A Beautiful Brunch Venue In Battersea, But Does The Food Measure Up?
Looks like this article is a bit old. Be aware that information may have changed since it was published.
Last Updated 30 April 2019
The first thing you notice on arrival at The Oak in Battersea is its spaciousness. Easily able to seat over 100 people, with tables spaced out, lots of natural light and comfy seating. This means one of our London brunching pet peeves can't happen here — when a relaxing brunch is interrupted by the staff informing us that there's a long queue of people waiting outside.
The Oak is located close to the river, right next to lots of residential areas and far away enough from Clapham Junction that it should get plenty of custom on a weekend morning. That said it was very quiet on our visit, though the Easter Holidays may have contributed to the emptiness.
First impressions are good but ultimately it's all about the food and does it measure up to the interior? Unfortunately, not quite. The options are pretty standard breakfast fare with nothing particularly adventurous on the menu. The smashed avocado with chilli is the one option that catches the eye, and while it's beautifully presented the chilli is completely washed out — with the barely discernible kick drowned out by egg yolk. The full English is serviceable, though it also doesn't distinguish itself from any others we've tried.
Everything here is fine enough but when there's a host of excellent brunch and breakfast options over by Clapham Junction and Clapham Common, it's worth travelling further for a delicious brunch or breakfast in south west London.
The Oak SW11, 39 Parkgate Road, SW11 4NP.
