Rita's in Hackney

The buffalo wings here are one of a kind. the menu and quality of food is great. The cocktails especially the Bloody Marys were delicious! Great vibe and lovely, helpful staff.

The staff were great but the food was overpriced and terrible. I had the chicken burger and it was pink and extremely greasy. Never again.

La comida es buenísima y el personal amable. Aunque no teníamos una reserva, la persona amable que nos recibió nos las arreglamos para encontrar una mesa para nosotros. Comimos una ensalada de cangrejo y mejillones con chipotle para empezar y La Codorniz norfolk y pan para los platos principales pollock tostados, ambas con crujientes patatas fritas aplastadas. Cada bocado de todo era absolutamente delicioso. No tengo más que decir.

I came here for drinks and dinner. They served the most unctuous bloody Mary's and have fab wings. The main meals were all so tastey. Staff were very friendly. Lovely place- I would love to go again

Gabe Pryce has carved out a very particular niche for himself, creating original, delicious food with aplomb. Together with Missy, his FOH partner, he has created a stylish, relaxed & excellent value restaurant. We look forward to Rita mark 3.

I live near RIta's and will really miss it when it goes. They always have the most interesting take on American meat classics and cocktails. I will be following the movements of Gabriel and his team with great interest!

really loved my last brunch with you guys. Best of luck in all the future... your fried chicken will be missed!

Rita's was amazing. We got a bunch of delicious, locally sourced grilled meats to share for dinner (which was a lot of the menu, because it's the summer)

Waiting staff were friendly, but a bit haphazard (had to come back twice after taking order to check what we'd ordered). The pink lemonade and the cappuccino we ordered were disgusting and the food was average - it tries to be American cuisine but completely misses the mark (well, except for the maple-syrup bacon which was the saving grace of the meal). The decor was a bit "IKEA showroom" - i.e. no real personality with blank walls with a few potted plants - plus it was difficult to hear each other over the music as we were sat underneath the speakers. If you like hipster-watching and paying for sub-par overpriced food, here is the place for you.

Rita's was great - lovely, less obvious brunch options (miso scrambled eggs were divine), relaxed setting and really friendly and helpful staff. I will definitely be back!

Sólo fui al restaurante porque mi housemate compartido el nombre! La comida era muy buena, tratamos las almejas, berenjena y las alas de pollo : Pappardelles! Toda la comida estaba muy bien condimentado y sabroso. Yo era sorprendente lleno. También probé dos cócteles que eran sabrosas pero más caro de lo que esperaba el cerezo casa cócteles sour y Rita eran muy buenos. La camarera fue muy amable y atento. 3 de nosotros fuimos un viernes por la noche estaba muy fría y ambiente relajado. Buen lugar para ir para ponerse al día con los amigos.

The food and the location are amazing. The food on was completely on point, and the cocktail menu is a real stunner - often it's just an after thought at other places, but at Rita's the drinks seemed to be part of the whole philosophy. Brilliant vibes, brilliant food, brilliant booze, brilliant place. Proper neighbourhood spot that can take you beyond just the local. You're a mug for not going.

This restaurant is not one Hackney's gems; it is one of London's gems. A blissfully concise menu with added specials, and after 3 visits, am yet to find a weak spot. It's much like a Bistro in size, but with flavour turned up to 11. Try the Devilled Eggs for umami heaven. Nibble on wings seasoned so perfectly they are bordering on sinful. Wash it down with cocktails where you can actually the booze. Try the specials! They are proud of them, and rightly so. And to top it off, the service is unintrusive and competent. Never a worry that something might have been missed. Never loitering. Just there when you need it. I love place. I really do.

Disfrutamos de nuestra noche en Rita. No hay ventanas en el restaurante, pero el ambiente es agradable, te hace olvidar rápidamente. La música es demasiado ruidoso, pero la comida es estupenda. El servicio no es rápido, pero todos son muy amables. Esta no es la mejor experiencia en Londres, pero es un lugar agradable donde podrá pasar una agradable velada con amigos. Incluso fuimos allí con los niños. durmieron en el sofá wile nosotros estábamos cenando y a nadie le importó, ¡fue genial! Un lugar fresco de verdad.

Comida americana moderna comodidad 'Rita' es exactamente lo que dice! Me sorprendió agradablemente lo bien que estaba la comida aquí. Recomendaría el pollo frito, el queso Macaroni y el queso. El lugar está muy bien decorado, el ambiente es relajado y el servicio es de un estándar muy alto. Sin duda comer aquí de nuevo.

