Little Duck | The Picklery in Hackney - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Love the ambiance of this place but the food just really doesn’t match the price point in my opinion. For 3 small plates, 1 main, a glass of wine each we spent almost £80 each. Nothing blew me away. Wine was nice but also more expensive than other wine bars in the area. Was most excited to try the pickles and they were average😅 Overall won’t be returning I think despite the lovely atmosphere.

Great neighbourhood spot with a rotating menu. Highly recommend.

Can't really find a fault, perhaps that there aren't enough tables to fit more people! We had a really lovely lunch, where food, service and atmosphere were on point. Food portions are not massive and perhaps could do with a bit more, but the flavours are there and everything had been cooked really well. Nice combination of ingridients and some really interesting flavours. Service was really good, we came with a baby on a pram and they were very nice to him and accommodating, they even warmed up some milk for him. The only negative in that aspect is that they don't have a baby chair, but I guess this is not the type of place you come with babies. Atmosphere was cosy but not too romantic, it was nice to see the cooks and waiters around the main bar where everything is cooked. I would recommend going on a date or something like that, not big groups because you basically won't fit.

Good food, fresh ingredients could tell straight away. Nice friendly staff, clean, approachable. Great little spot. I had the seafood risotto where the seafood was cooked spot on, calamari melted in your mouth. The Burnt cheesecake was delicious along with the grape syrup matched perfectly.

Shh! Don’t tell anyone but this might just be one of the best restaurants in London for midweek dining. The food is well and truly excellent, so good I forgot to take photos for half the meal. The ambiance is pure Dalston date night - perfect for two people who like food and a vibe. Now, if you like me we’re put off by the organic orange beer top wine craze then all I can say is have the cocktails which are excellent. This place is a gem.

Lovely attentive staff, food was incredible and a very cool concept. It was such a busy night, but the staff were very attentive and great in making sure we were comfortable. Thanks for making our night 💛

Great meal, perfect spot ,delicious drinks. Thanks guys x

Intimate and lovely little spot in Dalston. Our server was really attentive and after forgetting one of our dishes was quick to apologise and take it off the bill. The food was incredible, a lovely assortment of flavours, clearly prepared by someone who knows what they’re doing! Definitely recommend and try to book counter seating if you can.

I had the lunch special today and it was absolutely delicious. It was bursting with flavour and cooked to perfection. Can't wait to come back!

Ower rated place. Average food, bad wines (organic), close to busy street.

Very nice place! It feels like you're sitting at the kitchen table with some friends! Really Nice!

Cute little place in Dalston. It's an open kitchen design so customers sitting inside the restaurant can see how the food is prepared and cooked. However, we sat outside and the service was not attentive enough as we often needed to wait for the staff to come out to serve in order to get their attention.

Really good food, very friendly staff and a cosy vibe. Had a great time and will definitely be back!

Pretty disappointing for what it was… over priced and not much variety. The strawberries and cream was absolutely ridiculous… genuinely cut up strawberries with a dollop of cream and a drizzle of olive oil - for £8 !!? Some items were tasty but it lacked the depth and variety you would expect for the very expensive prices. The atmosphere was great but I wouldn’t go back for the food

Good food and nice atmosphere but awful wine list. Actually the worst wine list I have seen in a long time. If you know anything about wine, go there for the quite enjoyable food but drink water.

