The Loft

In contrast to the grandeur of its location inside the Town Hall Hotel, there's a modern, understatedly stylish look to Da Terra. You start with drinks and snacks in the elegant lounge, soundtracked by the comforting rhythms of bossa nova, before heading to the dining room – where the tables by the open kitchen offer a view of the impressive Molteni stove. Chef Rafael Cagali draws on his Brazilian and Italian heritage in skilfully crafted, highly original dishes bursting with colour. His signature reinvented version of the Brazilian 'moqueca' fish stew is bound to be a highlight.

There’s no paper menu handed out at this cosy little spot tucked away in a parade of shops off Dalston High Road; just trust the chefs in the open kitchen who’ll produce an intriguing, enjoyable and fairly priced set dinner that’ll leave you feeling sated and contented. The chefs know their butchery and make good use of techniques like pickling and fermenting. Aged Cornish mackerel could be followed by almond anolini; lamb can feature firstly as a broth and then as three different cuts. Consider going for the pairing of natural wines.

‘Malaysian Heat + Juicy Wines’ is the strapline of Vanessa Fernandes and Abby Lee’s restaurant – that means exhilarating dishes inspired by Abby's family recipes, alongside natural wines. Start with the terrific '100+ Sour' cocktail and then order plenty of the delicious food to share. While the menu changes frequently, expect eminently satisfying dishes like Otak-Otak prawn toast or squid stuffed with pork belly mince – and don’t ignore the Kerabu section. There's a great atmosphere around the room and there are also a few seats on a semi-covered terrace at the back.

‘A little piece of France in Wanstead’ is the tagline at this busy and welcoming neighbourhood bistro – and it certainly delivers on the promise. The extensive menu is a roll-call of classic French dishes from escargots and soupe à l’oignon to coq au vin and steak frites. They prove to be impressively executed too, providing satisfying flavours at fair prices. A startlingly good value 'prix fixe' is available throughout the day Tuesday to Thursday and for lunch only on Friday and Saturday.

There’s always a certain joyfulness to family owned and run restaurants – and Miga is truly a family affair, with dad running things in the open kitchen and the younger generation looking after guests in the bright, airy room. If you want to find out more about them, check out the family history as described on the wall outside. ‘A modern take on Korean cuisine’ is their tagline and this is borne out by fresh-tasting dishes like delicious soy-braised short ribs – already a fans’ favourite – and spicy noodles with crispy beef jeon. The generous prices, especially at lunch, allow for enthusiasti

The appealing, Eastern Mediterranean-influenced menu at Chef-Owner Oded Oren’s bustling little bistro is made up of enticing sharing plates, with many ingredients cooked over charcoal, such as lamb loin, succulent chicken skewer and hispi cabbage with muhammara. Start with the delicious stone-baked flatbread and then around five dishes between two should suffice. The prices are kept fair and that includes the well-made cocktails, while the service team are delightful. There’s lots of fun to be had here.

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.