Getting to take my mum out is one of the great perks of this job, and god knows she's a hound when it comes to a bottomless brunch. Taking her to The Botanist Broadgate for a birthday treat, this is yet another London venue proving that the topping up of bubbles and the art of the three-course-brunch is still going strong.
The Venue and Atmosphere
You only need to look at the below to see that The Botanist Broadgate have a great venue photographer, and it was nice to see that the imagery was no hoax. A pretty booming bar found on the round restaurant trail that is Broadgate Circle, this is another ETM venue showing that glitz and dining glamour live on strong within the group. Split between main bar and restaurant spaces, this is something of a tangled space where dining tables are set alongside lounge areas and bar stools. While something of a mish-mash, The Botanist ultimately sell themselves on design. Flitting between flecks of gold, low ceilings, taxidermy appendages, Victorian nods and colour-rich furniture, The Botanist is romantic, indulgent and cool.
Most bottomless brunches are busy in London, and The Botanist was no exception. Made up exclusively of 30-somethings, the brunch here isn't the loudest, but it certainly isn't the tamest either. Paired with a live musician, music and the scattering of friends, brunch here was perky to say the least.
Their luxe interiors and sexy style make for a brunch to remember.
The Food and Drink
Starting off with two glasses of prosecco, a bloody mary and a mimosa between the two of us, The Botanist Broadgate certainly did not slack when it came to enforcing that golden brunch rule: bottomless. Coming in at £25 for three courses alongside an extra £15 for the bottomless drinks option, this may be at the higher end of the brunch spectrum, but our meal proved that quality and quantity came along with that price tag.
While there were plenty of eggs on the brunch menu at The Botanist, this feels more like a tactful, three course lunch rather than strictly a brunch alone. As someone that can get a little downtrodden by the regular foray into an eggs florentine, this actually came as a nice surprise rather than a fry-up fiasco. Starting with the soft shell crab 'benedict', I knew i'd found the winning dish from the off. Bursting with bite, the jalapeno hollandaise sauce complimented the casual crab perfectly, creating a savoury dish that had true punch. While I would have liked a bigger portion, you're ultimately saved for the main course. Head on next to the spinach and ricotta cannelloni with roast squash, charred chicory and hazelnuts, it was nice to see a pasta dish make it onto the menu, and a colourful one at that. Bold with squash orange, there was just enough ricotta to go around, while the butternut itself added a thicker element to the plate. Wondering where are drinks are? You shouldn't be. Topped up throughout, The Botanist didn't miss a trick when it came to extra cocktails and the filling of bubbles. Closing with dessert, the sticky toffee pudding with crunchy nut cornflake ice cream came out strong. Pretty much a new favourite dessert of mine, this was a more-ish and rich take on the classic dish, with a little ice cream creativity thrown in for good measure.
The Botanist Broadgate offer out fun alternatives to classic brunch dishes.
Summary
While fun for a rowdy birthday girl and I, the brunch at The Botanist Broadgate is seemingly more geared for groups of friends looking to get a little buzzed before sunset. With creative brunch dishes, top alternatives for bottomless drinks and a charming service, The Botanist is yet another budget-effective brunch in the City that clearly prides itself on being the slightly-loud and luxe-looking alternative to others.
