Restaurant review: Salvation Jane, EC1

The Antipodeans have long given us substantial alternatives to English breakfasts.

And Salvation Jane – which brands itself as a little bit of Australia in Shoreditch – is no different.

The light and airy restaurant in City Road is the sister restaurant of the popular Lantana in Fitzrovia. The owner tells me the inspiration behind it was an all-day café – somewhere that people can pop into at all times.

I struggled to choose between the 14 dishes on the brunch menu, but started with corn fritters stacked with streaky bacon, fresh spinach and slow roasted tomatoes served with an avocado chilli lime salsa and crème fraiche, but requested eggs instead of bacon.

The whole ensemble was visually appealing in terms of colours and had myriad tastes, including a strong Mexican undercurrent.

My friend chose smoked haddock hash cakes with fresh spinach, poached eggs and dill mayo. They pack a real punch – both in terms of size and taste.

We followed these with a round of sweet dishes. I opted for the cinnamon french toast with blueberry compote, honey ricotta and toasted almonds – easily the best thing on the menu.

The French toast is slightly crispy on the outside and melt-in-the-mouth on the inside, while the sweetness of the compote marries well with the creaminess of the ricotta and the crunchiness of toasted almonds.

My friend tucked into toasted banana bread with mascarpone and passion fruit. The tartness of the passion fruit contrasted well with the sweet bread.

The restaurant also features a dinner menu with small and large eating plates and a nice selection of cocktails, which are perfect for post-work meet-ups – a great excuse to go back.