Review | Brunch at San Marino, Leytonstone

On Easter Sunday, my parents came down to visit and treated us to a spot of brunch in Leytonstone. Usually, we just find ourselves in our local Spoons, but we wanted to show them the area has a bit more to offer in terms of dining options. 

I’d walked past San Marino a million times on my way home from the train station, but until recently, had only popped in when I was hungover and craving an Oreo milkshake as a cure. I must have searched all over my East London home streets in search of one until San Marino came to the rescue. 

San Marino a cute little cafe stop, which holds more inside than you’d imagine from the street – in terms of both space inside and the menu. Sitting at one of the tables, we leafed through a variety of dishes, from sandwiches and salads to classic Italian and Mediterranean dishes. 

While everyone else chose classic Sunday morning fry-ups, the blogger part of me just couldn’t resist a big ol’ plate of brunch.

The avocado was delicious, and crushed to a perfect consistency. The bread tasted fresh and well-toasted, and the salmon was generous. On a critical note, I’d say the eggs could have been a little less ‘done’, as they didn’t quite ooze enough yolk for me.

But otherwise, it was a perfectly enjoyable, affordable brunch – even down to the dressing on the side, and the portion size was pretty impressive for the price and very filling. And I heard good feedback from everyone on the fry-up too, particularly with the hash browns and bacon. I did sample a sausage though, and can confirm they’re pretty darn good.

The whole brunch for four, including an extra drink for me, came to bang on £30 – actually cheaper than our usual Spoons order! San Marino is definitely a great place in the local area for a laid-back bite to eat, and I’d also 100% recommend their milkshakes on a sunny day. Or if you’re hungover…