Some restaurants win you over as soon as you walk in the door and Nandine in Camberwell is one of them. The homespun decor – plywood, pink painted brickwork, rattan lampshades and cute little vases of flowers on each table – charms you and then the kitchen keeps you enthralled with the food. Founded by Pary Baban, Nandine is a celebration of Kurdish food (Nandine means ‘kitchen’ in Kurdish). After she was displaced from her home in Kurdistan under the rule of Saddam Hussein, Pary spent time with relatives across the country, during which she collected recipes and documented regional dishes. She came to the UK in 1995, settling in South London, and started to sell Kurdish food in Elephant & Castle in 2007, before opening Nandine on Vestry Road in 2016 and then expanding to this site on Church Street. The food is packed with flavour, from the beaut beharat fries to the Kurdish dumplings to the stew tapsi; the portions are generous; and Nandine does some of the best baklava in London, so get down there for a true taste of Kurdish food.
"A great introduction into Kurdish cuisine, classic regional dishes from Iraqi Kurdistan served in a contemporary way with lots of vegan options for all the ‘new’ people that have moved into the area."
Right in the heart of town, Cafe Helen is *the* choice if you’re after shawarma in the Edgware Road area. It’s been around since 1991 (that’s about 74 years in London restaurant years), so we reckon the cafe is about due its well-deserved institution status.
"Or Helens as it’s known to us for us the best shawarma in London. For years this has been the go to spot to finish the night off in west. Order one chicken and one lamb shawarma with pickles chilli, garlic and a mango juice so you’re getting your daily vitamins as well as nourishing your soul with the finest Lebanese meats wraps."
After past lives as Pollo Feliz (specialising in grilled chicken), a tortilla delivery service and a Netil Market stall, Sonora Taqueria finally landed its first brick-and-mortar site up in Stoke Newington. Founded by Michelle Salazar and Sam Napier, Sonora centres around its menu of Northern Mexican food which includes the likes of carne asada, caramelo, lorenza, adobada, campechano or nopales from the grill, as well as a range of quesadillas and guisados (stewed) dishes. The plates are all made using their absolutely epic handmade flour tortillas. There’s usually a queue for this spot and with good reason.
"Our favourite taco spot and we should know because we’ve been to Mexico once so we know exactly what we’re talking about. Go when they open, they’ll be a queue but it goes quick. Enter, order loads, don’t hesitate order more than you think you need. Make sure to get the Cabeza it’s all the stuff from inside the cows head slow cooked, sounds mad and it is but it just tastes like a banging taco, which it also is."
Once upon a time, there was a notorious Soho speakeasy known as the New Evaristo Club. It’s not gone anywhere (though there have been a few attempts to shut it down), it’s just more commonly known as Trisha’s now – named after the bar’s long-term matriarch, Trisha Bergonzi. Some say Trisha’s is one of the last bastions of the ‘old Soho’, others say it’s the area’s ‘best-kept secret’ (we’re not so sure about that). If there’s one thing we do know, it’s that this is one of London’s few late-night spots, making it the place to be if you don’t feel like being swept out by 11pm.
"This non-pretentious little bar is usually the place we start the night at and mostly decide to stay until we end our night there. Nothing fancy, the last piece of old school Soho, a piece of history that should be cherished. You’ll always bump into interesting characters here, have a fun night and if you’re lucky you'll get a jazz band providing the soundtrack to the debauchery."
In New Cross and in the mood for jerk? Make a beeline for takeaway spot Smokey Jerkey. Though there’s curry goat, oxtail and stewed chicken on the menu, the jerk is where it’s at, especially the lamb, which delivers hits of fat, smoke and spice. Whatever main you go for, you can make it a proper feast with sides of rice & peas, patties, plantain, mac & cheese and coleslaw.
"One of the best examples of Jamaican jerk cuisine we’ve had so far. Not too sweet, incredibly smokey with a great spice level. Get the jerk pork and the lamb, take it away, plot up round the corner and eat it enjoying the smoke fumes wafting all over your face."