Por desgracia no pude probar la comida como mi reserva efectuada en Miércoles 10° 13° sábado fue dado a, o no reservado correctamente.Habíamos planeado ir a este restaurante para celebraciones de cumpleaños de mi madre y mi novio, por desgracia cuando entramos y les dijimos que habíamos reservado la camarera era blanco y nos dijeron que no había ninguna reserva.Fue muy decepcionante y yo le contó la llamada de teléfono me había hecho en mi iPhone para demostrar que había estado en contacto con el personal. El tío me hablaba era un chico americano que obviamente fracasado para poner mi reserva, o de alguna manera ha sido overbooking.Fue un gran hipo en nuestra noche y tuvimos que buscar otro sitio para comer.Yo te recomiendo llamar para confirmar la reserva, ya que evidentemente suponiendo que tendrán que no es suficiente.Por desgracia debido a este incidente ritas no será un lugar voy a intentar asistir a otra vez.

I was there in Novemebr and for there to take lunch I was really surprised that the quality of food is great.

Just ate here and loved it. Very welcoming and sweet service, and the food is delicious - intricate and unusually flavoured dishes that make you want to come back and try all else on offer. Nice place too if you're into supporting your local businesses.

Beautiful restaurant - such a good vibe, delicious food, super friendly staff. I hadn't seen my best friend in months - we had such a fab evening. The perfect place to catch up with special people and eat delicious food. Thank you RITAS - a truly magical place x

Super friendly waitresses!! Nice decor and interesting menu. Love the Mexican starter

I love Rita's- it's my favourite neighbourhood place. The food is great - especially the half chicken with sausage gravy and honey, mac n cheese and Oreo pie. The specials are always amazing, they have great cocktails and a full bar and the staff are lovely too.

We were well looked after for our visit to Rita's, having told them in advance we were there before a show at The Hackney Empire, they knew we needed to be looked after speedily and they delivered in spades. The menu is quite short, but has a good variety of options. My two fellow diners both went for a main course plate - one beef patty and one chicken roll, both of which looked nice and were enjoyed. I went for a small plate of buffalo wings - which were gloriously spicy - and a side of chilli mac n cheese - which came topped with a quinnelle of avocado and was silky smooth and delicious. Drinks wise we enjoyed a glass of wine, prosecco and frozen margherita respectively. Price point is fairly high for the size of portions, but not prohibitive. Our one course with one drink came to £20 each, including a tip. I'd happily return.

Despite reading a lot of 3 star reviews, I wanted to give it a try. Well, I don't need to go back. Great looking menu, but the actual food was average, at best. It was all overdone. Waffle was flat and overcooked. Pattymelt bread was so crispy it turned to shards on contract. Greens and Mac were good. Chicken was also good. I had a drink special, watermelon Fresca. It was almost entirely salt. I couldn't drink it for fear of gagging.

I went to the restaurant only because my housemate shared the name! The food was very good we tried the clams, aubergine pappardelle and the chicken wings! All of the food was very well seasoned and tasty. I was surprising full. I also tried two cocktails which were tasty but pricier than I was expecting the cherry sour and house Rita cocktails were very good. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. 3 of us went for a Friday night it was very chilled and relaxed ambience. Nice place to go for a catch up with friends.

bit pricey but to be honest, its totally ok because the service is second to none. Seriously want to stress how amazing your waitresses are. Came in for a take away on Sunday and they were so chatty and lovely. Also, best bloody mary ive had in ages, it rocked my world n blew my socks off. love ritas

I went to Rita's this past week with my girlfriend and her son. The menu on their website had really captivated us, but sadly the experience did not live up to our expectations. Five anorexic hotwings for £6 did not make for a great starter - the sauce was quite nice, but they were distinctly lacking in meat. My girlfriend's son pointed out that the menu contained no soft drinks. I'm guessing they probably do serve soft drinks, but what's wrong with putting them on the menu? The chicken roll deluxe was nothing too special either, a glorified chicken burger only marginally better than anything you'd get from one of the local chicken shops (but for 4 times the price). The patty melt deluxe was a bit strange, apparently served on "grilled caraway" which was more like a couple of fried slices, saturated with fat, although the beef patty itself was said to be enjoyable and the crushed fried potatoes weren't bad - a welcome deviation from the ubiquitous French fries. My girlfriend was a bit disappointed with the bavette steak - I found it to be quite tasty but I think she was expecting a whole steak as it was advertised, rather than thinly sliced bite-sized pieces covered in herbs. But, as with everything, the portion sizes were too small to justify the price tags. The food wasn't the worst we'd ever tasted and the service was satisfactory, it was just everything else that let the place down. I think Rita's is a classic example of a place that doesn't know what it wants to be, and is ultimately trying too hard to appeal to the hipster dollar. It's hard to describe briefly - part cocktail bar, part soul-food / Americana eatery with quite a heavy Mexican influence, and a bit of a fetish for Sriracha (Yes, I know it's 'in' at the moment, but leave it alone). We'd gone looking for some authentic soul food in the heart of Dalston but left hungry after finding just another hipster joint with no atmosphere and small portions. Definitely could do better.

