London Homerton Restaurant Guide

2023 Review: This “outstanding” four-year-old is an “engaging but cramped little venue” whose “absolute bargain of a menu” from co-owner Johnnie Crow (ex-Harwood Arms and Anglo), makes it “well worth the trip up to Hackney (booking essential!)”. The meal is structured around one type of meat each month – chicken, game, wagyu – to minimise waste, and “service is personal, enthusiastic and charming”. “You’re unlikely to find much better value in town, with some truly stellar dishes given the mid-range price-point”.

“I was surprised by the quality of food!”, say early fans of this “Greek-Australian popup in a Homerton pub that has never really been known for delivering anything beyond the serviceable”. There’s a focus on fire cooking, with dishes like White Tarama, Smoked Aubergine, Charred Lamb Chops, and Octopus Bolognese. The result is “large, flavoursome portions at reasonable prices”. Top Menu Tip – “Get the toastie!”; happy hour for burgers is 5pm - 8pm.

Taking over the former Nest site in Hackney’s Morning Lane, this early 2024 newcomer is an informal venue offering communal dining on skewers of grilled meat and other small plates (as inspired by Japan’s izakaya drinking dens, but using British recipes and ingredients). No reports as yet, but while testing influencer fave-raves, The Evening Standard’s Joanna Taylor gave it a big thumbs-up, saying its shots-fuelled style “certainly manages to live up to its name even on Sunday evening”.

“An interesting menu with dishes you don’t find elsewhere” (for instance Puntarelle and skate wing salad, and Passatelli al ragu di Faraona) pique interest in this two-year-old corner café, whose Hackney site became well-known under its wine-driven former occupants (Peg and Legs, both RIP). Looks-wise, it has the air of a superior Italian café – with its tablecloths and trad creamy styling – and the overall formula creates a pleasing environment that’s “packed and very lively”.