Centra Station

With seating for just 18 people and a logo rather than a sign outside, it’s clear that understatement and simplicity lie at the core of this cosy and very likeable restaurant. Diners are asked to arrive at 7.30pm as dinner is served to everyone at 8pm; the 4 course, weekly-changing menu offers no choice and you pay when you book. From the tiny open kitchen you can expect nourishing and heartwarming dishes like succulent Blackface lamb with Hasselback potatoes and wonderfully light blood orange & brioche pudding.

It’s easy to understand why Farang is so popular; it’s an immensely likeable restaurant serving generous and heartwarming recipes from all regions of Thailand – and even with overly eager ordering, you finish up with a bill that isn’t too overwhelming. Each dish, be it the salted turmeric prawns or the whole sea bass with raspberry nahm jim, showcases the hallmarks of Thai cuisine: freshness, vibrancy and a lovely balance of the sweet and the sour. The ‘Feasting’ menus are great for groups, and you’ll find it hard to resist buying some of their homemade produce on the way out too.

A trip back to Korea inspired Chef-Owner Joo Won to return to the cooking of his childhood and subsequently open this casual, friendly little bistro in the middle of Stoke Newington. His time as Head Chef of Galvin at Windows hasn’t gone to waste though, as his appealingly priced blackboard menu is a great mix of European cuisine with subtle Korean flavours. "Joo’s Fried Chicken" has understandably been on the menu since Day One, while dishes like Cornish pollock with mooli jorim pack an invigorating punch.

There's something so appealing about the simplicity of a restaurant like Primeur. A proper neighbourhood operation, it comes with stripped-back décor, a handwritten blackboard menu and a relaxed, bustling atmosphere. Diners can sit around large communal tables or up at the counters around the edges of the room. The cooking, for its part, avoids overcomplication and puts the ingredients first, as evidenced by grilled pork chop with roquefort butter. Ensure you save room for dessert, too, especially if the textbook custard tart is on the menu.

A classic Victorian-era London pub, The Clarence Tavern comes with a real characterful charm, courtesy of its 19th-century architecture fused with more contemporary details. Head past the bar to the part-panelled, part-brick dining area, where the doors open out onto a courtyard terrace. Many of the boldly flavoured dishes come from the pub classics school – like chicken, leek and bacon pie to share – and arrive in pleasingly gutsy portions. Try one of the natural wines and be sure to visit the deli before you leave.

From carbonara to cacio e pepe, this neighbourhood bistro aims to bring a taste of Rome to Highbury Village. Mirroring the rustic eateries of the Italian capital, the dining room is simply decorated but filled with atmosphere, while the cooking is rich and comforting. With the menu designed for sharing, you have the chance to try a good range of dishes, one of which must be a pasta, and there’s always a daily fish special too – to finish, you can’t ignore their particularly good tiramisu. Negronis to start and an Italian wine list complete a very Mediterranean picture.

Hearty British dishes which are big on flavour are the order of the day at this sympathetically refurbished Victorian pub. The ground floor bar has a lively buzz and the more sedate first floor dining room opens later in the week. The terrific mushroom tempura is a prime example of what this kitchen does well: straightforward, moreish dishes that come in generous portions. Lovely bedrooms and a friendly, attentive team complete the picture.