The Waterhouse in Hackney

Thank you Waterhouse for an exceptional lunchtime experience. Warm welcome, clean tables and immaculately turned out staff at the front of house and in the kitchen. I wanted to support a community beneficial and independent establishment so that’s two boxes ticked! I wasn’t expecting it to be much more than a canteen with clean but chaotic service. How wrong I was! Professional and excellent service from the moment we walked in, delicious lemonade flavoured drinks with organic and additive free ingredients, best coffee I’ve tasted in a long time, nicely presented and well cooked curry (could have been a bit spicier for my taste but I appreciate it needs to suit all tastes not just mine!) with rice and a homemade nan, sticky warm chocolate brownie with ice cream and change from £25 for two of us having lunch. You’d pay more than that for Starbucks lunch for two and none of the profit benefits the community! Anyway thank you Waterhouse Restaurant. Spectacular location, lovely staff and clean wholesome surroundings.

Buena comida dirigida por Shoreditch Trust que permite a los jóvenes aprender un oficio. La comida es barata y alegre. Siempre venimos aquí para una excursión grupal.

Reservé el restaurante para un evento privado para un cumpleaños especial. Desde el primer correo electrónico hasta el último adiós en la noche en que Shell, Lawrence y su equipo fueron amables, corteses y eficientes. En el período previo a la noche, hicieron los arreglos fáciles y accesibles, estuvieron felices de hablar sobre las preferencias alimentarias si fuera necesario y facilitaron la organización de un grupo grande. En la noche nos reunimos con el mismo nivel de servicio, con una sonrisa, y el equipo esa noche hizo un esfuerzo adicional para que nuestro evento fuera feliz y feliz. La comida deliciosa, el servicio excelente, la amabilidad y el cuidado extra con mis invitados en la noche lo convirtieron en un evento privado y exitoso. Todos estamos encantados con el lugar, en el canal Regent's, y recomendamos encarecidamente a Waterhouse. Gran lugar, buena ubicación. Todo el lugar resplandecía con la luz del atardecer y la excelencia de su hospitalidad. Cálidas gracias

Me gusta mucho la idea de que este restaurante respalde a la Fundación Shoreditch. Tiene una ubicación impresionante al lado del canal y la primera visita fue muy agradable. La comida era buena, el servicio fue amable. La segunda visita no fue del todo satisfactoria; como se esperaba, el restaurante se llena de gente durante la hora del almuerzo y el servicio se esfuerza por hacer frente. Sin embargo, en esta visita pedimos el especial del día de Jerk Chicken. Lo que se sirvió no era pollo jerk, estaba empanado pollo con especias especiado. La desilusión de las expectativas siguió, y la decepción es lo que arruina una experiencia gastronómica. En definitiva, una joya escondida si trabajas en los alrededores.

Este fue un acontecimiento que necesita saber cualquier dieta antes de la mano para su propagación en estilo buffet. El personal era excelente y muy atento a las necesidades, la limpieza y el servicio. Solicite comida vegetariana, como soy vegetariano, que había dos artículos en oferta, una opción estilo tarta de polenta y un montón de verduras pakoras. Ambas estaban muy sabrosos y obviamente cocinar a la perfección. Los veganos no tenía una amplia variedad de alimentos que normalmente es el caso. Sin embargo, ninguna de las salsas eran vegetarianos, de que había 4, que una vez más significa falta de participación en el disfrute de comer arena. Teniendo en cuenta la multitud de alimentos que se pueden crear con los productos animales es una pena que no había una oferta. Pero hey, estamos los huérfanos de la mesa de comida. Aparte de eso, todo fue excelente y el espacio era genial. Así que gracias por el esfuerzo.

Love the charitable purpose behind this restaurant (Shoreditch Trust). The food is great. Attractive interior and outlook. Fresh quality ingredients. Friendly service. Fun soft drinks. Liked the fish curry special. I will come back again.

