Restaurants

This place is overrun on weekends and for all the right reasons. I think what impresses me most (and I am sure is what keeps the regulars like me queuing up time and time again) is the manner in which they work so hard. Despite any wait once inside you are feed promptly. You help yourself to the bread board and spreads which relieves any hunger pains you get waiting in line eager to tuck into the yummy breads. Meals arrive quickly and are filling, you can also add anything onto a meal with plenty of extras. The Monmouth coffee is lovely too. Its fun to watch the bemused first timers that are not used to the buzz or the mix of people cutting bread and moving around this tiny busy restaurant. Week days are a lot more relaxed and you can even enjoy seeing the breads being made. The more you go the more you love it.

My fiancee raved about this place for ages, so I decided we should pay it a visit (when she was 4 and a half months pregnant).
After waiting for 10 minutes outside we were ushered into a ridiculously claustrophobic and cramped 'cafe’ - pretty much elbow to elbow with other patrons, my fiancee then ordered a latte coffee which was served in a tumbler?! this was too hot to pick up as of course it had no handle (I know they’re pretentious, but how they think they can serve a latte in a tumbler I don’t know! You would be slapped for such a thing in Italy).
After the breakfast, which was decidedly average (no mushroom, beans or black pudding) the waiter struggled with the elementary task of picking a plate up - knocking cutlery over my pregnant fiancee and then in the resulting commotion she had her coffee spilt over her lap and belly (fortunately for them it was cold by that stage).
The waiter then had the audacity to say 'don’t worry we won’t charge you for service’ at which point I should have slapped him with a loaf of their 'award winning bread’ - which by the way is exactly the same as bread available everywhere in Italy, I guess sourdough bread just isn’t as common here.
Personally I would avoid this place, I don’t see why anyone would queue to get into here, I have had breakfast at FAR better places and if I want sourdough bread OR coffee (served in a cup with a handle) I would go to an Italian bakery or cafe, thanks (or would even prefer to have a classic English breakfast at a greasy spoon than here).

Anon, that is interesting as that has not been my experience but as I say it has been a while since I have been. I will try your recommendation though.

Lovely toast but unfortuantely the last comment is wrong; beware the service charge.
When 3 of us went there we each ordered DIY toast (you get up and get it yourself) and 3 coffees and it came to over £15, because of a £2 hidden service charge. It may not sound like a lot and is fine if money's not an issue for you but it does work out at over 20% which is galling since all they bring you is the coffee.
When we queried this and asked for a breakdown of the bill (thinking they'd made a mistake) the manager was incredibly rude and defensive and told us angrily we didn't have to pay, which wasn't the point. We had been happy to pay - and did - but had merely enquired why it was such a high service charge.
Disappointing; until then we had been regulars. Now I'll never go there again. Go to the Post Office Bakery in Clapham North and do your own DIY toast at home!

A once regular to this great establishment, due to a move to the deep south I have had not had the pleasure in several months, I can highly recommend Breads Etcetera. My usual pilgrimage would start at the gym where I would burn 1000 calories and then reload here. The weekends are very busy, especially when the weather is good so if you are willing to queue for a while, the max I queued for was 40 mins, you will not be disappointed. The amount of "yummy mummys" and Bugaboo pushchairs are alarming but once you get over that the staff are friendly, speedy and do not hurry you to relinquish your table, they allow you to enjoy your experience.
I have brought friends from different areas of London and once they resolved with the idea of having brunch in South London, they thoroughly enjoyed it, exclaiming they would definitely make another visit and were not put off by the waiting time.
The best is the “all you can eat toast” with a choice of preserves and spreads, just in case your budget cannot stretch to the main menu, we can all acknowledge things are a little tight nowadays. However the price is very reasonable, to the point I had to ask if there were any hidden charges on my first visit. They had subsequently increased the prices, the waitress told me they realised they were a little too generous but they were still very good for what they were offering compared to others.
I hate giving away a good find but this is truly a must so enjoy.
Forgot to mention they sale bread, muffins, brownies etc outside of the shop to tempt you just in case you are pushed for time so there is not excuses to miss out on this experience. The banana bread is to die for and I have "killed" it in one sitting.

The BEST brunch in London!

Once you get past the awnings, and realise that not only does Breads Etc bake the most amazing TRUE sourdough breads.... they also have the best brunch I have tasted South of the river. Bring it on, just be patient because it's not a well kept secret ;)