Barnet Restaurant Guide

A former boathouse on the high street, turned hotel and dining room, that remains of note for its “delightful food impeccably served in a not overcrowded restaurant” – though you’ll need to book ahead on weekends, when they also lay on a “good Sunday lunch”.

“Israeli street food with attitude” – in particular the “lovely falafels” – win nothing but praise for this top “cheap ’n’ cheerful” kosher bar in Temple Fortune (where most surfaces are wipe clean). It’s no criticism of the place to say that Giles Coren awarding it 9/10 this year may have been over-egging the shakshuka a little.

“Genuine”, “pleasingly quirky” and “unflashy” – these “humble”, extremely popular cafés offer “excellent-value Japanese food” from decent ingredients in “large portions” and are “always full” of “Japanese students and other Asian locals”. The “brusque” service is “a little haphazard, as is the seating”.