We recently held our Wedding Reception at The Waterhouse Restaurant. The service was friendly, the food was great, as always. The team worked to a high standard and all of our guests were very happy. The venue itself is in a beautiful spot near the Regent's Canal, where our guests had drinks before the meal was served. It really is a hidden Gem. We were looking for a friendly relaxed place with great food, reasonable prices, top service and having an outdoor space by the canal was a bonus. We weren't disappointed. We didn't have to ask for anything except that they play our song. Thank you, we'll be visiting again.

I find it amazing how popular the Regent's canal venues have become. The Waterhouse is on the canal but not on the walking side (access via Orsman Road) and is consequently much quieter than the other venues but is a little gem - excellent food and great service. We held a party for our son's christening and were extremely happy. The service was fantastic (thank you Neringa!) - very thoughtful during the planning stage with helpful suggestions and on the day the chef even made play dough for the children! It felt a bit like a wedding with great food inside and drinks on the terrace watching the traffic on the towpath and longboats pass by.

You need to be looking for this place to find it, but it's worth seeking out. It's run by a trust that helps staff acquire training and skills - and they certainly seemed prompt, friendly and cheerful. The roasted squash, kale, feta, flaked almond and chilli warm salad was absolutely lovely, the coffee spot on. I have eaten far worse in the Proud Archivist, opposite, for twice the price.

My colleague and I enjoyed a great business meeting here. Perfect Hackney location, by the water, and very nice coffee. I enjoyed a fantastic and creative veggie all day breakfast with halloumi, avocado, scrambled egg, beans, mushrooms, bread and my colleague had lovely fresh poached salmon. I like how the kitchen is open plan so you can see (and smell) the chefs at work! Will 100% be going back and excited to sample an evening meal, and their wine! Really friendly staff as well.

The setting , beside the canal makes for a very pleasant relaxed atmosphere. To date I have eaten here three times. The welcome is always warm and friendly each, the food is consistently of good quality, nicely presented and tasty. It is rapidly becoming my preferred choice to meet and eat with friends. It is approximately a half hour walk from Angel Station along the canal, a lovely way to begin and end a meal out.

Haven't been here for a few years. Really tasty fresh food reasonable prices. Good wine selection and friendly staff.

Chose Waterhouse to meet up with old friends and very glad that we did. Can especially recommend the chilli paneer with lemonade bread which I could have eaten all evening. My husband's starter was delicious too as I insisted on trying it! Puddings sounded good but, sadly, couldn't fit one in. Friendly service too.

I would encourage everyone to eat here. the food was fantastic Service was great with really lovely staff Location was really nice , right by the canal . Menu diverse and wonderful Very reasonably priced for the high quality meals. If

When visiting this place, keep in mind that both the young chefs and the service staff there are in training. The Waterhouse is their practice ground. The service can therefore sometimes be less than fantastic (for example, the waiter forgot about our side dishes) but that doesn't mean that the food and the effort put into its preparation are not outstanding. The presentation of the food is of a very high standard, it's incredibly tasty and the prices are more than competitive. You will not regret coming to this place as long as you adjust your expectations to the nature of the restaurant. In fact, your expectations will likely be exceeded and your bill will not be a sight for sore eyes although you enjoyed top notch, central London-style cuisine.

Came here for a weekday lunch as I work nearby and saw mostly positive reviews on Trip Advisor. Upon arrival we had to find our own table, then waited 15 minutes for someone to come and take our drinks order. After that wait I went and ordered myself at the counter. I don't ask for much but I would at least expect to be welcomed on arrival and to be asked if we'd like drinks when we're being seated. The lady who took my order at the counter then came over to our table 10 minutes later asking if we were ready to order - on being told by me that I'd already given her my order at the counter she remembered and apologised and mentioned that she'd forgotten to pass the order to the kitchen! Another 10 minutes passed before she brought over our drinks (of which there were only 2), one at a time. I'm sure most people can manage to carry 2 bottles of beer on one tray. Around half an hour after this we finally saw our food, which I have to say, was pretty good - well cooked and presented.So all in all, a very mixed experience. Tasty, good value food combined with pretty awful (although friendly and apologetic) service.Not sure I'd visit again.

