London Chalk Farm Restaurant Guide

“In beautiful Primrose Hill”, just by the Regent’s Canal, this quirkily situated ‘Restaurant, Martini Bar & Garden’ showcases Michael Nadra’s “really lovely” modern European food, and attracts very consistent praise from fans across north London. (His original W4 venue shut down a couple of years ago).

This “vibrant and busy” hangout in Primrose Hill is “obviously very popular with locals”, plying them with “huge salads offset with brownies and ice cream”, along with decent coffee and cocktails. In particular, it’s a big local favourite for a “released breakfast… if you can get a table”.

“Still going strong” after 45 years, this big, “family-friendly, community-spirited” taverna on Primrose Hill boasts a “reliable Greek-Cypriot menu that suits all tastes”. “Visit for the ambience rather than the food and you won’t be disappointed” – it’s the sort of place where “many of the waiters have served for decades; and once-young guests can often be seen tucking in with now grown-up children as well as grandchildren in tow”.

“They succeed in making vegan food interesting!” at this successful chain, founded in Soho in 1988 and which is no longer merely veggie but since 2021 fully plant-based. “While packed and buzzy in set-up, it’s nevertheless a good destination for a healthy stopover” according to the many who commented on it in this year’s annual diners’ poll: “as a meat-eater, I was taken under sufferance but impressed!”. In May 2024, they added a new branch near Victoria coach station.

This Kentish Town fixture from Calabrian-born, Moroccan-heritage chef Mustapha Mouflih has achieved cult status over the past decade for its “mostly great” Italian cooking served in modest premises at very good prices – the bills held in check by “brilliant BYOB for corkage”. Ratings have dropped this year, though, with several reporters “disappointed after reading good reviews”.

“Real quality pizza, good portion sizes and reasonable prices” have driven the rapid growth of this Chelsea-based group, launched five years ago by Carmelo Meli and Emanuele Tagliarini. A couple of reports also give a shout out to the “short but reasonably priced wine list”.

“The best bagels in London”! Self-taught baker Dan Martensen and Caravan head baker Jack Ponting worked on perfecting a New York bagel recipe and opened this bricks-and-mortar place in September 2023 in Primrose Hill. There’s the odd table, but it’s primarily take out.

“A takeaway hole in the wall with some seating” characterises the branches of Pui Sing, Cheong Yew & Mo Kwok’s HK-inspired group, which specialises in Siu Mei (“authentic roasted Chinese meats”) served in “generous portions” plus noodles – “top Hong Kong food, affordable and better than at ‘normal’ sit-down restaurants”. Towards the end of 2024, they will open their largest site to-date: a 50-cover restaurant in Ealing’s Filmworks development.

“A well-conceived shortish menu of varied and interesting food” has won a warm reception for coffee entrepreneur Jeffrey Young’s ‘Antipodean-inspired Modern Italian in the heart of Belsize Park’. A visit is buoyed along by “a warm welcome and efficient but unobtrusive service (everyone in our – not always easy to please – party said they’d like to go again soon!”).

“As good as any in France really!” – the clue is in the name at this Kentish Town café, which “may only be fair in appearance but makes genuine French crêpes from French ingredients and by French staff”. “It’s only a matter of feet between the kitchen and your table so your meal is crispy at the edges when you get it”. “Simple and delicious!” Top Menu Tip – “the crêpes are good, but go for the galettes, which are the best – made with Breton buckwheat and not overdone in any way – and have a cup of cidre brut aussi!”

Review: “Sinfully good” burgers are delivered with “quick and efficient service” – and “genius free soft serve ice cream” (which accompanies your bill) – at this independent group with a handful of outlets around London. Former nurse Liz Down and her husband Stew started out in 2016 with a stall on Broadway Market, inspired by working holidays in the Canadian Rockies. Top Tip – “indulge in the guilty pleasure of their dry-aged beef glazed in miso with double cheese”.