“With a lunch menu ranging with options from a rib eye steak to eggs and avocado on toast – I had to decide what kind of person I wanted to be that day,” says reporter Immy Share.

The Artful Duke is a fun and exciting new addition to Bromley.

Located just off Bromley High Street, its colourful outdoor seating area and wide-open doors prompted me to take a look inside.

The music was lively, the atmosphere was pleasant and it was one of the only places I’ve ever been that made me feel like I could sit and eat alone comfortably.

News Shopper:

I was greeted by general manager Gosia with a smile and helping hand and it became clear that anything and anyone goes at The Artful Duke.

She told me about their doggy-exclusive menu with dog biscuits and dog beer, the live DJs that would be there on Friday night, and all the sports coming up that they planned to show on their plasma TV screens.

Gosia sat me down next to a large table of mums and their kids, just a few metres away from an elderly couple having a coffee, and across the room from two builders on their lunch break.

I felt comfortable and the large open space filled with different table configurations, a well-stocked bar and TV screens dotted around felt inviting.

News Shopper:

Gosia brought me the lunch menu and I was faced with the biggest decision I’d made all week.

Was I going to treat myself to a rib eye steak and make the most of my lonesome lunching by pretending to be posh?

Was I going to dig into fish and chips? After all, it is my favourite.

Or was I going to be the typical Gen Z and tuck into eggs, avo and toast and brunch the day away.

After a few long, hard minutes of deliberation – I decided to show my age and ordered the Crushed Avocado – described as “poached Cacklebean eggs and our home made candied seed crumble”.

News Shopper:

I ordered some fries and a pink gin fizz to go with it – not overly well fitting with the avo brunch I know – but the warm atmosphere made me feel as though it would be rude not to indulge.

Gosia told me they had no pink gin fizz due to “supplier issues” so I opted for the green smoothie instead and my insides thanked her quietly for forcing me to be healthy.

The food came quickly and the one-egg on avo and green health juice went down a treat.

The seeded bread was moist, the avocado was the perfect thick, but not-too-thick, texture and my poached egg was Instagram-ably runny.

News Shopper:

I could have probably done with one more egg – but I’m really not complaining.

The fries were lathered in salt, large in quantity and were the perfect addition to my wannabe healthy lunch.

Overall my food was delicious, it was served with a smile, and I’d just comfortably completed my first-ever meal out alone without feeling overly self-conscious.

The background chatter helped, as did the music, but most of all the smiling staff.

So, if The Artful Duke deserves anything, it’s a 10/10 for its friendly nature, host-warmth and hot salty fries.

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