Cérès

Cérès is the first solo restaurant from chef Camille Tardieu, and is fuelled by the young chef's passion for the food of her Italian-French heritage. Tardieu does almost all of the cooking at this small but vibrant neighbourhood venue, and has instilled a breezy style of service that's totally in keeping with the area's best restaurants.

A short walk up Green Lanes from the lively Newington Green, Cérès feels emblematic of its surroundings: less talked-about than the equidistant neighbourhoods of Dalston and Highbury, but with genuine quality to be found if you know where to look. Cérès itself is popular for midweek visitors looking for a quality meal that doesn't break the bank, and is a great date spot, too.

Like its near-neighbour Perilla, Cérès features a small tasting menu that's great value, priced around £40, and vegetarian options available. Dishes – like dived scallop with confit fennel and pistachio, or pain d’épices with homemade ice cream – are seasonal and are visibly French- and Italian-inspired. There's also a great list of wines, with a couple usually highlighted on a 'wines of the week' section on the menu.