Restaurant Reviews

11-13 Abingdon Road, London W8 6AH

This is a joint venture between top chef Philip Howard, best known for Elystan Street, and his business partner Rebecca Mascarenhas. The chef here is Mark Kempson, who worked with Howard at The Square. This has slowly become a Kensington institution, a laid-back neighbourhood restaurant, but one that has a Michelin star.

165 Lower Clapton Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 8EQ

This is a family-run Chinese dumpling house and sake bar that started as a pop-up and has become hugely popular in Clapton (it also has a sister site in Victoria Park). The specialities are their hand-rolled dumplings made fresh every day. Alongside those dumplings, there's a big range of sake from small family-run Japanese breweries.

58 Evering Rd, Lower Clapton, London N16 7SR

Bake Street has achieved almost legendary status, primarily for its weekend brunch menu. That's when they put their Nashville fried chicken sandwich on the menu which has become one of London's cult dishes (along with their creme brulee cookies). To those add lamb birria tacos and more. Good luck in grabbing a table (there are no reservations and they only have outside seating).

42 De Beauvoir Cres, London N1 5SB

This little cafe down on the canal in Hackney is one of London's best waterside spots. Run by Laura Jackson and Lori de Mori the food is always seasonal and delicious and, because there's no booking, landing a table here feels very much like winning in life.