Ritas has had a lot of good publicity lately and it is all well deserved. Getting the restaurant featured on Munchies was how I came across it, who doesnt even live in London or the UK for that matter. The food which I´ll describe as &quot;American cuisine with a new and refreshing twist&quot; was sharp and solid with nice touches on the seasoning side. The staff was very helpful and observant throughout our visit. <br />The icing on the cake was definitely the drinks! The Sake Hi-Ball is one of the best ginger ale based drinks Ive ever had! (Plum Sake and Vodka apart from ginger ale among other things if I remember correctly) And thats coming from a Moscow Mule fanatic.<br /> -You need at least two of those!:)<br /><br />I would recommend making a visit to anyone who appreciate eating at new fresh kitchens/restaurants where the white collar factor is low, the food is great and mood relaxed and informal.

My boyfriend and I have been to Rita’s twice. Over a year ago was the first and we were both blown away by the food. The flavour and presentation were impeccable and portion sizes were good. However since taking my boyfriend again I was a bit disappointed by the new menu and portion sizes. To begin with a glass of wine is a dribble in a tumbler, the main is no larger than a starter and the mains were not as impressive as before . The food was still good but I don’t think it was good value for money. I will go back but only to have the chicken wings and mac and cheese, I would not bother ordering a main again. Service was good.

Good food, and really good service. Cant ask for more.

Menu had limited vegetarian options. Small portion of badly cooked pasta. Quite expensive considering what little you got. Nice people, but wouldn&#039;t go back.

Food was very delicious, staff very helpful and friendly, interior hip. Overall, definitely coming back!

Had a great meal at Rita's recently which began with a very warm welcome from the staff and kicked off by a couple of nice cocktails. My advice is to order everything and share. What blew me away were the spicy chicken wings - so incredibly tasty and the fabulous home made doughnuts with sated caramel - but everything in between was great fun and interesting to eat. Restaurant has a nice vibe too with an open kitchen and some very cool looking chefs. Just a short walk from London fields I am looking forward to my next visit as I am told the menu changes very regularly.

Great place! Simple, yet intricate food fits to super simple interior. Staff is friendly and nice, food tasty and warm. Wine list good. Highly recommended!

Just left the restaurant, food was average enough but then a cockroach was crawling across the floor!! I alerted the waitress and she didn't even acknowledge me. She just kicked it out of the door and walked away. When she brought over the bill we noticed we didn't get any discount so we said we didn't want to pay service charge because of the cockroach and her attitude which received a negative response and still didn't get an apology!!! Not even a thanks for coming!!! Never again. Not worth your while.

Arrived without a booking on a Saturday night so were grateful to get seats. The food was delicious and service very good. My husband had beef and my daughter and I had fish. The side dishes were different... in a good way. What more can I say!

So disappointed. I had high hopes for this place from the reviews I read, but like with a lot of hipster joints, it was all just empty hype. The portions were a joke for the price they charge you; I had a small plate of steak with tasteless chimichurri for £15 and my partner had a greasy, tasteless chicken burger which was basically just a piece of breaded chicken between two buttered pieces of bread for about £11. The mac and cheese they love to rave about is the most tasteless, under-seasoned thing I've ever eaten, the Chicharrons were not that great either and looked like someone just dumped a load of salt and spice mix on top of them in one part so I had to endure my tongue being coated in salt as I got to the middle. The margaritas were nice but were not frozen properly-they had a bit of slush floating at the top-maybe the machine was broken? Also, you only get a tiny cup-about 180ml for £6.50 which is a rip off.