We booked a spot at the side bar, not really understanding what this meant – it means sitting facing shelving (full of wine bottles) with your back to the restaurant. It’s great for privacy, but next time I would definitely book the kitchen counter, or come in a larger group and get a window table. As a veggie and a pesci, our options were a little limited – to order the number of dishes recommended for two people, we had to essentially order everything without meat. My personal highlights were the charred peaches & green beans and the ricotta with borlotti beans - which were absolutely delicious. We also enjoyed the Pickles + ferments and the pan con tomate. I ordered the crab pasta but found I didn’t love it. It came out far later than everything else, so I found myself quite full by that point. I thought perhaps this was the reason I didn’t overly enjoy it, but the following night I ordered crab macaroni at another restaurant and the more subtle flavour there was much more to my taste. We enjoyed some cocktails while waiting for our food, then decided to move onto a carafe of rose. I ordered from a section of the menu labelled ‘pale, pink and juicy’, as I only like very light rose. Unfortunately what we were served was almost the colour of red wine and I couldn’t drink it at all (thankfully my spouse was happy to polish it off singlehandedly). The ambience of the restaurant is great – my pictures don’t really do it justice in that sense. It’s cosy and intimate without feeling squashed. The service was average, but having read the reviews beforehand, we knew this might be the case. There was no cause to complain - just nothing special either. The total bill was just shy of £200 for the two of us, covering the wine, two cocktails, three starters, four larger plates and a dessert. We knew it was pricy when booking, but I dare say I had slightly higher hopes for the value. That said, I did enjoy my experience and would visit again. I’d just pick a different seating option, order a little less and avoid the rose section of the wine list.

Ideally located near to Dalston station, this restaurant offers a very cozy ambiance, with its Northern European design style. The plates are DELICIOUS, creative, but placing the product at their hearts. The wine selection is (naturally) excellent, with very a beautiful curation of gems, that will satisfy all nat wines lovers. Adorable servers, good music choice. Ideal for a date, a girls’ night or just to please someone’s palate you consider! (the bill can add up quite quickly, but nothing above the usual London nice restaurants type).

Lovely little place with amazing food and chilled atmosphere

Ok, this lovely lunch menu contained bread, tomato, oil. and a little salad, for 15£, insane! Not worth the money and honestly quite daring to offer that as a filling lunch.

lovely small plates, innovative and yummy. great service, cosy ambience and the pickles were actually outstanding! if you like rice pudding, definitely get it for dessert

We enjoyed delicious wine, perfectly pickled pjckles, and creative dishes. Sitting on the counter watching them cooking is a must!

The ox tongue main is a ridiculously small portion. More like a starter. The wine is expressive too

The food was absolutely gorgeous but the service unfortunately was very disappointing

Beautiful restaurant with a nice chef's counter vibe. Had been meaning to check the place out for a few years and finally got around to it for a solo dinner. Started with the pickles and pork rillettes. Then had the ox tongue salad which was phenomenal and melt in the mouth. The salad was silky with the perfect amount of dressing. Also really enjoyed the crispy lamb shoulder which was beautifully seasoned. Finished with the filo and orange pudding which was the perfect end to the meal. Service was efficient and smooth. When I couldn't decide between two wines, the server poured me half a glass of each which was a nice touch. Price wise I was happy with the bill for the great quality but understand it's a little less approachable for casual/regular dining. It's more suited for special occasions or for treating yourself as I did.

Exemplary local restaurant serving delicious dishes in an intimate setting. Especially thankful for their lunch specials.

Came for a late lunch on Sunday and was very impressed by every single dish we had. The dishes were subtle, tasteful but still very unique. Honorable mention to the red mullet and the rice pudding dessert.

The food is wonderful and it is a very cosy atmosphere. You are sitting in the kitchen, but everything is clean and quiet. Perfect place for good soul food and very fresh ingredients.😋

Came here for our anniversary. Food was excellent, great service. They offered to put my flowers in a vase. Became one of my favorite places ❤️

Nice atmosphere and you can really feel chilled after a long work week here. Downside is the price, just very expensive so I would suggest this place for special occasions only.

Beautifully crafted food bringing forth a delicious range of interesting flavours.

Great atmosphere let down by overpriced food and rude staff.

Spectacular food, friendly service, and love the open kitchen design

My partner and I celebrated our two-year anniversary here last night, and left with full stomachs and warm hearts. The open kitchen, low lighting, and intimate seating creates a truly relaxed dining experience you don't come by often for a small plates restaurant. For starters, we got the bread with whipped butter, and the pickle dish. A perfect start to open your stomach up for the main courses to follow. We then had the grilled whole artichokes plate with aioli (a tasty fun dish to dissect) and the grilled tropea onions (a light and balanced plate with so much flavour ! ). The last two main plates were the Gnocchi with Lemon Butter Sauce, a real herby bite. And then the rich cod with chickpeas plate. We finished with two 'little duck's to drink (the walnut dessert wines), which we paired with the mille feuille. Creamy cocoa heaven. Thank you chefs & the amazing team that makes the little duck so warm and special -

Yum! Great food, lovely atmosphere x

Hands down still my fav restaurant in London. Love coming back every time.

