Brawn

Brawn, London 49 Columbia Road - London

Now open
European
• Sit down

97/100
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Ratings and reviews

97
/100
Based on 2548 ratings and reviews
Updated

Ratings of Brawn

TA

Trip
Last update on 09/11/2023
4,5
353 Reviews
Opentable
Opentable
Last update on 15/12/2023
4,8
1 Reviews
Google
Google
Last update on 15/12/2023
4,7
849 Reviews
Foursquare
Foursquare
Last update on 15/11/2019
9,2
309 Reviews
Facebook
Facebook
Last update on 28/11/2021
4,7
13 Reviews
Zomato
Zomato
Last update on 30/01/2023
4,3
72 Reviews
Squaremeal
Squaremeal
Last update on 15/12/2023
4,0
11 Reviews
Euan's guide
Euan's guide
Last update on 29/12/2020
4,0
1 Reviews

K

Kayak
Last update on 07/10/2022
4,8
828 Reviews
Yelp
Yelp
Last update on 28/11/2019
4,5
49 Reviews

SM

Square meal
Last update on 28/11/2021
4,0
10 Reviews

Available menus

Reviews

Zomato
Quiet Eating
+5
I can think of that time when I have starved for two days during a youthful poorly planned camping trip.  When I emerged out of the wild, instant noodles were like ambrosia to me. On the other hand, during my days in Japan, a quick visit back to London would find me turning up my noses at many places that I now heartily enjoy.  Works both ways…
Feb 08, 2019
Zomato
YG
+4.5
Great menu. We ordered the crab to share and it was delicious and fresh. Atmosphere was light and warm. The staff where polite and attentive staff. Will eat here again
Jan 08, 2018
Zomato
Ryan Williams
+5
I came to Brawn for the first time a little over a week ago. Wow! I had one of the best meals of my life here. Incredible food, charming atmosphere, and attentive service. For a starter, my girlfriend and I split the burrata with braised runner beans and mint. Again, wow. My previous experiences with burrata were good, but this was another level. It was perfect from the first cut of the outer layer. The beans and mint complimented the flavour perfectly. For entree, I had the cod with coco beans, artichokes, and tarragon. The fish was cooked to perfection - it melted in my mouth. My girlfriend had the black pudding with squid and padron peppers. It, too, was amazing. The flavours all worked extremely well together without any one overpowering another. For dessert, I had the three cheese selection that included: saint nectaire, bleu de basque, and l'arpitan. I had never tried, or heard of, these cheeses before. I was very pleasantly surprised! A nice selection of mild yet flavourful cheeses to finish off a lovely meal. My girlfriend had the fig leaf panna cotta with blackberries and was not disappointed. Everything at Brawn met or exceeded our expectations and was overall a fantastic experience that I would recommended whole-heartedly to anyone!
Aug 20, 2017
Zomato
Chen Man
+4
Sitting snugly on a corner of Columbia Road this unassuming restaurant is sibling to perennial fine dining favourite “Terroirs”. Despite spending an absurd amount of time walking up and down Kingsland Road and Regent’s Canal area a few years ago I had never actually walked past this place. And yes to all those out there asking the question, neither have I ever been to Columbia Road Flower Market! Anyway, the restaurant has a simple whitewashed decor, with a lean towards the “trendy-hip-east-end” vibe about it.
Apr 22, 2016
Zomato
Alice Gee
+3.5
My expectations were high because Brawn is the favorite restaurant of a foodie mate of mine.

The space is charming and we had a lovely convivial waiter.  Wine list is extensive.  But we are cheap and not so picky where wine is concerned and just went for a bottle of the cheapest red, which was very nice actually.

We were brought complimentary sparkling water and rather a large quantity of good spongy sour dough with butter first.

My companion's starter of mixed salad leaves was very simple but tasty.  Nothing but a selection of greens and some good, very slightly sweetened vinaigrette.  My starter of char grilled duck hearts with pak choi and XO sauce smelled great (lots of garlic) but was a bit confusing.   I wasn't convinced by the mix of temperatures.  Cold cooked pak choi with warm duck hearts and untoasted peanuts on a cold plate.  I wish the pak choi had been at least lukwarm. The XO sauce was totally overpowering.  The waiter explained that it was a new dish, maybe still in development.  I think the dish would have been better with a simpler sauce (say brandy, soy and port if we stick to the Asian theme), or no sauce at all.