Had a good time at Rita's. It was surprisingly quiet. We ordered the Fried Chicken and waffle and the chicken deluxe roll. I really loved the chicken wing with the chicken and waffle dish. Loved the crispiness. The main fried chicken was crunchy on the outside and really soft and juciy meat. My biggest gripe that Rita's does not use maple syrup but the really thick british type which does not fit with the fried chicken. the sweetness just over-powers everything. The waffle was a little on the salty side. I've had fried chicken and waffle in NYC and the waffle is a more raised and crunchy on the outside and not salty at all. So I would do a rework on the waffle as it is a bit soft and flat. Overall the food was good and not greasy. Had a good time but details of food has room for improvement.

I absolutely loved everything about this little place particularly the pink lemonade and the watermelon cocktail😋😋😋 The food was absolutely divine and reasonably priced. I will definitely be going back there and this time with my other half!

We visited Rita's in Hackney early Sunday evening which accounts for the lower 'ambience' mark. Looks very 'cafeish' from the outside but is actually quite smart once in. Food was very good - of the comfort food variety and staff very friendly. As the place was nearly empty a nice little 'brownie point' earner might of been to ask us where we would like to sit - not many places do that and it can make all the difference

From the outside decor I wasn't expecting to much and I was right. The service was slow...Only once in the 2.5hrs( Just mains, desserts and 1 drink each!!)...Yes 2.5 hours did anyone come over to us to see if everything was to our liking or if we required anything. As we were sitting down the front this was a little frustrating. The food itself on the menu sounded great but when it arrived it was greasy and deep fried beyond belief. This place could be and should be so much more. TO be fair it's well priced but needs refinement.

Went for dinner, food was fantastic, had blood orange margaritas. Happy days

Love the fresh appearance of this place hidden along Mare St. Nice decor with diner -esque pink sofas and all white tables/walls. The Cajun Seabass, chicken and waffles was divine. Plus the chilli macaroni and cheese is the ultimate gourmet comfort dish. The staff were extremely friendly and pleasant. Amazing customer service.

Good idea, sort of, just everything was way, way, way too greasy. Like they made the meals then just deep fried everything. Didn't enjoy it at all. Left feeling a bit grossed out. Honestly guys, taste the food you're putting out! Nobody could have enjoyed what we were served. It was like drinking vegetable oil.

Being a massive food lover I googled this place and took my boyfriend. Loved it! It's kinda hidden on the Main Street and we walked past it quite a few times until found it. Only went to try chicken and waffles as in America it's sucha big deal was pleased and possibly going sometime soon.

Three chilli squid starter was DELICIOUS! The fried chicken was nice and crispy but unfortunately didn't have much flavour, a bit of spice and seasoning would of made a world of difference. Service was ok, I'm not sure if they didn't hear what I was saying or maybe forgot, but overall a very enjoyable dinner.

Rita's is fantastic - the patty melt is one of the best twists on a classic burger I've ever eaten! The menu changes but they nail each and every speciality. Very young, cool vibes - they've always got great music playing and serve delicious cocktails. Definitely one of the best overall in Hackney.

This is not over priced, but indeed, common London prices. Anyone saying otherwise is having you on.I feel they may have been a little short staffed, but whenever we flagged them to add to our orders or get more drinks, they were super attentive and polite.Love the design of the joint, from the tables to the understated lighting to the light pink benches. The music was on point too (Frank Ocean, Danny Brown, TV on the Radio etc).I ate the Aubergine Paradelle, a side of the crushed potatoes, a decent bottle of red at £23 and the ice cream sandwhich for desert. The pasta was most definitely made today, the potatoes came with all kinds of smokiness that was just delicious. I cannot fault Ritas except for the fact that there's no real train station near it (both hackney and Hagerstown stations are a bit of a walk from it) - but to be fair, if you're on a slow evening and relaxing, this is no big deal. 9 out of 10.

Had heard good things about Rita's and we weren't disappointed. Went with kids on a Sunday evening, and had a really lovely meal. Staff were friendly, attentive and really good with the kids. Atmosphere was subdued but pleasant and I can imagine it's buzzing of a Saturday night. The chicken rolls were delicious, crispy coated, tender and with superb chilli aioli. Bavette steak with chimichurri and eggs was fantastic - tender, perfectly cooked and with fresh tangy chimichurri. Sides were uniformly good - chilli mac and cheese with avocado, crispy potatoes, and the maple bacon went down a storm with a hungry 3 year old. She'll never eat bacon without syrup again! Desserts were also outstanding. Oreo cake, salted chocolate mousse was an absolute treat and the beignets with dulce de Leche were fantastic. Overall we were all very impressed and will definitely be back.