I've been there before, food and ambience were alright. But last night, my friend felt unwell, and we couldn't make it. Ended up having to pay a hefty £20 cancellation fee per person. Feels like they've taken me for a ride. Insane.

Beautiful and creative dishes in a lovely ambient setting. Perfect venue for date night.

Great food, really good. But a very expensive meal for what we got. Went home and had to make more food as we were still hungry despite spending nearly £200. Love the vibe and quality, but not enough food for what you pay

Great atmosphere, fantastic food, innovative small plates, excellent staff

Pretty cute restaurant, I would recommend it because it was delicious and the atmosphere is great.

Perfect little restaurant with a quirky setting (most seats are either on the kitchen counter or on a wooden board running all around the walls) l, a warm, soft atmosphere and perfect food at a surprising reasonable price in the current London landscape.

Always excellent food, service and wine! One of my favourite places

Food was impeccable. Menu was banging. Great small plates and lovely ambience. Team working there were great and made really decent recommendations. Will be going back.

Super cosy little eatery with amazing drinks selection (a super cute spot for dates). We came here on a Monday for dinner and were surprised by how busy it got! The buzz was self-explanatory, once the drinks and food arrived. For drinks I had the cream soda drinking vinegar - sounds like a very strange combination, but it's highly addictive based on the 4 glasses I had throughout the dinner. My friend tried an open white wine, which the waiter recommended, which was positively unique in flavour. We shared the bread and butter, which were amazing and a good sized portion. We then had the wild garlic farfalle and onglet with tomatoes, anchovy and sourdough - both amazing and super flavourful dishes, very well thought out. We then had the gotta caprese, which brought us straight into food heaven (/coma). Overall great dishes, slightly on the pricey side ( but average for a hackney neighbourhood wine bar/restaurant). I would highly recommend and will definitely be back!

Called the restaurant to enquire about a large booking and whoever answered the phone was very rude and then hung up on me when I tried to explain why we couldn’t book online. If this is how you would treat customers, then I won’t be coming in future.

Had a lovely post theatre meal. Staff were very friendly and informative. The food was delicious, we only had the veggie options and were very impressed with the selection. The wine was also very well matched. Definitely wish to come back

Desert was the highlight of the night for sure 🍧🤍

Great plates, fermented foods and wines. Staff's super friendly too.

Brilliant experience here tonight - would highly recommend! Great food, great staff, great ambiance!!

Went there for lunch on a Saturday. Ordered the bread and butter, pickles, potato capellachi pasta, lamb neck, butter beans, and the chicken liver Service was great. Very attentive, with the plates coming at a good pace. The food as well was really good. The chicken liver was probably our favorite dish, with the savory addition of Parmesan cheese and lentils. The other dishes were very good too. The only possible lowlight was the pickled cucumber, which was a bit soft. The lamb neck, although tasty, didn't really fit well with everything else. That said, this is me nitpicking. Would definitely go there again in the near future.

Delicious food, incredibly warm service and lovely choice of wine.

I Iiterally just stopped and peeped my head thru the door and Google asked me to do a review. Seems nice tho idk

lucky it's near the station so you can get home quick and dilute the bad experience by having a toasted sandwich and putting it all behind you..

Really great experience, cosy atmosphere, helpful staff, and last but certainly not the least amazing food! Sharing plates that provide taste explosions. Really good selection of drinks to pair with food. Love the use of seasonal veg and pickles!

One of my favourite spots in the neighbourhood. Outstanding food in a lovely ambiance.

We went to the Little Duck on a recent trip to London and had a wonderful dinner. We didn't have a reservation and were lucky to get in since someone who did have a reservation was a no-show. Their loss! It's a cozy restaurant and we sat at the large island in the middle of it where we got a close view of the chefs in the kitchen as they prepared and plated meals. Our dinner at this restaurant was one of the highlights of our trip. 10/10 recommend!

