As the cost of living in London seems to rise on almost a daily basis, I have started to make more of breakfasts and even brunches at home in my efforts to cut costs. That said, I’ve come to realise that there is nothing quite like having brunch made for you and being able to walk away well fed without a pile of dishes the size of a small building to tend to. I recently found the perfect excuse therefore to venture to my newest local brunch spot: Milk Teeth.
Located along Mitcham High Road, Milk Teeth opened its doors to the public in August and has done a roaring trade since day one. Many of you reading this will know its sister restaurant Milk in Balham, famous for its indulgent, photograph-worthy breakfasts and brunches but infamous at the same time for its overbearing queues and wait times. I expected a similar fate when we braved Milk Teeth on a Sunday at 11am but was pleasantly surprised to be told at the door to “wait two minutes” while a polite waiter prepared our table.
While the simple wooden shopfront is small and understated, the restaurant itself stretches out a good way at the back. This allows a lot of room for multiple bench style and low wooden tables, which immediately makes for a more comfortable setting than the Balham layout where space is limited.
Milk fans fret not – the Milk Teeth menu is the same as in Balham. After taking their pick from the freshly brewed coffee menu, gluten free diners can choose from a range of egg dishes, including the Eggs Bene, which come lavishly topped with a special Espresso Hollandaise. Homemade chunky corn bread slices can be ordered in place of the classic sourdough to make it gluten free friendly, which the helpful staff who are all clued up allergy-wise will tell you.
As the Eggs Bene has been my go-to dish in the past, this time I decided to opt for the Sweetcorn Fritters which come interspersed with grilled halloumi cheese slices, smashed avocado, all smothered in kasundi – a sort of Indian spiced ketchup – and served with a wedge of lime. Because I cannot face a brunch without eggs, I ordered one to have on top, as well as the drycure smoked bacon that Milk Teeth staff recommend as an extra. The fritters did not disappoint and were like fluffy, savoury pancakes peppered with juicy bits of corn. The kasundi was fragrant and certainly added an extra dimension to the dish, which overall was incredibly filling and provided me with fuel until dinnertime.
That said, I could not resist a slice of the gluten free cake of the day – Pistachio and Polenta with a Buttercream Frosting – to finish off the meal. The cake was moist, fragrant and made all the more sweet by the creamy topping which was sprinkled with edible purple flowers – the perfect ending to an overall relaxing and efficient brunch experience. With that said, I urge you all to consider the trip to Tooting Broadway (a mere two stops on the underground from Balham) next time you’re craving a Milk breakfast or brunch. Milk Teeth is open until 5pm everyday and is a must-visit!
Milk Teeth
110 Mitcham Road
London SW17 9NG
(The cafe works on a first come first served basis)
The Gluten Free Suitcase 
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