Food & Drink
Where have all the Grannies gone? Gillian Riley on Latin American food
Mexican food of varying quality is on the march in the borough – our resident food historian breaks down how we can get authentic dishes for our pesos
Read MoreMartello Hall, Hackney Central, restaurant review
The atmosphere may not fit Mare Street like a glove, but the Italian-meets-Mediterranean food on the menu is undeniably superb
Read MoreThree sheets to the wind: we take a wine-centric look at a trio of new local eateries
Quaffs were taken at Whitechapel Refectory (the cafe located inside the Whitechapel Gallery) as well as Newcomer Wines and Furanxo, both on Dalston Lane
Read MoreHonest Burgers, Dalston, restaurant review
Our reviewer heads to Bradbury Street to sample the Dalston Chilli, Honest’s first “location burger”
Read MoreClub Mexicana @ Pamela, restaurant review: ‘a Hackney vegan love affair for the ages’
Kingsland Road bar says hola to a range of vegan Mexican food that successfully spices up Dalston’s life
Read MorePEARL Hackney Wick, restaurant review: ‘an upstart in a changing neighbourhood’
Hackney Wick’s Oslo House is home to new multifaceted dining venture, PEARL
Read MoreClean eating? Hackney? More like mucky eating
As debate on the potential harm caused by the ‘Clean Eating’ movement rages on, our resident food historian explains why it may not be so new to the borough after all
Read More2 Fingers @ Canvas Cafe, Spitalfields, restaurant review
This pop-up in a friendly cafe just off Brick Lane riffs on a childhood classic and delivers fish finger sandwiches fit for the captain’s table
Read MoreJim’s Cafe, Chatsworth Road, review: ‘Up to the task’
A former greasy spoon and ice cream factory has reopened its doors after a long hiatus with a menu that caters for the discerning denizens of Clapton
Read MoreBeauty is in the pies of the beholder
Historically, these tasty pastries were not only a receptacle for a mixture of tasty ingredients, but a utilitarian and hygienic way of preserving perishable food
Read MoreRay’s Bar – review: new Dalston cocktail spot is perfect for the 30-something crowd
Cocktail infused offshoot of Voodoo Ray’s has emerged Phoenix-like from the ashes of Dance Tunnel on Kingsland Road
Read MoreSmaka, Aldgate, restaurant review: ‘cream the leitmotif’
There is more to Swedish food than cinnamon buns, if the new dinner service at Scandanavian café Smaka is anything to go by
Read More‘Later potater!’ The uncommon history of the common spud
From its origins in South America to the market stalls of Ridley Road, the potato is a much travelled root with a chequered past
Read MorePopolo, Shoreditch, restaurant review
This excellent new Rivington Street hideout serves dishes which capture the spirit of the Italian kitchen, with lashings of Spanish and North African influence
Read MorePretty F*cking Good Toast at Machine No. 3, restaurant review, Hackney Central – a masterclass in sourcing
The bar at the end of Well Street has teamed up with a toast-master for an excellent pop-up that runs until the end of November
Read MoreSquid Kitchen at 119 Lower Clapton, restaurant review
Delicious tapas suitable for any cena con amigos can be found at this unassuming Clapton café
Read MorePizza Parley: a look at Hackney’s best slices from Stoke Newington to the Wick
Mina Miller grabs a piece of the pizza action in and around the borough
Read MoreRooting out the history of vegetables
It is hard to imagine a time when root vegetables were not an essential part of the English diet, and in Hackney there are plenty to choose from
Read MoreDecatur at Pamela, Dalston, restaurant/bar review
With Pamela providing the booze and Decatur laying on New Orleans-inspired small plates and more, this Dalston nightspot is good eatin’
Read MoreCook Daily, restaurant review: vegan joint beloved of grime royalty serves up bowls of glory
Marijuana-inspired sauce is the order of the day in this casual, excellent vegan eatery in Shoreditch
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