REVIEW: Roux Farmhouse Brunch at The Langham Hotel in London

Brunch is big business in London right now and it seems we simply can’t get enough of it, with almost every restaurant in the city serving one up at the weekend. Personally I’ve not been its biggest fan, stuck in my habits of skipping breakfast for a late lunch, but when they’re as decadent as this – you simply can’t help but fall in love with brunch all over again. With the new Roux Farmhouse Brunch arriving at The Langham Hotel, there’s even more reasons why my late lunches may be becoming a thing of the past.

The most exiting part still is not only does this luxury brunch include live music, a sumptuous buffet selection and table-side meat carving – but free-flowing Laurent-Perrier. If you’ve never visited The Langham Hotel before, it’s a must for anyone – being one of London’s institutions, home to the world’s best bar and a second home to some of the world’s most famous faces.

A three course brunch here is priced at £49 (including coffee & tea), but upgrading to a package price of £75 adds the luxurious bonus of free-flowing Champagne or Bloody Mary’s. A small price to pay for lots of quality bubbles. The first of those three courses comes in the form of a self-serve buffet, but not before a selection of luxury breads, crudities and rillettes await on the table – slowly preparing us for more food than we could ever imagine.

As for the buffet table, it’s full of everything – from smoked salmon, Pâté en croûte ‘Richelieu’, Wye Valley asparagus, morel and Gruyère quiche, charcuterie, cheese, Blue prawn ‘cocktail’, Devilled Burford Brown eggs, Isle of Wight tomato ‘panzanella’ and a huge oyster shell – filled with delicious Cornish oysters. With so many tempting options to choose from its easy to get carried away, so word of advice – eat a little of lots. Our favourite was the gorgeous smoked salmon and buttery quiche.

We obviously got a little carried away at brunch here and by the time our main courses arrived we were already full, yet somehow managed to squeeze it all in – on top of dessert. We went all meaty with a helping of Somerset baby lamb which came wheeled over on a silver trolley and carved table-side. The meat was perfectly cooked, well smothered in rosemary and with some garlic boulangère, mint and horseradish condiments. The perfect way to spend a weekend.

The dessert offering here is what really sets this brunch apart from others. It’s so decadent, rich and classic that you can’t help but fall in love with it all. Apple ‘tarte tatin’ with Normandy crème fraîche laced with calvados was an absolute delight and easily worth a second helping. Brown sugar crème brulée arrived warm from the kitchen. A huge bowl of fraise de bois and Gariguette strawberry trifle was topped with hundred of thousands, as well as a Greek yogurt and fresh fruits for those seeking a healthy option. Even better still was the passion fruit filled chocolate éclair and a beautifully golden crusted lemon meringue pie.

Our farmhouse brunch at The Langham Hotel was one of the most luxurious and decadent brunches you’ll find in London and value for money wise, you get alot for your pound. With unlimited Champagne, some of the best service in London and food to die for – this is brunch fit or royalty and one to be booking right now.