100 ISLINGTON

2 Reviews on “100 ISLINGTON”

• Cook & Pour

  Way back when, I happened on an Upper Street breakfast joint called Ziloufs. We had an amazing brunch with some healthy juices. The service was good and the environment was chilled to compliment our hangover status. Fast forward a year or so and I am here again, except now it is a different place. Sister to a restaurant called 100 Hoxton on the Hoxton High Street which is a place that has been sizzling under with good reviews on its food. The Hoxton spot is stationed in a residential area full of kebab shops, however it holds its own and entices the more discerning diner who want their food on a plate with cutlery. Big shoes to replicate on the busy Upper Street.Now they have secured their second spot which is similar. Its all about the good food, chilled vibe and unpretentious experience. It is called 100 Islington and has somehow raised the bar from its predecessor Ziloufs. Why? Because whilst the food grabbed my attention in its former life, this time the staff also shone brightly. Firstly, it was chick central. Not sure if thats always the case, but an all female team ran the show on this Saturday lunch time. They expertly worked the room, the bar, the drinks, the food. It was a delight to watch front of house people who looked like they were genuinely enjoying being there.Lucky for me, it was not too busy, so I did not feel too embarrassed about being a lone diner. I sat down for poached eggs with steak and sourdough bread. There was a side of al dente broccoli which actually worked. Washed down with a strong and tasty Bloody Mary, it was heaven. My brunch experience was spot on.The top half of Upper Street is always quieter than the bottom half. This, for me, is a good thing. It means you get to enjoy your experience with ease away from the anxious shoppers. Plus, head a little bit more North and you get to enjoy a sexy community of restaurants that are forming a foodie alliance on the roundabout like Le Coq and Trullo. The top part of Upper Street is the place to be and 100 Islington fits in well. cookandpour.co.uk

  February 16, 2017, 8:31 pm

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• Alice Gee

  The decor is pretty but the acoustics are lousy. I especially like the cheerfully patterned painted wooden tables. But all the surfaces are hard here (notably concrete floor), so it is pretty noisy when crowded.The house white at 19.50 a bottle was extraordinarily aromatic. Quite floral. We’re not terribly particular about wine so I am happy if the house wine is just pleasant and quaffable. This house wine was unusually good.The vegetable dishes were very complex and delicious. Okra dahl contained both barley and dahl, with crisp lightly steamed fingers of okra and paneer cheese. The sweet somewhat marmalade-like braised onion as well as crisp deep fried onion finished the dish beautifully in terms of flavors and texture. Burnt eggplant salad was great too. Thin slices of raw beet, granny smith apple, grilled aubergine, charred coconut and toasted hazelnuts. Beautifully balanced.Singapore soft shell chilli crab was the only dish that disappointed. Having eaten Singapore crab in various locations in Southeast Asia, I would have preferred more chilli heat and more tartness. The sauce was sweet and contained crab meat and ginger, but could have been more fiery and brighter for my taste. Technically well cooked with a nice deep fried crunch. Rainbow trout with capers and samphire was a little play on trout almondine. Beautifully pan fried to a crisp and dressed with lime, tangy pineapple salsa with dried shrimp, and toasted almond slivers.Our starchy dish of crushed new potatoes and parsnips was a star. I was expecting something akin to pub food but this had a decidedly SE Asian twist. The root vegetables had been caramelized and had a hit of chilli, garlic and coriander. Great combination.We were too full dessert, and in fact had to bring home some food in takeaway boxes. Great value. It’s high end food at high street prices. My companion remarked that this was every bit as good as Ottolenghi, but at a more affordable price point.

  September 23, 2016, 1:39 am

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