Clutch
Fried Chicken
4 Ravenscroft Street, London E2 7QG
£20 bottomless brunch (Time Out Deal)
Nestled in-between two housing estates in Hoxton, a vibrant, shocking burst of yellow houses Clutch: an East-End joint providing the hipsters of Hoxton with ‘the best fried chicken’ (or at least the remaining non-vegans). Despite the somewhat odd exterior, the interior was a mix of monochrome and beech wood, green velvet and brass. The whole restaurant as a result had a relaxed, friendly and tasteful vibe, and was filled with large groups of people in their late 20s looking for a relaxing start to their Saturday.
Clutch defines as “a brood of chicks”, and there is chicken by the bucketful here. The brunch menu ranges from old classics such as Chicken and Waffles (£14), through to original takes on the brunch concept: chilli and cheese cornbread with turkey bacon, poached eggs and avocado (£10). The latter was the choice that I went for, and although the poached eggs were cooked to perfection runny-yolk-wise, they were on the cold side, as was the cake-like, dense bread. We also got a portion of 12 chicken wings (£12) to share and went for the honey and sesame glaze as opposed to the chilli glaze or the garlic and soy. These were tasty enough, however weren’t the crispy coated fried chicken pieces I was expecting to receive.
The attractive and friendly staff took a while to take our first order and offer us a choice of either Mimosas, Bloody Mary’s or Prosecco Punch. We opted for some mimosas to start, which were nice enough, but could have done with a fresh orange juice with bits instead of the obviously concentrated smooth stuff they chose to mix it with. The Prosecco Punch followed, which didn’t taste at all like the elderflower or lime concoction that was described. Despite the fact the drinks weren’t the tastiest, they were, however, filled up promptly whenever they had been diminished. Clutch is also a bar that stays open to 1am on weekends, with monthly live music and CBD infused cocktails – chicken isn’t all it has to offer.
Overall, Clutch is a fun, well-decorated restaurant, with a laid-back feel perfect for a brunch. The food isn’t anything special but is decently priced and with a £20 time out deal, the inclusion of bottomless prosecco for a full 2 hours does make it a bargain. The verdict? Come here for some cheap thrills, but don’t expect a gastronomic revelation.
OVERALL RATING: ***
https://clutchchicken.com/
