Sunday in Brooklyn

It’s not often we’re treated to a restaurant from across the pond, but one of Brooklyn’s best-loved brunch spots has made its way to a well-heeled corner of Notting Hill. Bringing with it signature upbeat American-style service and a peppy crowd of staff, Sunday in Brooklyn has a buzzy neighbourhood vibe.

The interiors are a welcome mix of pared back wooden tables and chairs and a hanging foliage display that takes centre stage above a communal dining space. The wrap around windows allow for top-class people watching and give the room a fresh, airy feel.

Fun cocktails – like the Honeybear on Holiday – set the tone for an informal meal. In contrast to the description (and the resulting presentation in a cutesy glass bear) it wasn’t too sweet and very drinkable thanks to a combo of bourbon, scotch, lemon, and honey cut with the slightest edge of bitters.

Despite being famed for its brunch offering in the US, the London outpost started out life serving dinner only. Here a cold smoked artichoke allows you to simultaneously feel smug in your sophistication for ordering something so grown-up, while also giving you a reason to eat with your hands. Tender leaves, dunked in a rich aioli are easily devoured and play the perfect precursor to plates piled with chips and burgers. The Korean chicken burger wasn’t massive but came with wedges of pickle and piles of salty chips so made a good-sized main none the less. Covered in sticky, spicy, sour sauce and topped with coleslaw, this was – frankly – better than we were expecting and got more addictive as we made our way through it. The grilled pork was robustly flavoured too – all knarly barbecued edges with a smoky edge and crispy curry leaves served on top of potatoes rolled around in a palate cleansing herb oil.

Here’s where the devastating blow lies though, the soft serve machine was out of order on our visit. With a dessert list that solely offers ice cream, sweets weren’t an option, and the kitchen didn’t come up with a temporary alternative. 

Despite dessert drama, the menu at Sunday in Brooklyn sings of a team passionate to put top-quality produce onto plates in a fun and interesting way and if you’re in the area it’s well worth a pitstop.

Taking a prime two-storey corner spot on the culinary hub that is Westbourne Grove, Sunday in Brooklyn is a chic, elevated American-style eatery. Hailing from Williamsburg, the restaurant serves up inventive takes on American staples at brunch and dinner, seven days a week. Boasting outside seating, a natural light-filled dining room and basement events space, Sunday in Brooklyn is sure to transport you to New York from the comfort of Notting Hill.

If you stop by for brunch, you’ll be spoiled for choice with delicious options like pancakes with hazelnut maple praline and brown butter, biscuits and gravy, shakshuka and the Don Ruben omelette with mole sauce, goats cheese, roasted mushrooms and butter lettuce salad. For even more indulgence, try one of the burgers, including a smash with special sauce or crispy chicken with sweet and sour hot honey and cabbage.

Later in the day, you can enjoy a selection of smaller plates to share, including seabass and tigers milk ceviche, pita and hummus, white wine and garlic mussels, beef tartare and baby back ribs with crispy garlic. For the main event, the burgers are still available, along with more refined options like pressed lamb shoulder with braised chickpeas, grilled trout with guajillo chilli crisp or onglet with curry leaf and new potatoes. Vegetarians can go for the cauliflower patty melt with sambal, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, or go Mediterranean with the pasta shells, stuffed with smoked mozzarella, marinara, pesto and topped with pecorino.

Desserts here are, as one might expect, similarly decadent: apple crumble made with whisky, soft serve and even s’mores. Don’t miss the cocktails on your visit, as there are many fun concoctions to sample. The Kyoto yacht club, for example, is a blend of Roku gin, bergamot Rosolio, pomegranate, lemon, cava and cucumber. Earlier in the day, there are brunch options like the spicy bloody Mary too.