South London’s brasserie queen opens its oh-so tasteful doors for some stylish early dining. No need for glad-rags, just rock up and celebrate the start of a new day with breakfast or brunch here amongst the leafy lanes of Crystal Palace.

The Venue
Joannas, South London’s best known brasserie, is situated on the Westow Hill side of the busy Crystal Palace triangle. Despite the honking traffic queuing glumly outside, it’s proves to be quite a stylish oasis on drizzly weekday mornings. Joanna’s has been knocking about Crystal Palace for over 20 years and is still very much the heart of the area’s dining community and home to many a family celebration. The management still resides in the same family which becomes wholly apparent in the consistently good, quality food and professional service.

Beyond the navy, dark wood and lush foliaged frontage sits a smart, spacious dining room decorated with mahogany panelling, Parisian bistro trappings and brightly-hued canvasses from local artists. Each table is cloaked in white linen and decorated with highly polished cutlery and sparkling glassware, so even if you’ve just popped in for a quick breakfast, there’s still a real sense of occasion. The main bar is to the left and doles out fancy cocktails and stiff drinks. For a more intimate evening, Joannas private table, Table 99, is perfect for secluded dining.

The Atmosphere
Even on the breakfast shift you will be met by a handsome maitre’d who will glide you to your table and take your order. Tinkling daytime music hums away in the background whilst the staff quietly busy themselves around the restaurant in preparation for the day. The daytime clientele is as consistent as the evening punters, mainly lucky locals or smart folk who work in the area, in for breakfast, brunch or a very reasonable set lunch (two and three courses for £10.95 and £13.95). The earlier you arrive the more likely you are to bump into Crystal Palace’s breakfasting business-types in for salmon, scrambled eggs and hot talk of merging markets.

The Food
Joanna’s is open for breakfast from 10am (Monday to Saturday) and there is no nicer way to start the day than by enjoying an ironed broadsheet, a cup of fresh filter coffee and Eggs Benedict. The breakfast menu covers all fancies from smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (£5.95) to boiled eggs with soldiers (£3.50). The Eggs Benedict (£5.50) comes as two lightly toasted English muffins, topped with hand-carved roast ham, perfectly poached eggs and a beautiful, silky hollandaise sauce.

For those with a sweeter tooth try the scrambled eggs with crispy bacon and maple syrup. Again, lightly toasted muffins arrive topped with creamy scrambled eggs, crisp salty bacon and a drizzle of smoky sweet maple syrup. It’s strangely delicious although a squeeze more of syrup would be most welcome. The breakfast menu does trip slightly over into the brunch menu which is served from noon. Alongside the full English (£5.95) and a selection of omelettes (from £4.95), brunch diners can enjoy a full roast sirloin of beef dinner with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and fresh vegetables (an absolute steal at £5.95) or even a Goan fish curry with basmati rice (£7.50). If you’re not in the area for breakfast of brunch, their a la carte menu offers a variety of dishes with a British and Asian influence.

The Drink
Joanna’s has a fully stocked bar should the fancy for a rum and coke overtake you of a morning, however a more traditional array of breakfast and brunch beverages are also on offer. A glass of Bucks Fizz (£5.95) with sparkling wine and freshly squeezed orange juice will set you off on the right foot, or even a glass of Champagne (£7.95) for those who really like to celebrate before noon. Freshly squeezed/pressed orange and apple juices are also available (£2.25). The lattes (£2.20) arrive impressively layered in tall glasses and the filter coffee (£1.75) is served with cream and rock sugar. A must-try is Joanna’s famous Bloody Mary (£6.50), piquant to the hilt with a good blast of black pepper and the all-essential celery. The virgin variety is almost as good at £3.50 a pop.

The Last Word
Joanna’s is proving to be the place in the Palace for every occasion. So whether you have a birthday breakfast to celebrate or fancy a nice brunch, Joanna’s offers excellent food at reasonable prices served in a delightfully stylish environment. Recommended.

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