We stumbled across this gem using the open table booking app and chose it because we liked the look of the sample menu. We were delighted to find when we got there that this is a restaurant with a twist - as well as serving delicious food it raises money for the Shoreditch Trust. If you like tasty modern food served with lovely vegetables in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, then this is the place for you.

The restaurant hosts lovely views of the canal and the lunch time menu is very inexpensive, £6.50 for a main! The staff are pleasant too.However, the kitchen here is extremely loud, we sat in the small outside area and all we could hear was the chef shouting out orders, sometimes it's nice to hear how the kitchen is doing but it shouldn't dominate the restaurant!We heard our order get called but when it came to the table we were still missing a side, we'd managed to finish our meals before the side turned up... disappointing seeing as it was spinach (takes 2 mins to cook!?) and we'd heard it be called.

Came here for dinner on a Saturday evening. We were one of only two tables, which seemed odd, and I worried we might be in for a rubbish time. Luckily I was wrong. Staff were really sweet and friendly, food was delicious. We had the grilled aubergine and the scallops for starters - both dishes were fantastic. For main courses we had the chicken with sesame broccoli and the break. Again, both totally delicious and generous portions. Only slight criticism was that the sweet potato chips we ordered, while tasty, were rather cold. My only quibble with this place was that they were playing music in the restaurant, and different music in the open plan kitchen, quite loudly. Maybe if the restaurant had been full I wouldn't have noticed the conflicting soundtracks so much, but as it was it was extremely distracting and in the end I couldn't handle staying for dessert. We were quite full by then anyway! Apart from this small and easily solved issue, I would highly recommend this place.

Have wanted to try this place for a while and support the concept behind it, however it was a real let down. Firstly, the prices - mains were around £14 and there isn't a starter or dessert under £6. Considering the wealth of great dining options in the area at around or under this price range, I was expecting something good, but I'm afraid it was significantly under parr. The waitress was polite, friendly and professional, but it took over 45 minutes for our food to arrive - we were 1 of only 2 sets of customers in there so this wasn't great, but if the food is great you can forgive this. Food arrived - we had jerk chicken, sweet potato chips and spinach as well as steak and mash. The jerk chicken sauce was way too strong, and thick and tasted like it was out of a jar. The sweet potato chips had been cut too thinly and were undercooked and the spinach was a strange accompaniment to this dish - it just didn't work. The mash was dry and unseasoned and the steak was okay, but it came with no sauce! They gave us a bowl of flaccid oven fries too - weird! With 2 small glasses of wine each it set us back over £50! Such a shame as should be so much better for this price - we won't be returning.

Recommended by a friend, I was slightly disappointed on arrival for a 7.30 booking sat night to find the restaurant almost empty. I like quiet. But this was so quiet it felt weird. Starters were served at 8.20. Do scallops take 20 mins to cook? Lovely food and wine let down by slow but very pleasant service. I'd hate to think what it would be like on an eve when (if) they've got more than 3 tables booked. Prepared to give it another chance during the summer but can't see it lasting that long if so deserted on a sat night 2 mins away from what is the buzzing hoxton/shoreditch area.

This restaurant is absolutely lovely. It is on the canal and has great views and a nice outdoor terrace. I've been there a few times with family and friends and would definitely recommend it. It has been set up by the Shoreditch Trust and gives young people a chance to learn skills. The waiting staff have been friendly, attentive, welcoming and relaxed all at the same time. The food was delicious, ethical and it has a good selection of wine. Make sure you make a detour to go there for lunch or dinner if you are in the area.

We always have fantastic meals at the Waterhouse - the food is delicious, the service friendly and attentive and the food is terrific value, all on a great canal side location. It never disappoints and we always bring our guest visitors to London.

