Ultimate French Toast in Belfast at the Best Brunch Spots
French Toast in Belfast
French toast in Belfast might not be two things you imagined popping up in the same sentence. But the vibrant new café scene that has arrived in Belfast has birthed a renaissance of the old classic that is impossible to ignore.
There was once a time when the traditional French toast was enough for us. A humble recipe dating back to the 1st century that apparently isn’t even French in its origins. Two slices of plain white bread dipped in eggs, milk, sugar and then fried. If you were some place exotic, then you may have even gotten some maple syrup on the side. Possibly a small serving of summer berries softened with heat and sugar and drizzled on top.
But like a fine French wine the classic French toast has only gotten better with age. Evolving and morphing into something unrecognisable from its modest origins. Now it’s not unusual to find a ball of fluffy candyfloss or shards of sweet, crisp honeycomb delicately resting atop the mountain of sugary bread.
A Belfast Brunch Staple
French toast is becoming a staple on menus as an increasing number of restaurants are looking to capitalise on the ever-expanding popularity of brunch. Of course, people have been brunching since forever ago, but its appeal has grown in popularity in recent years. Especially for the younger generations. And who can blame them? Serving breakfast items for lunch makes sense in our book. You get to sleep in, and you get your sunny side up eggs – it’s a win win.
For those of us who just cannot miss the opportunity to use brunch as an excuse for a mid-morning sweet snack – French toast is our best brunch friend. Especially when waiting all day until after dinner for your dessert feels like an exercise in throwing away your life.
On a recent tour around the eateries of Belfast, Northern Ireland, we discovered the classic French toast popping up on menus all over the city. But not how you’d expect it. Instead it came embellished with such pizzazz to create an otherworldly mouth-watering plate of food. One that you’d have to be some kind of Herculean god to possess the willpower to say no to.
If you have a sweet tooth and a taste for old classics getting a contemporary touch up, then you will love these options. They are another reason to add the city of Belfast to your list of places to visit.
Like most of the best food spots the menus are constantly changing depending on season or a chefs creativity. Consequently these dishes may vary slightly from what is currently on the restaurant menu.
The Pocket
Do you ever sit down to eat a meal and instantly think “where’s the candyfloss?” Well, you’re not alone and thankfully the wonderful chefs at The Pocket have noticed that gap in the market and seized it immediately. If you prefer a sweet brunch, it won’t let you down.
They use local Bara Bakehouse tin loaf sourdough. The high-quality bread makes all the difference by giving the sweet syrupy additions a sturdy base to hold on to. They don’t hold back on the portion size. Meaning this isn’t a few limp slices of fried eggy bread to have on the side of your main. It’s a big, vibrant, full meal in itself – totally worthy of your full attention.
The Neighbourhood
If you were to try and not love everything about this café you’d probably fail. Basically, it’s the perfect spot for a catch up with friends over reliably tasty food. None more so than their delicious French toast.
The thick slice of brioche is sweet and flavoursome in its own right. But the moreish toppings they decorate the sugar sprinkled slice with, that change with the seasons, create a dish that gets better and more impressive with each bite. Although sweet it’s perfectly balanced and won’t leave you feeling like you need a filling after eating it.
Established
Possibly the least sweet of our three options for French toast in Belfast. You might even be able to trick yourself into believing there are some nutrients hiding in plain sight of this towering monster of deliciousness.
The soft stewed fruit is sour enough to counter the sweet, crumbly gem of shortbread perched on top of the dish. The bread itself is soft and bouncy and perfect swept up with the creamy mascarpone and crunchy biscuit underneath. Their menu changes regularly but you’ll always find a sweet satisfying offering.
