Hi there,
This blog aims to summarise all the places which I think are worth visiting to eat around the Holloway/Archway area. It might develop into something more, it might remain a single blog post with my favourites; either way I am asked a lot where is good to eat and I often have far too many places to recommend.
So here is a starting list of local places that I rate.
Highly recommended:
Season Kitchen (Modern British) (web) Excellent cooking and fantastic value especially on the wine. Great early dinner deal: any main and a glass of wine for £15 if you order before 7pm.
500 (Italian) (web)
Del Parc (Tapas) (web) Tell them what you don't eat and prepare to be dazzled.
Trullo (Modern British) (web)
Ottolenghi (Middle Eastern) (web)
Moro (Middle Eastern) (web) inspired, fresh, exciting food inspired by the middle east.
Morito (Tapas) (web) Best patatas bravas ever. Love this place. Leave your name and number, go to the pub and then come back and eat some of the best tapas in London.
Yipin China (Hunanese) (web) Best Chinese in London.
Vagabond N4, N7 (Coffee) (web) Delicious coffee.
St John (British) (web) Proudly British cuisine, meat dishes are stand out. Try the bone marrow.
The Quality Chop House (British) (web) Very good value menu: three delicious courses for £35. House wine is fantastic and a bargain at £19.
Highbury Vintners (Wine shop) (web) Excellent selection, including beer and spirits.
The Sampler (Wine Shop) (web) Great selection and the ability to sample some incredible wines.
Paul A. Young (Chocoloate) (web) Best chocolate in London.
Recommended:
Nuraghe (Sardinian) (web) Huge portions of amazing pasta and very good pizzas.
The Lamb (Beers) (web) Great beers, delicious takeaway pizza from up the road, excellent music - what more could you want from a pub?
Ajani (Soul food) (web) Some of the best jazz musicians around play at this tiny place and the food is excellent. Make the most of it!
Crystal Pide Salonu (Turkish) (web) I absolutely love this cafe that sells Gozleme, pide and lacmacun (spelling?!) in fact I'm there nearly every Sunday for lunch. Two people can eat here for lunch for less than £10. Bargain.
Little Sardegna (Sardinian) (web)
Au Lac (Vietnamese) (web)
Highbury Arts Club (Tapas) (web)
Front Room Cafe (Cafe) (web) Perfectly cooked and very authentic Tapas, portion sizes small though.
Byron (Burgers) (web) Solid burgers that I'm happy to eat when lacking imagination.
John Salt (Modern British) (web)
Dotori (Korean) (web) My girlfriend (who is a fish-eating veggie) says this place serves the best Tofu she has ever eaten. The Bibimbap here is excellent as is the sushi (they have a sushi chef on site). Try the kimchi for a delicious bargain starter or the amazing tempura prawns if you're feeling a bit more lavish.
Hana Sushi (Japanese) (web)
Petek (Turkish) (web)
Le Peche Mignon (French Cafe) (web)
Assiette Anglaise (French) (web)
Le Mercury (French) (web)
Brewsters (Coffee) (web)
Nid Ting (Thai) (web)
Zing Zing (Chinese) (web) Very good value and delicious Chinese delivery. The Zing-Zing box is a main with rice for just £6.50. The beef with orange was bland and the banana nutella spring rolls are to be avoided but the other mains that I've tried have been excellent.
Cremeria Vienna (Gelato) (web) Very good selection of gelato made the italian way.
Happening Bagel Bakery (Bagels) (web) Delicious bagels at a bargain price.
The Taproom (Beer) (web) Great selection of ales.
Bakhtiar’s Naan (Naan) (web) Best Naan in London and insanely cheap.
Kipferl (Austrian) (web)
Santore (Pizza) (web)
The Coffeeworks project (web)
Caravan (Coffee and British) (web and web)
Almeida (French) (web)
Ruby Violet (Ice cream) (web) Great selection of interesting flavours.
Pizzeria Pappagone (Italian/pizza) (web) Ignore all the silly Italian stereotypes and what you get is a very good pizza. The Parmigiana was a particular favourite. Also they stock Fernet Branca and Branca Menta which will always win me over :)
Like:
Mamma Mia (web) Just ask for the arancini and you'll forget about how this place looks.
The Fish and Chip Shop (web) Quality stuff, but a bit too pricey.
Boulangerie Bon Matin (French Cafe) (web) Breakfasts are ok, lunches are much better, coffees are far too big.
Chicks on Fire (web)
El Molino (web)
Holy Cow (web)
Tbilisi (web)
Red Rose Tandoori (web)
High Tea of Highgate (web)
The Angel Inn (pub food) (web)
RRC Thai Cafe (Thai) (web)
The Breakfast Club (web)
Gallipoli (web)
Euphorium Bakery (web)
Tufnell Park Tavern Food Market (Street Food) (web) Nice little Saturday market that runs from 11-3. Always something tempting to eat there, from Indian street food to brownies to the biggest oysters that I'd ever seen.
Bunny Little's Bakery (Artisan Bakery) (web) Impressive selection of pastries, cakes and bread most of which are baked fresh on site. Coffee is Union which is great but my flat white was just ok.
To Try
The Crown (web)
Juniper (web)
Grain Store (web)
Smoke House (BBQ) (web)
Le Coq (Rotisserie) (web)
Iberia Restaurant (Georgian) (web)
La Muse (French) (web)
House of Wolf (Modern British) (web)
Udderlicious (Ice cream) (web)
Honest Burger (Burgers) (web)
Bull and Last (British)
Canonbury Kitchen (Gastropub) (web)
Chippy (Fish and Chips) (web)
E.Mono (Kebab shop)
