London Stoke Newington Restaurant Guide

This Grade II listed Stokey boozer was taken under the wing of the gastropub magicians behind the Anchor & Hope and Canton Arms three years ago, and now boasts a “delicious seasonal menu” and “very good Sunday lunch”. The move has been such a success that the Clarence team now has a West End outpost – at no less an address than Soho’s historic Kettner’s (see also). Top Menu Tip – “the pies for two: I’m still dreaming about the chicken and leek”.

2021 Review: “Utterly magic shakshuka served with chunks of roasted sourdough…”, “stand-out salt beef bagels…”, “incredible coffee with a selection of babka sweet breads (in different flavours!)…”, “ZFC – ‘za’atar fried chicken’ – to die for!…” – these “bustling” Israeli delis in Stoke Newington and Soho’s Kingly Court create queues (especially at brunch) with their “quite exceptional and startlingly fresh Middle-Eastern-cum-north-American food. They also make a worthwhile destination at dinner, when the pace is more sedate, the natural wines are flowing and you can actually book a table”. “Casual and relaxed”, they look “gorgeous” too.

An “excellent Stokey local”, “deservedly very popular” for its Spanish tapas, in particular its “absolutely wonderful fish”: its Glasgow-born founder, former record producer Stephen Lironi, has made it his mission to intercept some of the top-quality Scottish fish usually exported to Spain. One quibble this year: “surely it’s time to upgrade the school chairs”. Top Tip – “half-price oysters before 7pm”.

Still regarded as a “benchmark” for vegetarian cuisine – not just of the south Indian variety – Das Sreedharan’s bright pink Stoke Newington fixture has for 30 years showcased the Keralan home cooking he grew up with. At one stage the flagship of a small group, these days the fleet is limited to here and its new ‘Rasa Street’ spin-off across the, er, street.

2020 Review: “The perfect neighbourhood restaurant”, say fans of this Stoke Newington yearling, where “a daily/weekly-changing seasonal menu of Italian-influenced food with, say, a Portuguese twist and an Australian sensibility, is provided courtesy of Aussie chef-proprietor, Alexis Noble”. “Wines are unusual, cleverly chosen, and invariably delicious. Service is sweet and helpful. A delight.”

“Literally the size of a dinner plate”, the schnitzels at this tiled Stoke Newington two-year-old are “freshly made”, “tender & super-tasty”, and come with “great sides – especially the pickled cucumber salad”. The classics (veal, pork, chicken) take their cue from German-speaking central Europe, but the menu strays as far as Mexico and Japan to up the variety. A spin-off opened in Hoxton under the name Schnitzel Heaven in early 2023.

“Well done Rasa!” – the revered veggie Keralan has “opened up a new restaurant in Stokey”: opposite the original bright-pink Rasa, now in its 30th year, the latest venture from Das Sreedharan “stays true to the original, but also offers yummy fish dishes” with “a whole array of beautiful and tasty new options” – and “it’s already a local hit”.

“It’s hard to be ‘special’ with pizza these days with so much competition, but the eye-catching options give an edge” to this popular nine-strong chain, whose calling card is a choice of four different 48-hour fermented pizza bases, including the distinctive black vegetable charcoal. Their latest opening is in Canary Wharf.