Side of spinach... that'll be £5! Diners slam ludicrous brunch prices

Diners have slammed the eye-watering prices of some popular brunch spots across London. 

Furious customers have complained of paying extortionate amounts for some of the most basic breakfast items in the capital, including £5 for a side of wilted spinach and £12 for a measly egg and toast.

One restaurant at the Savoy Hotel is even flogging an English Breakfast for a stunning £45 - and it doesn't even come with hash browns. 

The price of the breakfast was slammed by the chairman of the English Breakfast Society, who called it 'outrageous', adding that 'no right minded Englishman would spend that much money on a plate that is so poor'. 

But as the nation becomes consumed by the ever popular breakfast lunch mashup, it begs the question, where will Brits draw the line at what they consider overpriced?

The Thames Foyer at The Savoy, Covent Garden

The Thames Foyer at The Savoy Hotel in central London charges an eye-watering £45 for its Savoy Breakfast. 

This includes two free-range eggs, smoked back and streaky bacon, a Cumberland sausage, Isle of Wight tomatoes, baked beans, a portobello mushroom and a Stornoway black pudding.

The vegetarian and vegan breakfasts are the same sky-high price at its normal option, while a 'Light and Healthy' option of overnight chia pudding is also £45 and a Continental Breakfast clocks in at £40.

Bacon sandwiches, egg sandwiches and sausage sandwiches are flogged for £18 while a salmon bagel would set you back £21.

Notable exceptions include hash browns or bubble and squeak, in move that may shock traditional lovers of the dish.

Those who are looking for a more lavish start to their day can also splash out on a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Champagne for £110, while adding smoked salmon or caviar would cost just £99. 

Raging at the big-bucks breakfast, chairman of the English Breakfast Society, Guise Bule told MailOnline: 'The price point of the Savoy English breakfast is outrageous considering the quality and quantity of food on the plate. 

'The Savoy are clearly taking tourists for a ride with that breakfast - no right minded Englishman would spend that much money on a plate that is so poor. 

'At that price point they have no excuse for mediocrity when restaurants like the Hawksmoor and Fallow put them to shame with their English breakfasts.'

Other options include the Savoy's famous Omelette 'Arnold Bennett' for £28, to which you can add a lobster tail for a further £18, a beef hash for £30, avocado on toast for £27, eggs benedict for £26, a regular omelette for £21 or two eggs for £16. 

Diners also get freshly squeezed juice, coffee, tea, a selection of bread and a pastry selection served with the set menus.

Those looking to try the Thames Foyer's breakfast menu, will however have to wait as is currently under renovation and is set to reopen as the Savoy Lounge, in November.

Cafe Benedict, Teddington

Cafe Benedict in Teddington has also been accused of being overpriced by some of its customers, after finding out the eatery charges a whopping £4.90 for a side of wilted spinach. 

The independent restaurant located on Teddington High Street claims to use 'local fresh ingredients' which is used to make 'well sourced, simple but delicious food'. 

Other breakfast items include a portion of sauteed mushrooms served on sourdough toast with balsamic vinegar, thyme, vegan cream and pesto, which cost £14.50.  

Benedict's classic waffles with butter and maple syrup will also set you back £12, while some soft serve ice cream or some berries will cost an extra berries £2.50 and £3.50 respectively. 

One reviewer wrote on TripAdvisor claimed the food was 'over-priced' and complained of paying a £32 bill. Another wrote: 'The food is overpriced for what it is - nothing special.'

The Booking Office, St Pancras

Many restaurants often justify their seemingly pricey food items with claims that they use locally sourced, high quality ingredients. 

But when you can purchase the exact same items for well under the same price, there are few excuses to hid behind. 

It is therefore mind-boggling that the Booking Office, located next to St. Pancras International Station, charges £6 for a selection of cereals, that could purchased in a local supermarket for a fraction of the price. 

Customers can choose from a selection of Special K, All Bran, Weetabix, Rice Krispies and Corn Flakes which are each served with a choice of whole milk, oat, almond and coconut milk. 

The restaurant, which opened in November 2021, also charges £12 for its 'free range farm eggs' on a choice of white or wholemeal toast. 

To wash it all down, a glass of either orange, apple, grapefruit or 'green' juice will set you back a further £5. 

Despite its price, customers have praised the restaurant's extravagant dining space at the heart of Kings Cross Station, which is a 'reimagining of the station's original, 19th century ticket hall'. 

'The newly redesigned Booking Office 1869 fully embraces the characteristics of its location through Hugo's reinvigoration of the space, alongside the sophisticated yet understated food and cocktail menus created by the team,' its website states.  

The Laundry, Brixton

Elsewhere, The Laundry in Brixton has drawn criticism for the price of a glass of orange juice, which costs an eye-watering £6.50.

Added extras are equally as expensive as some of the main meals, such as extra toast which costs an additional £5. 

Customers even have to shell out for their own condiments, with a portion of 'Bloody Mary Ketchup' costing £2. 

Understandably the Laundry's sausage, bacon, and cheddar cheese brioche bap is valued at £15, which is more than double the price of the beloved sausage and egg bap from Greggs.

One customer on TripAdvisor complained the menu 'offered lots of choices, was not well executed, and overpriced'.

Another said that while the food was 'delicious' and the atmosphere was 'very nice' it was 'way overpriced'. 

When approached for comment, the owner of The Laundry highlighted that food and drinks costs have risen by 7 per cent since January 2024, and noted that the restaurant does not charge service charge on bills. 

Milk, Balham 

Lastly, a cafe called Milk in Balham charges just less than £6 for a slice of sourdough or cornbread, served with a spread of preserves, 'nutzilla' or bermondsey street honey

The cafe, which opened in 2023, also offers its signature granola, will set you back more than £10. 

This is served with 'northiam dairy yogurt, wild honey, baked plums, burnt lemon and verbena syrup, raspberry and elderflower gel and an earl grey milk shard', 

For those wanting something less fruity, a slice of sourdough or cornbread, served with a spread of preserves, 'nutzilla' or bermondsey street honey, will cost you j. 

One customer on TripAdvisor complained the breakfast was 'crazy expensive', while another said the food was 'not great' and 'over-priced'. 

MailOnline has contacted The Thames Foyer, Cafe Benedict, The Booking Office and Milk for comment.