The Clapton wine bar formerly known as P.Franco had quite the 2023 – in mid-March, the beloved site suddenly closed (as did sibling sites Noble Fine Liquor and Bright due to financial negligence on the part of the parent company). Thankfully manager Will Gee fought the good fight and managed to bring P.Franco back through a crowdfunding campaign, though it’s now trading under the name 107 (hopefully only temporarily). The name may be new but the ethos is very much the same – a stellar wine selection and pop-ups from the hottest chefs and big-name international wine producers.
"Great place to drink natural wines by the glass. Not a sausage of wine knowledge needed, just say what you like and they’ll bring the glass. They also have guest chefs on rotation that cook up tasty small plates of stuff to eat while you drink. The perfect place to meet up with an old friend and pretend you know loads about wine now."
After announcing a sabbatical at the end of last year, cult Thai restaurant Singburi has now relocated from Leytonstone to Shoreditch. Chef Sirichai Kularbwong has teamed up with chef Nick Molyviatis (who was the founding chef at Kiln and who helped launched OMA) and Alexander Gkikas (co-founder of Catalyst Cafe and Roastery), to open Singburi 2.0 inside the new Montacute Yards development close to Shoreditch High Street station. The menu is reminiscent of the blackboard at the Leytonstone restaurant, with dishes like Dill & Lemongrass Pork Sausage; Wild Ginger Chicken Thigh; Prawn & Betel Leaf Southern Curry; Mussels, Tomato & Sweet Basil; and Smoked Pork Belly & Green Peppercorn. There’s also a bar at this Singburi, pouring a rotating selections of wine (all available by the glass) from a list curated with the help of Ancestral Wine, and cocktails like clarified Bloody Marys and makrut lime leaf Gimlets.
"Hands down the best Thai we’ve ever eaten in London. They cook no frills legit Thai food here with specials changing depending on produce but one thing that stays the same is that it’s always consistently delicious. This unassuming little Leyton restaurant has become hugely popular so be warned and book way in advance to avoid disappointment."
Seven Sisters is a real hub for Latin American food and Blankita is one of the best. The Colombian spot serves up home-cooked comfort food, including sancocho soup, bandeja paisa, chicharron with rice & plantain, frijoles, and beef empanadas, and in proper portions too. Don’t miss the fresh soursop and carrot juice either.
"North London Columbian spot specialising in comforting dishes such as sancocho - a beef and vegetable soup, beef stuffed empanadas or chicharron, rice and plantain. A solid option for when you need a Columbian fix in the north side of town."
We once heard a rumour that a young lady approached the bar and asked the barmaid, “Do you have prosecco?”. The barmaid nodded and poured Guinness into a champagne flute. Yes, this is an Irish bar through and through. You’ll find characters from all walks with stories; there’s live traditional Irish music; and lots of loud, loud, enjoyable singing. Oh, they like football here too, so it’s not one for a quiet pint.
"Probably our favourite Guinness this side of the water. A lovely drop and an even lovelier backdrop, a tiny sliver of a pub drenched in history with a nice little beer garden out the back."
Rochelle Canteen, run by Margot Henderson and Melanie Arnold, has long been one of London’s favourite spots. Housed in a former school bike shed on Arnold Circus in Shoreditch, accessible only through an unmarked door that, when buzzed in, leads you through a pretty garden and to a small dining room, it’s always been a hidden spot for Londoners to enjoy. Aside from being an excellent setting to enjoy a leisurely weekend lunch, the cooking is really quite good too. Simplicity is the order of the day so, although menus change daily, expect dishes along the lines of Queenie scallops, grilled in garlic and butter; the skate wing with burnt butter and samphire; and, our favourite, braised lamb with peas and mint.
"Owned by the legendary Margot Henderson, this is a slightly higher end option with an ever changing menu of classic seasonal dishes that always leave us impressed and satisfied. Set inside of the old Rochelle School garden it’s a beautiful place to spend an afternoon or evening with a loved one or loved ones, up to you really."