I had the waffles with sausage gravy and honey and the amazing fried chicken. Insanely good. Thanks, Rita's!

I can't say it was bad, but its totally overpriced and can't decide what it wants to be. Its like a pub - the same quality food you can get in numerous pubs in East London, its loud and basic. Yet the prices are jacked up like a restaurant, but with none of the ambience or sense of occasion. If you're going to go, just go for ribs and sit at the bar at the front. I wouldn't recommend it for any kind of occasion. However the staff were really great and the food was nice, so its not terrible. Just too expensive for what it is.

Waited for 40 minutes for food then was underwhelmed when our food came. Portions were tiny, starter size, and were expensive. Left the restaurant hungry after spending a lot of money. They didn't seem too bothered about it when mentioned, blaming it on the chefs. Won't be going again.

Had read a lot of strong reviews. Wasn't disappointed. Tried a bit of nearly everything! Food was really tasty. Good variety on the menu. Lots of care in the dishes. Friendly service. Could have stayed for hours...

I went on the opening week so the menu may have changed now however I found, although the food was really nice, it was strange mixture of options which made it difficult to get items that went together. We had the fried chicken, mac n cheese, some octopus dish and a cesar salad. All on there own were great however a strange combination. I understand these were our own choices but there were few other options on the menu. The drinks were great however and I'd recommend going for a drink and casual snack though as an evening meal it didn't work for us.

Incredibly food! The Buffalo wings were very very tasty with the right amount of heat, the Bavette was perfect and Dulce De Leche Beignets were out of this world. I'd highly recommend.

Great little restaurant with friendly staff. Mac and cheese with jalapeños was the best. Chicken wings, burger and creole shrimp were also all good. Reasonably priced, would definitely go again. Only downside was that it's great they have craft beer but I really don't like this new habit of serving draft in 2/3 of a pint glass. If I ask for a pint please bring me that or say "we only sell American size pints". It's an irritating, penny pinching new trend.

Absolutely world class. Wonderful mean. Thanks so much!

We visited here on a whim, after a restaurant nearby we planned to go to, didn't look like it had much atmosphere. Saw Rita's, and I remember seeing a good newspaper review of it in the past so gave it a go. It was Valentines Day lunchtime, so the tables were all booked, but we were quite happy sitting on the bar area. We ordered the Patty Melt Deluxe, which was fried toasted bread filled with a burger patty, onion marmite and melted cheese, with fried potatoes. And then the Chicken Roll Deluxe, which made me realise the 'thing' for fried chicken after a disappointing experience at another restaurant. That came in a brioche bun with sriracha mayo and fried potatoes. The side pickles were deliciousWe had half each, alongside 2 cokes since we were having drinks later on. It felt naughty, but the quality of ingredients was there, so that sort of makes it okay....? Bill came to £33 for 2 including tip - recommend

Chicken + Wings... so good they should be made illegal.The staff are really friendly staff and the cocktail aren't half bad either, good measures but not the cheapest!

Been to Rita's a couple times with friends now and always leave with a tummy full of incredibly DELICIOUS fresh and exciting food, a warm fuzzy feeling from the exceptional cocktails and a huge smile on my face due to the kind staff and over all fantastic dining experience. Can't rexxomend this place enough.... We just LOVE it! Recommendations: the mind blowingly spicy creamy and delectable green chilli Mac & cheese and the steak bavette with Chimichurri sauce and end with creamy crunchy Oreo pie... MMM!

Been there for a late lunch on a Sunday. The place and the service are very good, the food is average and overpriced. I had the waffles and chicken and tried the beef sandwich - not impressed. The mac and cheese is surprisingly good.

Loved this place, a bit out of the way, but definitely worth the trip. I had chicken and waffles and it was amazing! The portion was massive, and it tasted so good! We also ordered a side of crispy bacon and macaroni and cheese which was also great! The chicken tasted so good with the gravy! I would also recommend the Vietnamese iced coffee. No bad points, friendly staff and quick service!

Rita's on Mare Street offers 'American style comfort food'. Whilst the food is just that and good to boot, I'm not sure the place is justified in offering a wine list where the starting price is £30. Eating out a lot in London, I've been to better places with wine lists starting at around the £20 mark. So whilst the food was undoubtedly good, it gets an average rating based on it's over-priced wines. Won't return on this basis. Shame!

