit to Drunch:

The platter consisted of black olive tapenade, salsa, guacamole, and hummus, plus freshly baked bread and pita chips. The pita chips were nice and crunchy, and perfect for dunking into each of the condiments that were all made in-house.

The steak had been grilled to a medium, sliced, and placed on top of a green salad. The balsamic vinegar really enhanced the flavour of the soft steak and added a subtle sweetness to the whole dish.

There were only four fried chicken tenders but they had been seasoned well and tasted great dipped into the tomato sauce. Drunch also served mini fried, crunchy potatoes on the side as well to complete this Spanish inspired dish.

Soft pasta tubes that had been mixed with a combination of gooey, velvety cheese and pungent truffle oil, and then topped with a crumbly layer of breadcrumbs and cheese. Yum! The truffle oil cut through the richness of the mac and cheese to ensure that the abundance of cheese wouldn’t be too overbearing.

At a slightly eye-watering price of £15, you may have high expectations of this burger to be absolutely delicious; it was a good, solid burger but unfortunately not worth the price tag. The burger had been cooked to a wonderful medium and managed to stay in one piece the entire meal however the patty was a little on the dry side and could have done with more seasoning.

I had imagined this to taste quite different to how it really was and I was slightly disappointed. The merguez sausage itself was great and really delicious, however the vegetables and the stew sauce itself needed a lot more of a kick in the flavour department. The accompanying lentil couscous made a delightful, light change to the usual white rice.

Z ordered this dish and I have to say, it was the best of the bunch during the meal. The tender chicken arrived smothered in a mustard and mushroom sauce, alongside some lentil couscous. The sauce had a great kick from the mustard which was not too overbearing, and the mushrooms added a nice, earthy aroma to the dish. Z enjoyed this dish so much that she ended up recreating it at home!

The final bill of this previous meal, excluding drinks and service, amounted to approximately £91 for four people so around £23 each. It is a little steep but you are, in essence, paying for the location and the quality of the food – each dish is prepared from scratch to ensure maximum freshness. During the evening, Drunch is full with friends or families both sitting inside and out, and because the restaurant is quite small do expect to wait for a table.

In a few weeks time, Drunch will be coming out with a brand new menu including all the classics such as the pancakes and full English, but with additions that will make your mouth water so be sure to check them out!

P.S If you do want to smoke shisha then do not forget to book for the evening as the outside seating area becomes packed come night time!

Disclaimer: I was invited to dine at Drunch so the rating has been based on my previous visit.