Since Hot Dinners has lived in Islington the site on St John's St where you turn into Rosebery Avenue has been through a series of owners - its most recent incarnation was a rather lacklustre Med Kitchen. Now the West London vegetarian restaurant The Gate has taken a gamble and will open there on 1 June.
The Gate opened in Hammersmith in 1989 and has built up a reputation for decent food with Time Out describing it as the "doyenne of vegetarian restaurants". They'll be closing Hammersmith for refurbishment on 19 May, reopening on 1 October 2012.
Their Islington branch will feature a mezze bar menu, daily set menu (and pre-theatre dinner for people going to Sadlers Wells) as well as a weekend brunch. If it's anything like the Hammersmith original you can expect dishes like wasabi potato cake stuffed with roasted shitake, ginger & chilli & served with pickled vegetables to start and chipotle mushrooms or green thai curry for main courses.
The Gate, 370 St John Street, London EC1. Opening times Mon-Fri Lunch 12-2.30pm. Mon-Sun Dinner 6-10.30pm. Weekend brunch 11-3pm. Mezze bar menu daily from 12-11pm. Make a reservation at thegaterestaurants.com/islington
Find out about more upcoming London restaurants