Can't recommend it enough. I would come back again and again.

Cosy little restaurant that is so subtle that after walking past it most weekends for over a year have only just found it. It ticks many of the boxes befitting of a hackney restaurant being trendy and unique. The staff were friendly and polite and the restaurant itself was basic but pleasant. There is a narrow choice of food on the menu which I actually like as you don't end up spending ages making your mind up and the few things they do they should actually do really well. The food itself was again basic and subtle but in a good way. Simple food can be fantastic if its rustic but it wasn't. And combined with the small portion sizes (even with sides) I feel it was very over priced. It felt like they were trying to be a posh restaurant by serviing small amounts of food at high prices when they are actually a glamourfied pop-up that hasn't quite matured into a proper restaurant. If you want to be an up market then you have to look the part. Buy some better decor and some none ikea plates then move to shoreditch and then maybe just maybe you can justify the price.

Nice, buzzy restaurant - well priced wine and cocktails. Foodis good (Mac & Cheese is exceptional!), only criticsm is the portion size for the mains - they were pretty small.

Pas facile à trouver, car un peu excentré.Cadre atypique, mais sympa. Un peu bruyant.Excellente cuisine, très créative, une découverte! C'est LA raison pour vous rendre chez Rita's. Nous ne parlons pas ici de grande gastronomie, mais bien d'une cuisine travaillée, recherchée, à prix doux. Carte de vins réduite, équilibrée. Rapport qualité/prix = OKService de bonne qualité.Bon appétit!

If you go you MUST get the Chicken Roll. Perfectly fried chicken in a bun with a nice spicy sauce. The cocktails are pretty decent and potent. The hot dogs where ok, different combos but way over priced compared to the Chicken Roll. I need to try some other bits on their menu. (Visit - 10/01/2015 Dinner Service)

Mainly came here for the chicken and waffles and was overall quite happy. The service was great, attentive but at the same time not over bearing and portion sizes were great too.

I've been here for brunch and dinner now, and both times have been great. Chicken and waffles for brunch was delicious, and for dinner their special of barbecued hoggett which was amazing. Like that they vary their dishes, so you can always try something different there. Cocktails are also lovely too. Would highly recommend a visit!

From the first moment of arriving until the last moment of departue every member of staff was unfailingly helpful and extremely understanding of my partner's rather tricky food allergies to the point of coming to the table and running through all her problems and then returning with a marked up menu from the kitchen with what she shouldn't be looking at Needless to say we had a very good time including banter with the adjacent table and will be returning

Great food, atmosphere and service (pretty much everything you want/need in a dining experience). The honey soy chicken wings were absolutely delicious.. and so was the rest of the food to be honest. Great atmosphere and the lady who served us was very nice and helpful with the menu. Would defs go back! thank you :)

This is one of my favourite places in London. The décor is understated and so calming. The staff are wonderful. You always have exactly what you want in front of you without having over attentive pushy staff. <br /><br />The cocktails are so good. I love the House Rita. Wish I had a machine at home that dispensed them. As for the food. The specials are exciting and imaginative. Chef is always using ingredients you wouldn&#039;t at home, like schmaltz. Its incredible. <br /><br />American classics as well like patty melt and fried chicken, mac &amp; cheese. <br /><br />if you are like me and order nearly everything it doesn&#039;t come out cheap. But is always worth it. <br /><br />Oh, and if you do go. Do NOT leave without trying a devilled egg.

Went there on my own on a rainy night, saw a risotto in the "specials board" and thought "why not". For starters I ordered what was described as "chicharrones". Being from South America myself, I thought I was ordering just that, but it wasn't chicharrones as you would get them in Latin America. This was just pork scratchings extremely large and almost impossible to chew. If you don't have excellent teeth do not venture. And the "special fried rice risotto" was not a risotto as most people would understand it. The rice may have been made following a risotto recipe, but the rest was just poured over it and that was it. I thought it was very lazy. Wine comes in very small glasses so it ends up being quite expensive. There are a number of much better restaurants in the vicinity, just leg it to Broadway Market 3 min away or any of the Vietnamese restaurants on Mare street are way better. I wanted to like it since I live around the corner, but left disappointed.

Unique, tasty dishes. Out of curiosity, we ordered almost one of everything and were not disappointed!

The service was inoffensive, the menu reads well, then the food arrives and all your expectations are ruined. The fried chicken is quite simply disgusting, the flavours don't work, the meat is poor quality and the batter doesn't stick. The 'gravy' is like sloppy stuffing, overseasoned to the point that I left feeling nauseous. They need new chefs to cook the delicious sounding menu!

