Written by Martin Seymour | Editor, The Mayfair Foodie | About Me
Eastern Mediterranean brunch and mezze in the heart of London’s West End
People often say to me, “You must be living the dream as a foodie — you get to go to lovely restaurants and eat great food. That’s not work.” I try to counter with, “It’s not all glamour. I have to research the restaurant, and after my visit, I have to write up my review.” As the words leave my mouth, I can see they’re not convinced — and in truth, I am living the dream.
I do enjoy the writing part, not as much as the eating, but trust me, it’s not a chore. For somebody who, in a former work life, used to sell promotional merchandise, writing about the attributes of a 30p ballpoint pen is a lot harder than describing a beautifully cooked sea bream on a bed of almond and dill gremolata (more of the bream later). So today, it’s far from arduous to describe my visit to Brother Marcus Covent Garden — one of the best places to eat in Covent Garden if you’re craving Eastern Mediterranean flavours.
About Brother Marcus?
Brother Marcus is a blossoming restaurant group serving Eastern Mediterranean cuisine and has become renowned as one of the best brunch spots in Covent Garden. After the recent opening of their latest restaurant in Canary Wharf, you now have a choice of eight locations to choose from. In my case, it’s their Covent Garden site, which is set over two floors in St Martin’s Courtyard — rather confusingly, the address is 23 Slingsby Place, tucked behind Dishoom on Upper St Martin’s Lane.
The Story Behind Brother Marcus
My research tells me (raised eyebrows from regular readers at the mention of research) that their first branch was in Balham, when the founders — three school friends, Alex, Arthur and Tas — took over a former greasy spoon on Chestnut Grove in 2016. Sadly, this branch closed due to the pressures of the pandemic in 2021. Thankfully, this did not put the team off, and the group has grown to become one of London’s most popular brunch and all-day dining destinations.
The name comes from Alex’s ever-popular little brother called Marcus, who apparently makes friends with almost everyone he meets. Why they named it after him, my research did not give me a definitive answer, so you’ll have to ask them. However, unless you name yourv restaurant “Don’t Eat Here,” the name is of little importance — it’s about serving good food at a price you’re happy to pay.
The Brother Marcus Covent Garden Menu
Looking at the Brother Marcus Covent Garden menu, it’s clear this is an Eastern Mediterranean-themed restaurant, inspired by Tas’s Cretan and Cypriot heritage. Brother Marcus is open all day, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner — making it a great restaurant in Covent Garden whether you’re after an early bite or a pre-theatre meal. We joined for lunch on a wet Thursday in February; the weather had no impact on bookings, and the restaurant was packed, which is always good to see.
Mezze and Starters
We started, as I’m guessing most people do when visiting Brother Marcus, with a mezze — including a trio of dips and a selection of olives. As you would expect, there is a good choice of dips. Our selections were: roasted beetroot houmous with herb oil and Urfa chilli; fennel tzatziki with Aleppo chilli; and the classic smoked aubergine baba ghanoush with harissa oil. Served with fluffy pitta breads, it’s such a lovely way to start any meal. The starters evoked memories of warm days in the Mediterranean, sharing food overlooking the blue sea.
Next up, charred celeriac with dill and lemon aioli, confit garlic and smoked pine nuts. It’s so good to see celeriac on the menu — a much underused vegetable — and tasting this, you wonder why. It was lovely. We also shared the pan-fried halloumi with prune and clementine reduction and toasted seeds. Salty and sweet, this was such a well-balanced dish, and I’m told it’s a big favourite with diners. I would order it again — it was delicious.
Main Courses
To finish the savoury selection, two dishes from the lunch and all-day dining menu: pan-seared bream with almond and dill gremolata, and roasted chicken with sun-dried tomato harissa, fresh herb salad, labneh and nigella seeds.
The sea bream was cooked perfectly, with a big hit of lemon from the sauce and a nice textural contrast from the almonds. The roasted chicken was moist and sat on a bed of labneh yoghurt, which cooled the palate from the spicy harissa sauce. These are well-thought-out dishes with ingredients that work harmoniously together.
Dessert
There was an easy decision on the dessert. Firstly, we were pleasantly full, so we decided to share. Our waitress was on hand to help— not for the first time — pointed us in the direction of the baklava sandwich, served with pistachio ice cream and honey cream. We’re big fans of baklava, and as you can see from the picture, this version was on another level. The pistachio ice cream worked so well with the honey-soaked filo pastry. There was a point when we were sharing that I regretted not ordering one each — but actually, that probably would have been too much.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why Brother Marcus has become such a success story. What started as three school friends taking over a greasy spoon in Balham has grown into one of London’s most beloved Eastern Mediterranean restaurant groups. The well-thought-out all-day menu is designed to please the most discerning diner, and the Eastern Mediterranean influence is evident throughout — from the mezze platters perfect for sharing to the carefully balanced main courses and indulgent desserts.
If you’re searching for great restaurants in Covent Garden or the best brunch in Covent Garden, Brother Marcus deserves a spot on your list. The feel-good food, well-balanced flavours and warm, welcoming atmosphere make it the perfect spot for everything from a leisurely weekend brunch to a pre-theatre dinner. If you find yourself in Covent Garden and fancy a taste of the Eastern Mediterranean, I highly recommend making your way to St Martin’s Courtyard. Just look for Dishoom and slip around the back — you’ll be glad you did.
Where to Find Brother Marcus Covent Garden
Brother Marcus Covent Garden
23 Slingsby Place, St Martin’s Courtyard, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9AB
[Website link to be added]
Nearest Stations:
Leicester Square — Northern and Piccadilly lines
Covent Garden — Piccadilly line