My main was brilliant though.  A slice of fluffy but crisp boudin accompanied by very tender pan fried squid.  Nice combination served without sauce but a few bits of wilted greens and a little puddle of melted butter instead.  My companion's lambs neck with borlotti beans was nicely cooked. However I found the tomato and rosemary sauce it came with cloyingly sweet.

It was pleasant meal, but I didn't really care for any of the sauces.  Also the food was confusing in that the flavors were all big and hearty but the portions quite small.  We actually finished the rather enormous basket of bread brought to the table at the beginning of the meal.

Perhaps we would have been more impressed if we had ordered differently.  Brawn has a reputation for impeccable sourcing.  So maybe a meal of bread, charcuterie and cheese would have shown this off best.
Jun 27, 2015
Zomato
Antony
+4.5
Simply where food should be. Loved the juxtaposition between perfectly made preserved meats such as the brawn and pork rilletes, and the chopped raw beef. Lamb hearts and pig trotters were gutsy. Great wine and friendly service. Being this idea to Perth!
Sep 04, 2012
Zomato
Benga
+4.5
Went for lunch for a friends birthday and stayed for almost four hours ordering platters to share. Lovely service and well seasoned foodie fare. Quails eggs w celery salt, asparagus w hollandaise, artichoke with mustard Mayo were all excellen as were the cheese and charcuterie boards. But the exceptional red mullet fillets in a yolky butter and caper sauce was something else. Check it out
Jun 05, 2011
Zomato
AT
+4.5
Foodie heaven. Their website says they serve honest, simple food, and while that's true, it's also an understatement. There's a depth and expertise that makes it really very special. If you enjoy food you're not going to be disappointed at Brawn.
I try to order something different each time I go but it's hard to give up my favourites. I have to have the pork rillettes, which are beautifully spiced and go well with the soft chewy sourdough bread. The charcuterie is always interesting and well-presented. On my last visit, the fried artichokes with a rich garlicky aioli were excellent, as were the "cervelles" - a jokey name for soft white cheese flavoured with walnut oil and served with toast "soldiers" to dip in.
You can get a feel for the way the menu works from their website. What I really like is that it's totally unpretentious - you can pick and mix as you please, and order as much or as little as you like, and the bill always seems a nice surprise - maybe because the lovely bread is unlimited and free, but perhaps also because it's such good value for what it is.
I'm less familiar with the wine list; I've been happy to let the staff decide - they seem to know their stuff, and it's worth trying a few different glasses - but it's also a good idea to go off-piste occasionally and try the dry, salty manzanilla or one of the ciders.
The staff have always been charming and helpful, and it's relaxed enough to be able to sit at the bar and read a paper if you get there early.
Feb 26, 2011
Zomato
Steve
+4.5
Brawn identity. A little gastronomic gem in Bethnal Green, Brawn is all about provenance. Excellent sour dough bread accompanied the well sourced and made charcuterie, juicy mussels spiked with thyme were cooked in a broth of French artisan cider, red mullet its skin crisped on the plancha was served with tiny chanterelles and a dense, beautifully seasoned Caillette (a sort of faggot wrapped in pork caul) sat atop a bed of nice mash and carrots. Wine list is as good as you might expect from the people who brought you Terroirs. The atmosphere when I went was nice and buzzy, full of young locals and lots of (famous) restaurateurs.
Dec 07, 2010
Zomato
Drifting Epicure
+4.5
Brawn is a homely small restaurant located in the heart of Columbia road which transforms to a busy flower market every Sunday. The location cannot suit better for this rustic neighbourhood restaurant much similar in style to St. JOHN Bar and Restaurant . Making a booking can be a good idea, especially around lunch time. It filled up fairly quickly after we arrived early afternoon. It’s a sibling of wine bar/restaurant Terroirs which is known for its organic wine list so naturally you’ll find a few quirky bottles at Brawn as well. This was the first time I came here on a Sunday afternoon. They only offer a set menu with starters, main and dessert on Sundays. In lack of other options both of us went for the set menu. The three starters were served about the same time before progressing to the main and finally the dessert. Bread from E5 Bakehouse The sourdough bread, supplied by E5 Bakehouse, was a nice start of the meal. E5 Bakehouse has been my go-to place for bread in East London unti