Admittedly, the www is full of raving reviews about this place. So, it was time for me to pay Rita's a visit and make up my mind. I made reservations for two and asked for a nice table so I can see the magic happening in the kitchen! The diner had the best located table available for us straight upon arrival. The interior is clean but the atmosphere is warm. Staff is very attentive and considerate. I could also pick drinks from a different menu availed by the time. The food was an exceptionally great taste sensation. Very unusual without any educational ('you need to try this') aspects but rather simply delicious. I couldn't have gone for twice as bigger servings but there was lots more food to come. Spices are mixed and matched like nowhere else, I guess. I mean, the burger we got looked like a grilled cheese sandwich. I kinda was disappointed when I saw it, but nooo: it tasted like a genuine American burger with fries. I still can't believe it. So, here is what we had for less than £70:2 house cocktails - yummy 2 Pupus:- wow chicken wings wow - (believe it or not) wow pumpkin with ricotta wow 2 Mains:- jacob's ladder beef rib with an outstanding mooli coleslaw - burger and fries 2 sides: - Mac'n'Cheese - confit potatoes A lot dessert :) The heavily tattooed, breaded magician-chef made me a custom pie. Honestly, never ever did someone made my so happy. The pie was very epic meal timey! We paid less than £70! Amazing!!! Yes, we took a tube and a bus, but station is located just outside the diner and the evening was worth every mile and penny!Thank you for everything. That was amazing! @zerosizedlizzy

The food was delicious, with imaginative, if only a few choices. The staff were lovely and friendly and the service quick even though it was a Saturday evening. The only downside was the music was a bit loud so you wouldn't want to linger after eating.

Went here on a recommendation from Time Out, but I was sadly let down.<br />We went for a late lunch about 14:00, and the music was so loud, we had to move seats at one point. <br />The service was good, very nice server, attentive and explain specials etc. <br />I wasn’t impressed with the food. I had the chicken and waffles - their speciality - the chicken was dry and overcooked. Very bland. The waffles undercooked. <br />My partner had the daily special of miso scrambled eggs with mushrooms. It was very watery and grey.<br />The only saving grace was the Chilli Mac and Cheese.<br />Price wise it was good, and like I said before the service was great.

Great chicken, great mac n&#039; cheese, decent waffles, strange plates, margaritas are slush, bit loud, slightly absent service.

Okay yes it is overpriced and that may be something that may change in the future. To be honest I hope so because seeing these reviews is saddening since I found it DELICIOUS!! My friend and I went to see Margarita with a Straw as part of the British Film Fest. Only we went to the wrong cinema and ended up watching some dire Eva Green effort. So the least we could do was go and have a margarita with a straw! Okay, so we had 3! We shared a main and a side, since we wanted a light Saturday afternoon margarita buzz, and the food was amazing. In fact I have searched recipes for Green Chile Mac 'n' Cheese and will be doing it this week!Finally the best gerkins EVER. We ended up buying some to take away! haha!

Rita's is a nice looking place, friendly staff, but unfortunately the food is just no more than average. It is well presented though, and the tapas style plates is a nice idea, but for the prices it had the style, just not the substance. If it was more reasonably priced I'd have given it 3/5, but there's no excuse for the prices charged, you can easily eat far better, for far less.

THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST

Rita&#039;s for sure is one of my favourite restaurants in London and I frequently trek from SW to Hackney to eat here. The changing menu is a delicious mix of american comfort food with asian influences and the green chilli mac n cheese is heaven. The vibe is casual yet chic with unfussy interiors and east London ease. The food is great for sharing as there are a lot of small plates to sample. Finish with the oreo pie which is heaven, you won&#039;t regret it!

Ritas know how comfort food like the back of their hand, and they know how to make food taste good, but they also take it to a different level by combining new flavours in dishes you might not expect them to be found. Drinks list is great and even though it&#039;s a bit of a new trend serving beer in scooners it&#039;s actually very welcome as it means you can try a variety. Puddings are an exceptional americana delight.

Really nice place to meet friends and eat. Food was good, particularly the aforementioned mac+cheese.Cocktails were also good and there's a decent selection of interesting spirits - all supported by knowledgeable bar staff.Well worth a trip to.

