Canonbury, Italian Restaurant Guide

“Such a lovely neighbourhood restaurant… thank God it’s my neighbourhood” purr lucky locals at Tim Siadatan & Jordan Frieda’s Highbury Corner fixture, whose “lovely modern Italian cooking” has made it “a real favourite” – “choose the airy upstairs in summer or for a business lunch; downstairs is great in winter or for romance”. After 16 years, though, it can struggle sometimes to fulfill expectations, with the occasional report along the lines of “had high hopes but was a bit underwhelmed: nothing bad, just nothing special” – “it’s under too much pressure” is another suggestion: perhaps “they should take out two or three tables to restore standards”.

In the cosy and evocative, small (27 cover) restaurant of the Islington Arts Club – at the north end of Upper Street – this August 2025 launch is from chef duo Louis Korovilas and Taylor Sessegnon-Shakespeare, who previously worked together at Pied A Terre. It’s weekend-only, from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch, in an affordable (£65 per person) tasting format rooted in French and Italian cuisines, with a weekly-rotating menu (e.g. Broadbean orzotto with chicken wing, Aubergine scarpece, with bagna cauda and clams, Beef carpaccio with oyster mayonnaise and baby artichokes, finishing with Seasonal financiers).