London Tufnell Park Restaurant Guide

“Proper caff food done right” in Tufnell Park by two highly skilled chefs “will whizz you back in time to your school days or nursery – except I don’t remember it ever tasting this good!”. Elliot Kaye and Richard Hayes quit their jobs at Leroy and Lyle’s four years ago to “make the best fry-up in London” at this “utterly brilliant” re-creation of the traditional greasy spoon. Top Tip – “arrive early as there is no booking system, so the queue is often around the corner for this tiny cafe”.

800+ wines by the bottle and a selection of 75 craft beers are the USP of this intriguing Tufnell Park showcase for regional French drinks and produce. The menu changes every six weeks with a different region moving into focus – it’s short and in a supporting role to all the delicious grog, but good value.

Fans hail this Archway tavern as “the best for miles around” (it was George Michael’s favourite back in the day) – “always welcoming”, and with a “terrific menu of mainly British cuisine” served in the dining room, which has “some charm as a former ballroom”. Top Menu Tip – the “great roast beef” is a treat for Sunday lunch.

2022 Review: Adding Indian spicing to pasta and crispy Italian pizza explains the name of Devinder Singh’s Tufnell Park venue, which opened in Spring 2020. Early bird feedback suggests it's a concept that ‘has legs’.

2023 Review: “Two minutes’ walk from Archway tube”, this “tiny Italian” comes “recommended for its homemade pasta and specials” and “delicious Italian sourdough pizza”, all delivered by “polite and considerate staff”. Top Menu Tip – “the olives Ascolana appetiser – fried breadcrumbed green olives stuffed with minced meat”.