Really lovely experience, would definitely come again. Defo sit at the counter! Great choose of non-alcoholic drinks also!

Beautiful, chic restaurant with truly incredible food. We had a lovely waitress serve us on Sunday 21st January who made the experience extra special. It is a wonderful restaurant for any occasion.

Can’t fault this place. Small menu, because they have already chosen what’s best… go with 3 or 4 people, and order the whole menu to share!

Small , atmospheric place to eat really good food. I personally love it for pickled carrot, kimchi, celeriac etc which they make and sell in jars here.

Went for wine and some nibbles towards the end of the evening, absolutely loved the vibe (it felt like being in someone’s kitchen) and the staff were very nice. Food was tasty at every bite with a perfect balance of flavours that were familiar and surprising at the same time.

The food and wine was lovely. However, I was rudely told before I even had the chance to order a bottle of wine (that was £65 may I add) that we should be ordering more food. Between three of us we spent £105 - I think that this is substantial. Yet we were made to feel so uncomfortable and anxious for simply wanting to order three small plates to compliment our bottle of wine, rather than ordering a feast. 9pm is a respectable time to order wine and some small plates rather than a whole meal, hence why I booked it at a late time to avoid the dinner expectation. We had eaten dinner prior and wanted to have a drink or two post meal, but were made to feel unwelcome simply for not spending hundreds. Coming from someone who works in the industry, this is no way to treat customers.

This is a must try restaurant, the food was incredible and service was excellent. Will be sure to come here again with no hesitation.

What a gem !! Natural wine/ Romantic/ Dairy free option; I highly recommend !!

Great restaurant. The food tasted great and the ambience was excellent! A restaurant to keep coming back to. I especially recommend the Greek yoghurt and red wine pears paired together for dessert, it was amazing!

Cozy, candlelit, open kitchen for an intimate dinner while you get to watch the chefs at work! It's sharing style, so I loved trying so many dishes - especially the skate fish! I can't wait to come back again! I really liked being towards the end of the table, because we got a little more room and a better view of the cooking.

Pretty little restaurant with very good food. Not a large selection, but very interesting. Maybe a little bit overpriced, especially for wine and beer. And all selections of food have garlic in it, which I don't digest easily

The food and the wine combination were very nice. Definitely try the deserts. Got a smile from the waiter as a gift for my birthday :)

What a fabulous lunch we had here sampling the food that day by head chef Sara. I loved being so central to all the cooking and watching it all play out right in front of us. The bread to start was so tasty with the pickles and butter and then we ordered one of each dish on the menu for 4 of us. Each dish was absolutely delicious, the flavours and the textures quite exceptional. Having never sampled natural wines before, Will, the sommelier couldn’t have been more informative and helpful finding something to suit our palate which I really appreciated. Such a wonderful place to spend with friends for a few hours eating great food and soaking up all the ambience. Thank you to all the wonderful staff there 🥰

Gorgeous little restaurant with an intimate feel. On the pricier side but the food is delicious and service is great. We didn’t have a reservation and got seated outside. Despite being the only table outside we were not forgotten as our waiters came outside multiple times to check on us, bring blankets and ask about refilling glasses. I’d recommend making a reservation as the inside is so beautiful and cosy.

Food was on point. Every single dish delivered. Very cosy and intimate atmosphere but not pretentious. Staff were friendly and moved us to the bar once people had left. Dishes came out at a good rate. Would come back!

Decent food but pretty average. Really overpriced for what it is.

None of the dishes were mind blowing but all good. Nice environment and friendly staff.

Fantastic food, great vibes, cool menu. We had a counter seat and ordered about 5 small dishes along with pickles and bread. Bread was AMAZING, and each small plate wowed us. The fish was expensive, but all tasted rich and delicate at the same time. I love this place.

One of the best restaurants in London, I’ve been too. The food is delicious, but also the atmosphere, the counter where you eat it and where the food is made just in front of you 💔 A very special place!

