Brentwood, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

This Essex institution, founded almost 70 years ago, is still “the best fish restaurant in the area”, offering “consistently great food with even better service”. It’s relatively “formal”, which befits its status as a venue which attracts generations of the county’s notables, from Rod Stewart, Denise Van Outen and Victoria & David Beckham to the TOWIE crowd.

“Love this restaurant which we’ve been going to regularly since it opened!” – this large, modern brasserie has established itself over eight years as one of the best bets for a meal in Stratford’s East Village, thanks to its “friendly service” and a selection of dishes majoring in steaks and roasts from the charcoal oven. “First time and the hard surfaces made the restaurant very noisy, but the food is very tasty!”

“Busy at times, but still with a great vibe” – this converted Victorian factory in Dalston (opened in 2013) will be familiar to some as the location for the 2021 hit film ‘Boiling Point’; and wins acclaim for its grills and other modern British dishes. In June 2024, they launched a new two-floor spin-off in South Woodford: this time in a fine-looking Georgian building – a large site with 150 covers and a 50-seat outside terrace. It has a similarly flexible menu, with options for snacks, brunch, and Sunday lunch.

“Verging on peak-hipster (but don‘t let that put you off!)” – this jeans factory in Walthamstow is a “high-end denim garment manufacturer by day (they have a shop in Coal Drops Yard), but by night they clear down the working tables and have a fully functioning bar and à la carte dog-friendly restaurant!”. “It’s very surreal – tables are positioned up against the machines and there are bins full of denim waiting to be dyed”. “Luckily, the food – while it won’t win any Michelin stars, is interesting and well-executed”. “The modern European menu is designed for sharing, with limited but hearty and delicious meat choices; and there’s a lot of choice for veggies” (“with a bit of a focus on health and sustainability”).