Brunch at Carluccio’s (Bluewater) {Review}

Brunch, brinner, why are the mashed up meals always the best ones? During our first year of marriage, we spent most of our time apart. Ben had a job which kept him abroad in Basel 5 days a week, while I carried on working in London. He would fly back on Friday nights, and we would have time together until 5am Monday morning when he had to leave again. Those weekend days were often crammed full of chores and family visits (which we loved), but not too much quality alone time. However, we would always keep one time sacred for ourselves – almost every Saturday morning we would get up early and head to Carluccio’s for brunch.

For us, this place became special, and more than just for the amazing food. It was such a happy, friendly place. The staff are fantastic, and week on week would chat to us and get to know us. The classical music gently playing in the background and the smell of authentic Italian food was the best way to start the day and the weekend. In a time when we hardly had any time for each other, I really valued this time, and this place.

Now onto the actual food. Carluccio’s boasts a full breakfast menu, ranging from a full “Magnifica” to eggs benedict, eggs florentine and even pancakes. In between this is muesli, yoghurt and traditional breads and pastries. The hardest part is choosing! I’ve tried most of the vegetarian options on the menu, and my favourite and go-to is the “Uova E Funghi”. The eggs are scrambled to perfection, seasoned with the right amount of fresh parsley, served alongside wild mushrooms with so much flavour and texture it’s unreal, all on top a slice of traditional Italian bread with a light coat of olive oil. The only downside of having SUCH a favourite, is that I don’t know what else to order!

The coffee comes in rich or smooth, and both are equally perfect wake up calls. They also have a large range of juices, including some less common flavours such as pear, peach, and pink grapefruit. You have the choice of sitting inside or outside the restaurant, and whilst the outside part is actually still inside the building, because of the shopping centre’s large windows, it is a light, airy place away from the crowded shops. The inside is bright, with a large mirrored wall which makes the whole restaurant feel more open. The other side of the restaurant is taken up with a beautiful shop and Italian deli, so good luck trying to stop yourself picking up treats for later!

Overall I would highly recommend Carluccio’s for the breakfast menu. Their prices are reasonable for food that is definitely above average for a chain restaurant. The atmosphere is what really makes this place extra special for me, so if you find yourself near Carluccio’s around brunch time… definitely go!

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This post is not sponsored in any way, all opinions are my own!