True Religion

The cat, it would appear, is well and truly out of the bag concerning True Religion Espresso Bar and their bacon-and-egg rolls. On a weekend the line is out the door but people seem happy enough to mill about in the morning sun and whet their appetites with takeaway coffees while they wait for their breakfasts to arrive.

True Religion is a simple pleasures kind of joint. It’s a newish addition to Balmain’s small but growing collection of hole-in-the-wall cafes - places you go to for good coffee and food that doesn’t require cutlery. The menu focuses on quick and tasty food that has a low mess factor and travels well, namely panini, bacon-and-egg rolls and house-made muffins, which is a good thing as finding a seat is largely a matter of luck.

The famed b&e rolls come on flat herb bread that does an excellent job of preventing yolk breaches, and the caramelised onion jam and house-made mayonnaise is the winning accompaniment, though if you are one for the classics, a spot of barbecue sauce is never a bad choice.

If you fancy a sweetie, the sugar-crusted strawberry, lemon and ricotta muffins are lovely. Don’t be swayed by the savoury ones; if you are going to eat cake for breakfast, do it properly. For a sit-down breakfast Kazbah is just down the road, but for a quick bite True Religion will see you fed and watered and on your way to whatever the weekend has in store.