An art deco American diner meets Club Tropicana with mouth watering food at any time of the day - opening its doors for the first time outside of London, The Breakfast Club has come to Brighton and I got to sample the gluttonous goods.
The Venue
Wander down Market Street in The Lanes and you'll find it a challenge to miss The Breakfast Club. The shock of mustard yellow sets the tone of what to expect inside. Pink flamingos, turquoise ceiling, neon lights and palm trees - The Breakfast Club clearly doesn't do subtle. A few tables sit out front but with the front wall of windows open, you can still sit inside and enjoy the warm summer weather - and still stay dry when the British summer really sets in! A chrome spiral staircase leads upstairs to a larger seating area but we were seated downstairs in a plush leather booth which gave the feeling of privacy whilst still being able to feel like you were a part of the goings on of the restaurant.
Retro trinkets and pastel colours lace the walls of The Breakfast Club.
The Food and Drink
You'll have to forgive me, I had every intention of going to The Breakfast Club and trying their breakfast. The full breakfast menu is served until 5pm, offering a range of American style fry ups, pancake stacks and just about any type of egg you could want and the dinner menu provides a Late Late Breakfast menu of a reduced selection. But I couldn't resist going for the Pulled Pork Sandwich (£10) - juicy chunks of BBQ pulled pork with melted Red Leicester cheese, gherkins and pickled crunchy red cabbage, in a toasted brioche bun, served with skin on fries and coleslaw. Fair warning: you will not be able to eat this tidily, but it is so worth the mess. My friend went for the Cow vs. Pig Burger (£12); the homemade organic steak patty was one of the tastiest burgers we'd ever had. We almost couldn't fit in pudding but after a recommendation from the helpful waitress we shared Pancakes and Berries, served with maple syrup and a generous dollop of vanilla cream, which definitely lived up to the hype.
As for drinks, The Breakfast Club offers something for every palate - organic tea, authentic Southern American coffee, healthy smoothies, thick ice cream milkshakes, a variety of cocktails, beers and wine. We opted for the Tropical Gangster cocktail (£8) - pineapple, lemongrass, lychee, apple and lime with a double shot of Ron Barceló 5 Year rum. Also available as a smoothie without the alcohol, this was fruity and refreshing without masking the taste of the delicious food.
Tuck into a Breakfast Club burger, they're bold, delicious and moorish.
The Atmosphere
With a soundtrack ranging from The Small Faces to Human League to Katy Perry, The Breakfast Club wasn’t ashamed to wear its heart on its sleeve. You'll find a range of people choosing to dine there, including families, couples, 20-somethings and students. Whilst individual tables and booths are available, breakfast bar style seating and connected benches offers people a chance to make some friends, which mirrors The Breakfast Club's sociable and welcoming demeanour. The clientele are relaxed, happy to take their time over the food and not just eat and run. The service is quick but the obliging staff are more than willing to give you extra time to peruse the extensive menu when you just can't decide what to go for.
Bubbly, brimming with knick knacks and bold, The Breakfast Club have their branding and atmosphere on point.
Summary
Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner - whatever time scramble (geddit) your way The Breakfast Club you can be sure that you'll have great tasting American style food, whether you go for something healthy, or not so much....... A welcome change from the drab day to day, The Breakfast Club took me back to a time where bringing a splash of fun to your dining experience was as standard.
