ROAST SERIES: Brooke

Brooke opened just a few months ago on Abbeville Road and it has become the bolt hole of Clapham for those looking for somewhere quaint and tucked away from the business of Clapham High Street. It’s location gives it that ‘village pub’ feel that we all crave when we’ve been stuck in the big smoke for a while, so a trip to Brooke really is a little bit of escapism. Really, it’s the perfect setting for a Sunday roast.

Ambience:

What we love about Brooke is how sophisticated and welcoming it feels. Often places only manage to be one or the other, but Brooke has trod the line perfectly. It’s definitely elevated in there, there are plush leather booths, an impressive bar and warming tones all over. But it’s also really friendly. When we went the place was buzzing with a cross-section of Clapham life; families, dogs, dates, groups of hungover friends… Anyone and everyone seemed to be in Brooke enjoying a roast or just kicking back with a drink.

The Food:

If you’re someone with a real appreciation for the finest ingredients and drink pairings then Brooke is for you. Just as we mentioned in an article we posted when they opened, the floor staff and owners come from impressive backgrounds in hospitality. The staff know the menu inside out and speak about the ingredients with such passion. All the roasts here come with red cabbage (and why don’t more places whack this on the menu?), a Yorkshire pudding, golden roast potatoes, glazed carrots and buttered greens, so there’s a lot going on before the meat even touches the plate. We tried out the vegetarian option which was different to the other offerings we’ve come across – a perfectly seasonal pumpkin, ricotta, chestnut and pistachio roast. It came with a sauce which was bursting with fresh apple and sweet caramel flavour making the whole plate feel about as autumnal as you can get. But it was the beef we particularly loved. Thickly sliced, incredibly moist and clearly cooked masterfully. Even better when drenched in the hearty, intense gravy.

Stand-outs:

What really stood out about our experience at Brooke was the focus on the drink pairings. Pub Manager Marcia is clearly passionate about food, but she also has an incredible wealth of knowledge on wine and she’ll happily suggest which wine to pair with your roast of choice. On Sundays, she chooses a different Magnum bottle of wine to open and serve exclusively by the glass. It’s a great opportunity to fall in love with a new (slightly more expensive) wine… which is exactly what we did! When we visited the ‘Petit Ours’ Côtes Du Rhône Rouge was the wine of the week and it went down so smoothly with our meal and really makes the Sunday experience at Brooke feel extra special. If wine isn’t your thing then they also had mulled cider at the bar which is ever more tempting as the weather gets cooler. We’ve also got to give a shoutout to the glazed carrot. The one one our plate was probably the biggest we’ve ever seen.

Price: 

Admittedly, this is on the pricier end of Sunday Roasts available in Clapham. But what you’re paying for is the very experience we’ve just described: a sophisticated neighbourhood pub with a friendly, welcoming, feel with the finest ingredients.

Beef: £27, Vegetarian: £20, Cauliflower cheese: £6.

Hunkering down in Brooke was a really wonderful way to pass a Sunday. Tuck up there, try some of the amazing drinks they’ve got on offer, chat to the staff and ogle at the whopping carrots. That’s a weekend well spent.

THE ROAST SERIES: We are on a journey to discover some of the very best Sunday roasts in Clapham. Each will have remarks 4 categories: Ambience, The Food, Price and Standouts to make it clear what it is we loved about each one. We will aim to order similarly in every place we try to give you the clearest indication of how it compares to the rest of the neighbourhood.  Stay tuned to find your favourite.