REVIEW: Brunch at Petit Pois Bistro, Hoxton Square

Oui, j'adore les francaise! En fait, je souhait je suis francais. Sorry guys,  I just went a bit French there because today's review is a celebration of all things French! Petit Pois Bistro is a neighbourhood joint in Hoxton Square. Set just a few moments away from my first London flat, Petit Pois Bistro plays to many of my loves. We indulged in a delightfully French brunch that says au revoir to the Fully English and bonjour to croissants, croque madame's and even moules frites! 

We sat on the front terrace in the blazing sunshine. It's quiet location is ideal for early dining as come evening, Hoxton Square becomes the home of the loud and brash. I tucked into a buttery soft and flaky croissant (which was huge) alongside a sticky sweet confiture des fraise (strawberry jam) and a slab of butter topped with flaked salt. I loved this sweet and salty combination alongside the warm croissant.

After diving head first into this plate of Frenchness, I sipped on a Virgin Mary - I know, no vodka! The drink was really fruity and peppery which really woke me up, although towards the end it was a little watery thanks to the ice. Alex indulged in a creamy flat white, complete with a pretty detail on the top. The coffee was rich and the milk thick: a winning combo if ever there was one.

To eat, I went really out there and opted for the Moules Frites, which for anyone who has made it this far without using Google Translate means mussels with chips. That's right: I HAD CHIPS FOR BREAKFAST! And my god they were good chips! Skins on, thin, crispy: yummmmmmmm!!! The mussels were beautifully steamed with a classic white wine, garlic and parsley broth which I mopped up with hunks of white homemade bread. The flavour balance of the broth was really indulgent with a creamy finish despite how light the texture was. The mussels were also wonderfully steamed and meaty - even Alex liked them! 

That said, rather than something fishy Alex went for the ultimate classic: Croque Madame. Served on a single slice of homemade toasted bread, the Croque Madame features oozing cheese topped boiled ham with plenty of ground pepper. Compared to my dish his looks quite small, but it was actually quite filling. The fresh watercress salad added a bitter note against the creamy cheese and salty ham, which was much needed towards the end! 

Overall, I think it's fair to say that Petit Pois Bistro does brunch well. The menu is small but packed with French favourites you want to eat. The prices are perfectly acceptable (from £1.50 - £11) and the location is ideally quiet for early morning munching. I can't wait to go back for the main menu and a long cosy night with a bottle of red wine.

Thank you Petit Pois Bistro for hosting this review.
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