Jul 02, 2013
5
Matt Goodman
+5
Second time here (one year later than the first) and it was even better. Well executed dishes bursting with flavor in a great ambience. I’m not a big natty wine fan but the servers were quick to oblige with any other spirit. Service was great and the ambience is wonderful.
5
Sophia C.
+5
Definitely a must try! Each dish was cooked to perfection. We celebrated a friends 40th birthday there and we really enjoyed our time. The waitress recommended a nice wine for the occasion. Overall lovely experience.
5
Mahdi B
+5
Wonderful dinner. The service was on point. Great explanation of the dishes. Atmosphere was super nice especially if you are sitting near the kitchen where you can see the chefs cook. Beautiful flavors. Our favorite dishes in May menu were the fasolakia and the peas pasta. Portions are on the smaller side so you may need to order more to feel full. Would come again :)
5
Stephanie Hoang
+5
Rustic nook for modern European food Perfect for a date night if you can get a table along the wall. We got a table right at the corner above the stairs and loved how isolated it was from everyone else. Food wise, I loved every single dish. It's rare when I can say that, but each one's flavors excelled in their own ways. From the salty anchovies to our not too sweet dessert, each dish was like a little adventure. I particularly loved the scallops with the peas. One dish I was very surprised by was their side of greens. It didn't seem special, but our waitress highly suggested it. The dressing was light and let the greens shine. Other salads get dosed in dressing and you can't taste the greens at all. This one was perfect. The service was spectacular. Our waitress was so kind and gave us great recommendations for the whole meal. I can't wait to come again!
5
Lulu Meng
+5
Small plates. Classic. No fuss and food wine and cocktails. Have to try the white port spritz! Oh and if you call ahead you might be able to bring a well behaved dog ;)
5
Kristina Tubby
+5
I've been wanting to come here for ages and finally got to go - it did not disappoint. Food and drink were amazing and service was good most of the time. Where possible/practical the kitchen actually split portions into two for us to share. They were a bit slow getting drinks to the table (esp when it's just a bottle of wine) but we had such a good meal that it doesn't matter. I'll be back for sure.
5
M.D.
+5
Excellent food and service. Fresh, healthy, and lovely selection of options - I had a great seafood dish and they were quite accommodating with gf options. The restaurant itself has beautiful big windows looking onto trees and it is a great option if you want to have a romantic date or a small group and actually be able to hear each other. Not great for kiddos. Definitely make a reservation - enjoy!
5
Justin Kwik
+5
Top shelf quality - well thought out dishes that are delicious without being overengineered. Alex my server was also excellent. Would come back again.
4
Joshua Mei
+4
Cuttlefish ragu was pretty delicious with its umami seafood broth and pieces of tender cuttlefish and mussels. The Guinea fowl was really good; tender, without a strong gamey taste. The accompanying in-house sausage and potato mash was good too. Oysters were fresh but a bit of a letdown as they quite small and pricey. The almond tart was excellent and service was great too!
5
Puay Leng Ng
+5
It was our last day in London and so glad we booked this place for our last meal. Amazing food. How did you guys cook such perfect duck! And other dishes such as the pork and snails were outstanding too. Lovely experience.

Description

Timetable

Now Open
Monday:
06:00 PM - 10:15 PM
Tuesday:
12:00 PM - 02:15 PM
06:00 PM - 10:15 PM
Wednesday:
12:00 PM - 02:15 PM
06:00 PM - 10:15 PM
Thursday:
12:00 PM - 02:15 PM
06:00 PM - 10:15 PM
Friday:
12:00 PM - 02:15 PM
06:00 PM - 10:15 PM
Saturday:
12:00 PM - 02:15 PM
06:00 PM - 10:15 PM
Sunday:
Closed

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Our aggregate rating, “Sluurpometro”, is 97 based on 2548 parameters and reviews

If you need to contact by phone, call the number +44 20 7729 5692

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