Belsize Park, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

“You are welcomed warmly” at this attractive and easygoing Primrose Hill brunch-friendly haunt, which – say fans – is “the sort of place you always come out of in a good mood”. But while most reports affirm it’s “a lovely place for simple but delicious meals at any time of the day”, there is also a view that “the food’s perfectly pleasant, it’s a useful local, but nothing to get too excited about”.

This “underrated” fixture near Swiss Cottage has long been a “the best place to eat before a show at the Hampstead Theatre”, and is perhaps greater than the sum of its parts. It has won a big fan club over the years, who say it’s also “good enough to return to away from a show for other celebrations” – “the fish always makes people happy and the set menu is a good deal: what’s not to like?”. Simon Bradley (who runs it with his wife Jacinta) has been cooking here for 33 years and even those who feel the food is “not spectacular” – and who keep the ratings in check – still acknowledge that it’s “so much better than any of the alternatives locally”.

Billing itself as: ‘A world-first restaurant employing, training and empowering people who have experienced homelessness’ – this charitable venture opened in late 2024 in cute Primrose Hill, on the site that was for decades the late lamented Odette’s (RIP). Its simple menus – brunches, breakfasts, dinners of steak, cod and chicken – aren’t aiming for foodie fireworks but scored well in our survey. (And in his November 2024 review, although The Telegraph’s William Sitwell wanted “a little more oomph, more zest, more thrills and spills”, he still found it “sweet, sensible and conformist with buckets of warm conviviality”, and serving “safe and respectable brasserie fare”).

“Beautifully restored pub” in Gospel Oak – a fine Georgian (1752) pub rescued from oblivion by new owners Phil and Aimee and reopened at the end of 2024, complete with attractive decor and candlelight. Early feedback is limited but suggests it’s worth a visit for its “friendly welcome and sensibly sized portions”: in particular “excellent Sunday lunches with children’s portions on offer and perfectly cooked meat and veg”.