Service was super friendly, atmosphere and wine were great but left somewhat disappointed by the wait, prices and quality. 30 minutes to take a food order, 1h30 and £26 to receive a small plate of lamb after a crispy ox tongue that was everything but crispy… We kind of expected something else when using the word crispy. Nice experience overall but wouldn’t rush back.

Had the opportunity to dine here on a busy Friday night. Food overall was of excellent quality, however quite small amounts for the price and we left wanting more despite ordering 2-3 dishes per person. The vibes and atmosphere were fantastic, particularly on a Friday. Service was friendly, although our plates were not changed the whole meal (despite having bones, seafood shells etc on them). Overall the food and wine are excellent, but cost not always reflected in the quantity of food or level of service.

Nice lunch experience with interesting flavours. We stopped by for a quick lunch, and had the ox tongue and black fig salad with some pickles for starters and bread. The dishes are to share so they are smaller and they are quite pricy - however the flavours were very nice and it was a good experience.

Let's begin with the Tuscan fish stew; it was simply divine. It might just be the most flavorful and aromatic seafood dish you'll ever taste. The soused sardines with kohlrabi, paired with a creamy sauce, mustard seeds, and dill, offer a distinct and delightful taste, making it an excellent choice for a cold starter. As someone who loves pickles, I found every pickle, whether served alone or incorporated into a dish, to be exceptional. The bread stands out with its unique tang on the outer crust. Additionally, the zhoug paired with the white beans and tahini dip proved to be a harmonious combination. The ambiance inside is both intimate and inviting, with the counter seating being a particular highlight. I'd recommend opting for it over a regular table. From there, you can watch the kitchen in action and observe the chefs at work, enhancing your overall dining experience.

My visits to London are generally more about memorable culinary experiences than about tours and landmarks. Last night, we had an "unforgettable" dining experience at Little Duck, a small restaurant in Dalston, East London. Small because it's entirely intended to be that way. The restaurant is essentially the kitchen and the dining area is one large communal table around the kitchen. All meals are cooked in front of you (no glass dividers). You can hear the chefs talk, the dishwasher do the dishes and the service staff put the plates and cutlery together. You would think, it would be chaotic and noisy. It's not. The entire ambiance is of hushed elegance, quiet efficiency and fantastic (entirely freshly prepared) food brought to your table by the server (but the Chef could also easily just slide it over to you on the giant table). We had the fish stew (OMG!), the lamb, and the pasta. Portions are not large but enough to share. You can read the fancy descriptions for all these items on their menu but it was like the best homemade meal you'll ever eat. It's not cheap but still feel we got great value for the experience and the quality of the food. Great place if you want to try something that's not your ordinary run-of-the-mill restaurant dining.

Intimate venue with new takes on familiar flavours. We sat at the kitchen counter. Watching the chefs prepare the meals made the evening feel like a culinary experience. All the food was delicious!

My boyfriend took me here for our 4th anniversary and it was amazing!! Lovely picked goods, good service, and the atmosphere like a big kitchen in a country house! The chef lady made up some lovely dishes for us to make up for the temporary lack of vegan menu. Would return any time!

One of the best restaurants I've been to in London. I have never been served anything less than fabulous, the wine selection is great and sitting by the kitchen counter where, just on the other side of it, the food is being made is quite entertaining.

Intimate setting so was lucky to get the table for 4 by the window. Great service! Some interesting flavours - good to finally try one of the Duck sister branches!

Could eat here every night! Best food and best natural wine in Dalston. The team are so accomodating too

Great, seasonal food and nicely curated wine selection. The handmade pasta and bean+tahini dip were our favourites. Getting to watch the cooks at work is an added bonus if you get the counter seats.

Exquisite food served in a romantic, serene atmosphere. The place feels like one big hug. The highlight was sitting at the central table - a giant slab of granite - and watching the chefs do their thing. Beautiful!

Booked a table for four, which on arrival was set for & seated only three. My not unreasonable request for a 4th chair/setting was first ignored, then met with disdain and zero helpfulness – the staff seemed incredulous that we would want a fourth chair: ”This is how we always have this table” – and we were begrudgingly offered the window sill or a stool! Just horrible. We walked out. Remember, we'd booked, this wasn't a walk-in. Little Duck, your pickling days should be numbered.

