This establishment opened its doors last September. It suffered some "chef unsettlement issues" for a few months, but has now sorted all that out producing some flavour packed dishes! The un assuming restaurant located on upper street is as much bar as dining offering a superb cocktail list and craft beers on tap. As soon as I'd entered through the doors I felt quite relaxed and calm. This place is a stripped back stainless steel and dark wood sort of place oozing with cool. There are long sharing tables with stools and benches, usually some where I wouldn't really feel at home but some how it works. the sharing tables are large enough to actually share instead of declaring elbow wars with your IMMEDIATE neighbour. The stools are at a height previously unknown to all other stool makers allowing them to actually be comfortable to the average adult human being. The staff are nice and friendly, making good suggestions and the menu is comforting but also challenging.
I had the cods cheeks to start with. Hugh Fearnly Whittingstall once said that the cheek of any animal is usually the best bit if cooked right. In my view this statement is bang on! And in this dish it is certainly true! Amazing texture and flavour is found in these little cod morsels. The same size as a scallop they hold out on their own but paired with a little Spanish ham on top they sing. Best starter I've had this year, fact!
The pork belly hash next and this is comfort food at its best! Black pudding, pork belly lardons, peas, sweetcorn, roast potatoes and a deep fried egg... Great dish very homely and filling! Coco had razor clams to start and pulled pork with kimchi and chips for mains. While the razor clams were beautiful I'm not sure they fully nailed the Kim chi pork.
For dessert we managed to squeeze in a chocolate and peanut butter tart on an Oreo crumb base .... Pretty darn good, it tasted as good as it sounds the rich chocolate topping gave way to the strong smooth peanut butter middle rounded off well with the Oreo crumb.
All in all I will definitely be back to sample more of both the cocktail and food menu! If you live in islington this should definitely be top of your local hang outs!
