Bolland & Crust is an industrial estate overachiever - Review - London - The Infatuation
"From the first bite of a very juicy sausage that made us close our eyes for an amount of time that's not acceptable in public, we knew we loved Bolland & Crust. This sweet little cafe-British restaurant is on a grey industrial estate in Tottenham. Ignore the tap manufacturer, keep walking until you hit the cheery green doors and spot a wraparound hog mural. Inside, it feels like it's run by people who bring soup to their sick friends—it’s filled with wonderfully wonky pottery, stripy blankets, and tiny vases of fresh flowers. photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat Pause Unmute It's loveable from the outset (we repeat: a mural of a hog), but when friendly staff waved us over to a seat by a heater and positioned the blackboard menu in front of us, we wanted to swear the other diners to secrecy. This being a restaurant that counts an MOT centre among its neighbours, the building is best described as your mate's dad making a really good go of the DIY garage conversion. Still, a lot has been done to make it feel cosy. Tomato cans find a new life as cutlery holders, potted plants and colourful artwork warm up the space, and a fridge stacked full of cans of IPA is perused by a crowd who maybe read The Guardian and definitely seek out industrial estate restaurants like trend-seeking bloodhounds. photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat On warm days, the overflow spills out onto the terrace, glasses of wine and fried chicken buns in hand. The food is comforting—fry-ups, toasted sandwiches, cheeseburgers—but done at a level that would make your local greasy spoon blush. It all reads very casual, but Bolland & Crust is quality, through and through. Food Rundown All Day House Breakfast Like a billionaire wearing a hoodie, you won’t realise the quality of this breakfast at first glance. It’s when you start forking your way through soft, flavourful sausages and crispy, salty bacon that you’ll realise how good everything tastes. We particularly like the side of black beans in a savoury, warming sauce too. Heinz could never. photo credit: Koray Firat House Cheeseburger If you think London has reached Peak Burger, eat this burger, and be prepared to eat your words. It’s not smashed, but it’s not too thick either, and the patty is so juicy that your bun acts as a repository for beef juices. There are pickles and melting american cheese, but it’s the sauces we tell everyone about. The homemade chilli sauce is properly fiery and there’s a creamy tarragon sauce that perfectly complements it too. photo credit: Koray Firat Montgomery Cheddar, Leek, Garlic, & Onion Toasted Sandwich After one bite we knew we wanted to try and recreate this toastie at home. Alliums are the superhero sidekick that every cheesy toastie needs. We like this strong, nutty cheddar and the fact that it’s not lost behind the sweet leek. photo credit: Koray Firat Pigs Head Croquettes, Sauce Gribiche The golden coating is crisp and not too thick, and it’s completely stuffed with shredded, fall-apart meat. The creamy and tart sauce gribiche cuts through some of the fat and the side of pickles are pleasingly sweet and sharp. photo credit: Koray Firat Buttermilk Fried Chicken Bun The chicken is tender and juicy, the coating crispy and not-too-thick, and the hot sauce packs a spicy punch. Creamy coleslaw and pickles are the perfect accompaniments to the buttery soft bun too. It’s simple, but everything is done perfectly. photo credit: Sinéad Cranna" - Sinéad Cranna
