Just a heads up: this place is a must-go!
As my first brunch post ever, I HAD to dedicate it to my favorite brunch spot in the world: The Black Penny.
Finding The Black Penny truly feels like finding a heads-up penny: something inconspicuous that you stumble upon, and will certainly guarantee good luck throughout your day (or at least your meal).
The little London cafe is located in Bloomsbury directly across from the monumental Grand Lodge. Its black awning with the name in a small white font is easy to pass without noticing, but the food is not worth passing up!
No wait! Every time I've gone, I have never waited more than ten minutes for a table to open up.
Wafts of coffee greet you when you walk in to the brick-covered breakfast joint. On the left are fresh pastries accompanied by coffee makers; on the right are bar stools and tall wooden tables.
The atmosphere resembles that of a cozy coffee shop. Although the place is small, it extends back a bit. If you take a few steps down, you'll see varying sized wooden tables to accommodate varying group sizes.
Much like the menu, the space has something for everyone. Now about that menu...
I ordered eggs your way (my way is poached) served on sourdough toast, with a side of grilled sausage. When brunching in London, I quickly noticed that poached eggs and sausage were two of the staples. So even if you aren't in the city for very long, this order includes two essential British brunch foods. Boom.
To be honest, I was never a huge fan of sausage in the States but the Brits do it so much better--ordering it is a risk that will pay off at The Black Penny! It's not too salty, and is seasoned so that the meat almost tastes sweet. I shockingly enjoyed it so much that I can't order a side of sausage anymore without a side of disappointment.
I also have yet to master the art of the poached egg--mine always turn out more abstract than I was intending... But this restaurant does it perfectly, so that when you cut into the egg, the yolk spills onto the toast. So satisfying.
Although the picture above shows a very meat-heavy meal, if you're not into that, The Black Penny has many vegetarian options, like brioche french toast and a mushroom and polenta hash, as well as gluten-free options, like museli and cripsy duck hash.
Plus, the spot is perfect for a caffeine pick-me-up. They have coffee galore. Or you can even go green, like I did, with a matcha soy latte. Like I said, something for everyone!