Dalston, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

2024 Review: “Delicious food” and “attentive service” are the order of the day at this ambitious gastropub on the Dalston-Haggerston border, where the kitchen is headed by chef Tom Oldroyd, whose self-named restaurant in Islington closed down during the pandemic.

“Sunday lunch where the plates of traditional roast dinners are overflowing” typify the “great meat dishes” which are a highpoint at this East End duo, run by a firm of outside caterers. Both occupy fine spaces, be it a Victorian factory in Dalston (the original, opened in 2013, and famous to fans of the 2021 hit film ‘Boiling Point’); or a fine “airy” Georgian building in South Woodford, complete with large outdoor spaces. Vegetarian options, though, win less praise. Top Tip – bottomless brunch is a feature in both locations.

2023 Review: “Great value and unusual tasting menus, nice wines & lovely service” win all-round applause for this yearling in a Hackney Downs warehouse from Anthony Lyon (of Lyon’s in Crouch End). Head chef Giuseppe Pepe (ex-Pidgin and Marksman) is responsible for the seasonal, minimal-waste menu, and his “food is beautifully presented and served”.

“A great neighbourhood restaurant” is the verdict on this Hackney destination, which – perhaps not helped by Michelin’s blessing when the premises famously traded as Pidgin – has sometimes struggled under the burden of unfair expectations. In its current guise since mid 2024, it provides “original dishes which can be shared and that are always interesting”, all provided by the “super staff”. “The small dining room can initially seem a little cold but it has a decent vibe”.