Behind

"Went for lunch. Excellent food. Loved the concept of no menu and all customers served at the same time. "

"Wow! Best meal since Cornerstone which is sort of similar. A young place with only 3 staff who do everything from greeting to explanation to cooking up to departure. Being new they are super keen and far from weary, jaded or sitting on their laurels. Only some 24 seats at most, they seat you at a horseshoe bar facing the kitchen in parties separated by a space. 2 tables, one for 4 another for 6 would suit larger parties. No menu and no choice but they ask if you dislike anything and act. We said we disliked pork (and had put it on the reservation when requested) they said there was some pork but we would not have it. In fact, we think they may have changed the menu for everyone as we saw no pork at all, only lots of fish. We had a six course lunch with starts with small dishes and you wonder if there is going to be enough after the first 2 courses of a pike mousse and mussel on muffin (signature) . Fear not the next two were larger with side dishes - crab bone soup, sardine on Melba etc. but not too much so by the end all is perfect. We had an extra course of cheese and almond plum tart as we could not bear to stop! Inventive and entertaining. We would love to go back but fear that with this quality getting in might prove hard or the prices will go through the roof."

"Dalston near London Fields. Just received Michelin star after only 8 week open. 18 at chef's table. Very friendly chef's serve you personally. "

"I find it hard to understand what to make of Behind. I was excited to visit, excited while I was there, found it great chatting to the chefs and their helpers, enjoyed the food and wine a lot. It has one Michelin star and in terms of food quality, I would not argue with that. The strange thing is that it didn't leave a definable imprint on my mind, I find it hard to remember specific dishes, just a nice flow from one thing to another. I'm not sure this is a bad thing per se, and I'd like to go back - especially when they open their little wine space - but it's odd. It's better than Cornerstone, I think, or Pidgin. Maybe it just pips Nest, but they are very different types of places. Probably the best in Hackney, and I feel I should be more excited about that?"

"Excellent meal in a quirky setting. Relaxed counter eating brought by the chefs. Excellent value for money"