I wish I could give more stars. The concept is unique and, as someone who has a penchant for vinegar and pickled foods, I was excited to come here. But I just wasn’t impressed. The food was ok - watermelon salad was boring, pork loin was bizarre; the one dish that was very good was the raw beef. I didn’t feel as though the “picklery” was conveyed through the food menu. Service was lovely and informal, the place is very cute and has a nice, intimate ambience. However, the wooden chair/stool seating is incredibly uncomfortable - definitely not friendly to older folks or tall people. I didn’t feel the need for a dessert after such a sickeningly sweet main meal (the pork is swimming in apricot mustard sauce). My biggest complaint would be the drinks menu. Where the food menu was lacking in picklery, the drinks menu more than made up for it. I had a Pisco cocktail, made with their in-house vinegar. I’m sorry, but some things just don’t need vinegar. We were told it would taste more fruity sweet than vinegary - incorrect. The wine list had the most obscure options. My friend asked for a white wine recommendation similar to a Sauvignon blanc - not sure what we were served but neither of us could stand it as it tasted so vinegary. We felt like having one more drink at the end of our dinner, perhaps a dessert wine or a coffee, but they don’t serve decaf and the rest of the drinks menu was limited and so pretentious it was inhospitable. Overall, it is an interesting concept with poor execution. I am sorry to I say that I won’t be coming back.

Absolutely stunning food, all meticulously and deliciously prepared. Friendly and helpful staff, absolutely perfect for a nice romantic meal.

The tiny place where you will be sitting in front of the kitchen table. Might be pretty hot while the prices for entrees are extremely overpriced and the food was not so delicious. £25.50 for onglet and £25.50 for pollock, considering the small sizes of the plates. Wouldn't recommend it for dinner, maybe just for a drink.

An amazing find here in Dalston. Biodynamic and interesting combinations. And such an amazing collection of drinks all centered around pickling.

Absolutely fantastic! Such a cool space/concept - I had this place on my list, and am so glad we finally checked it out; we will definitely be back

Good little restaurant. Great to have small plates with wine.. wouldn't recommend if you were starving 😁

Honestly what a good meal. You can feel a lot of effort is being given to make the food that delicious. Simple, subtle flavours with fresh seasonal ingredients. The trilece was one of the best desserts I have ever had. Also the wine and cocktails, just chefs kiss.

Went there once, food and house made dribnks were delicious but that massive concrete table in the middle of the room really stole my heart.

Unlike other reviewers recently, I found the service to be very much on point. Courteous, attentive servers who didn’t mind us switching from counter to side bar even with a booking and refilled water without being asked. AND a refill of whipped butter for the bread. No bills being brought early shenanigans. Perhaps the restaurant changed their team after the bad reviews. Unfortunately, while the food is good, it is simply overpriced for what it is. £15 for a plate of sliced cucumber and kohlrabi, with a few shavings of crab meat, is just too much. As is £12 for six asparagus spears in a garlic sauce. And certainly £25 for a handful of pieces of lamb leg over some barley risotto-like preparation, I just can’t justify it. Didn’t try the wines.

Little duck used to be our favorite small restaurant in hackney However this time everything was changed. The employees are all new, and I feel like the service wasn’t nice and friendly compared to other similar restaurants. Stuff were a bit annoying and unhappy when they talked to us or served. Feel like they just wanted to quickly finish the job and leave. We order some veggie plates, lamb and pollock as main which were amazing. But the dessert were tooooo sweet…after the dessert I’m feeling really bad … I understand it’s “home-like “ restaurant, but I suggest the restaurant owner could into e the hygiene in the areas, especially the chefs were not wearing any hat or masks to protect the food. They were talking, touching, laughing…. For customers who saw this wasn’t a great We paid £100 in total with 2 glasses of wine, the price definitely increased a lot compared to last year but I didn’t feel the value. Overall 3 stars for the memory.

We come here at least once a month. It’s is consistently cosy and delicious.

Spot on service, beautiful food and wonderful atmosphere.