Farm Girl – Brunch Place in Notting Hill

I did not plan a breakfast place today. It’s my second day in London and I was thinking of going to the Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill just to scavenge – without a really concrete list. Then there was this queue on a white fence with a white gate and a sign that says, Farm Girl. And so, why not join?

Places with a queue signifies several things, and when it comes to restaurants, it either is a good place with delicious food, or one that’s “instagrammable” with a decent selection. I can go for either, so I waited with the rest of the crowd – families, couples, girlfriends, solo travellers (like me).

I browsed online and did not find much information, except that they have several branches and an extensive menu. So I don’t have high expectations. I ordered a flat white, a glass of orange juice (which costs a hefty 5 quid excluding service), and a farm breakfast plate plus extra smoked bacon on the side, which resembles a version of English breakfast in a bowl.

I dunno. Maybe I was just very hungry. But this plate was the best breakfast I had in London so far for the many times I have frequented the place.

Let’s dissect what I ate.

The miso portobello mushroom was the best I had in years. Well seasoned, very tasty. The thyme roast tomatoes – juicy, fresh, and perfectly grilled. The sausage – one of the tastiest I had – that I developed a liking for it now. The ararat bread? Just perfect. Coffe was good, and orange juice was a perfect blend of sweet and sour citrus.

The place is homey and small – so conversations are quite difficult, especially if you have a loud neighbour. I put on my headphones and read a book, “The Examined Life” while waiting for my order, and took some pictures without asking consent from the humans around.

It was a little bit pricey, so I decided I will not buy anything from the road market beyond 5 quid a piece.

The vibe was still good. Just too many tourists, that I had to clean then from my picture. The market is still worth a visit. There are some good stuff, that if I did not keep my promise, I could potentially come home with a hoard.