The Vincent in Hackney: Bottomless brunch review

From the team that brought us the Sebright Arms comes the Vincent, a laid-back, effortlessly cool establishment perched on the corner on Dalston Lane’s busy intersection. Nestled between towering new builds and lavishly decked out with Scandi-style design and décor, it gives off a superior modern feel from the outset. Even the customers glow here, as natural light floods the dining room thanks to impressive floor-to-ceiling windows and creatively hung lighting. Proudly advertising a new summer brunch menu, with a welcome like this we couldn’t wait to try it out.

It should be said, however, that the Vincent is not only a destination restaurant for Londoners seeking a decent meal, but a proud amenity for local Hackney residents. Boasting a range of locally sourced goods, its offering compiles the best of the borough: the coffee is roasted by Hackney Wick’s Roasting Shed and the beers and ales are from neighbouring Clapton breweries. Flour Station provides the cakes and pastries and merguez sausages are delivered from a butcher in outer London.

But despite this, the menu is worldly, drawing on a fusion of flavours to create a diverse and intriguing lineup. What we mean is if you’ve come looking for a decent eggs benedict or traditional full English you won’t find it here. Instead, you’ll get North African-inspired shakshuka, American-style fried chicken waffles and curried Indian kedgeree. It’s a bold and healthier approach, which certainly delivers.

Even the Breakfast, which you’d usually consider to be a safe choice, comes with its own twist. The dish hosts the usual suspects of poached eggs, roast tomatoes, mushrooms and of course a delicately fanned avocado. However, the showstoppers here are the chipotle baked beans, smoked with spice; and a charred pardon pepper, which, as Spanish adage dictates, can either spice up or surprisingly sweeten your course.

Another delicious choice is 12Hr Pork Hash: a mountain of hearty vegetables toppling with fried potatoes, peppers and onions, and crowned with tender slow-cooked pork, piquant chorizo and oozing poached eggs. The entire dish is richly flavoursome, and wildly dynamic from start to finish. If you’ve got a sweeter tooth, the Vincent also offers a selection of waffles, including buttermilk fried chicken, mixed berries, or ice cream. We went for the peach, berries and whipped cream option, which came colourfully presented. While the assembly lacked a little imagination, the flavours were tangy and fresh, with just the right amount of maple syrup drizzled on top.

And of course, no brunch menu in London is complete without a bottomless drinks menu, and once again the Vincent outshines its competitors here. For £17, diners can choose from prosecco, bloody marys, or a selection of cocktails, all of which are guaranteed to help battle those weekend morning hangovers. The Hugo, in particular, which mixes gin, prosecco and mint leaves, is a refreshing choice that delightfully rounds off a stand-out weekend feast.  

★★★★★

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Anna Dack
Photos: Anna Dack

To book a table at The Vincent, 2 Atkins Square Dalston Lane London E8 1FN, call 020 8510 0423 or visit the website here. Brunch is served on Saturday (10am-3pm) and Sunday (10am – 5pm).