We ate on a Sunday afternoon at Rita's. The food tasted good, but the portions were very poor. £14 for 1 duck leg and a couple of slices of sausage. My girlfriend had fried chicken and waffles £11, this was slightly better but just a couple of small pieces of fried chicken. If you want something to eat you can do far better within a 1 minute walk.

Visited Rita&#039;s before a show at the Hackney Empire. Not particularly busy. Food was salty. Other than that it was o.k. but not wow! Don&#039;t think I would recommend especiall as for their prices I would expect far better tasting food.

Interesting menu well executed . My only gripe is that the bar seating is the wrong height , unless you are a giant you can&#039;t actually use it to eat

My boyfriend and I chose Rita&#039;s for our anniversary dinner. It had a lovely atmosphere and the food was really, really great. I had the slow roasted duck which was delicious, perfectly cooked with delicate flavours. My boyfriend had the double patty deluxe which was also really good. For sides we had the chilli mac and cheese and the mustard greens, both of which were fantastic. Cocktails were delicious too. The service was friendly and always attentive. Overall, we had a lovely evening at Rita&#039;s and I couldn&#039;t recommend it more!

Such a great little find. Everything we tried was yum. The service is excellent &amp; it&#039;s great value for money.

I am very surprised to not see more excellent reviews on here on trip advisor. I went there last night for dinner with my boy fired after a friend recommended it and I loved it.The smell alone of the tasty food cooking when walking in was enough for me. I highly recommend the chicken wings, incredibly moreish and sticky, then the outstanding dish was the mackerel. Don’t be put off by the fennel, the whole dish was marinated and cooked to perfection. The green chili Mac and cheese crispy on the top, just the way it should be.My boyfriend has the rib, which looked like something Fred Flintstone would order. Not my cup of tea but he loved it.The cocktails were tasty and the service, décor and the atmosphere were all friendly and relaxed. Personally I cannot wait to go again, however I may find it hard to try any dish apart from the mackerel as it was sublimeThe only downside is that my boyfriend and I ate too much and felt like beached whales walking home. But don’t let our gluttony put you off.Get yourself down to Ritas!

SERIOUSLY &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3

Can&#039;t go wrong with Rita&#039;s - the food, service and ambience are always spot on. Little bit quiet on a Sunday evening, so no issue getting table!

Fried chicken and waffles with honey and grits(?). If there&#039;s a more perfect hangover brunch, I simply don&#039;t want to know.

Went to Rita's with a bunch of friends for Sunday lunch. The menu looked fantastic but the portion sizes were dreadful and very overpriced for what it was which was a shame because the actual food was delicious. I ordered the rib and I was expecting a couple of them but it was literally one rib at £14. Add on a potato side at £4 and it becomes £18 a plate. Whilst it was delicious, I wasn't going to waste my time with a disappointing dessert so left hungry. With drinks we each paid £40 so leaving Rita's hungry almost added insult to injury. Also worth mentioning that it was almost like an oven in there. There was an air conditioner in the ceiling but it wasn't switched on.. They had a couple of fans but I sweated into the plastic seats...We won't be returning which is a shame because the food and service was good - it was let down by the price, portion size and temperature of the restaurant...

We had seen good reviews and so thought we would try Rita&#039;s out for my partners birthday. We had ordered the special which was crayfish, the portion and the quality was not substantial for the price. We raised this with the staff who provided an additional crayfish however we felt disappointed with the overall quality- we had hoped that the food would be on a par with other local restaurants which are better value for money.

I took my fried chicken obsessed boyfriend to Rita&#039;s for his birthday dinner and we were not disappointed!! The deviled eggs and sticky chicken wings were delicious. The fried chicken was WOW and all washed down with loads of wonderful frozen margheritas. We rounded things off with beautifully smokey Mezcal and a slice of pie between us. We&#039;ll be back very soon!

The food and the service was great but it was very warm in the restaurant to the point it was a little uncomfortable. I know its Summer but it was very hot.

Food was amazing and arrived piping hot to the table. Drinks were good, overall good value restaurant. Can&#039;t wait to come back!

Visited Rita&#039;s with a couple of friends for the first (and definitely not the last) time. We had wings as a starter which were simply awesome, covered in a super sticky and delicious ginger sauce. Devilled eggs were equally scrummy. For the main I had the glazed rib with slaw, extremely succulent yet not fatty and very very tasty. Staff were attentive without being intrusive which was greatly appreciated. They do a mean dark n&#039; stormy and there&#039;s a cool atmosphere too. Looking forward to stopping by again soon.