Waterhouse is owned and operated by the Shoreditch trust charity, providing skills and training to young people in the surrounding area.OK, service might not be on par with Petrus, but hey....look at the good this concept is doing for the community.Have eaten there twice in the last month, both times the food has been tasty and well cooked,, clearly using quality ingredients. Where else can you get a lunchtime main course for £6.50???!!!Also note they have a good drinks menu with some great local beers and very reasonable wine by the bottle or glass.My only (minor) gripe would be a little more variety on the lunch menu as it was pretty much the same on both occasions.

Poor service - slow and very unfriendly. Some food came out lukewarm and tough if you don't like your beef burger served rare. You aren't given the choice.Two main ingredients shown on menu not even available - and no apology or explanation given. Very poor service, given its such a limited menu anyhow.Disappointed overall as the location is great - but the Manager needs some serious charm school lessons and if he has an attitude from the off, what chance do you have with the rest of the staff.Won't even bother giving it a second chance.The location deserves better.

Nice place near the regent's canal where you can eat good in a quiet restaurant with friendly people for a reasonable price. Tasty tagliatelle, good wine, excellent beer! A place to go, espacially with a social goal!

Fresh seasonal menu, love the food there. They will try their best to cater for your special needs should you have any. Highly recommend this little Gem hidden in Hackney :)

The Waterhouse is a truly special restaurant - serving exceptional food, overlooking Regent's Canal and ran by the Shoreditch Trust. We have been going back for a few years now, and are still impressed by its ability to provide a unique dining experience. Menus are seasonal and food is sourced ethically, and we were very happy with the personal and conscientious service. Any problems are taken incredibly seriously and steps are taken to make up for any dissatisfaction which demonstrates James and the team's dedication to excellent customer care. I thoroughly recommend visiting the Waterhouse, and indeed sit outside if the weather is good. Food is both substantial and full of flavour, and the open kitchen means you can see and hear every move - including the Head chef giving orders to his team. Far from distracting, it adds to the experience! I strongly urge you to give it a go!

Lovely little restaurant with a great canalside terrace. Had a lovely lunch here on a Saturday afternoon, has a nice relaxed atmosphere, great place to chill out. Myself and my mum both had the sea bream which was very nicely cooked. Josh the waiter was excellent at his job, friendly and helpful. The price is extremely reasonable, has highchairs available. Great find, will return.

Really enjoyable place, the staff is friendly. Didn't try the restaurant but the appetizers and the drink were really good.

I had heard poor reports - but hey, it was nearby, it was a warm evening, and a quiet terrace overlooking the canal and funky Haggerston made the decision forr me. They could not have been sweeter - coped excellently with my companion's No Salt requirement, searched out a special wine for us, and the food was delicious - cracking mash, perfectly cooked scallops, meltingly lovely spicey fish, and a cracking Eton mess.....

Grilled thyme of garlic marinated beef rump steak with a salsa verde and chips. Sounds great online and included in the set menu! Wonderful. The reality though is you can order squash or hake. How truly disappointing. WE left. They didn't try and stop us leaving the already empty place.

We booked the Waterhouse for the view, the fabulous concept of the establishment and because it is local, but primarily based on the fact they had advertised a 3 course deal with steak as an option. Upon arrival we were advised (after querying the glaring ommission of steak) that the menu had been changed but not updated online. Therefore, although advertised on their website we now only had the bromidic choice of hake or butternut squash. Neither are satisfactory, nor like alternatives.Needless to say we opted not to stay.

Aangetrokken door de sociale doelstelling, de goeie recensies en de bijzondere locatie, boekten we ruim vooraf een tafel. Dit blijk evenwel niet nodig. Er waren slechts twee tafeltjes bezet op een zaterdagavond terwijl alle restaurantjes van Shoreditch afgeladen vol zaten. Was de hype voorbij? Het interieur is aangenaam en de bediening wat onhandig maar uiterst vriendelijk. Ondanks de lage opkomst bleek het gekozen voorgerecht niet meer voorradig. Dan maar een alternatief. Zowel het voorgerecht als de hoofdschotel waren uitermate beperkt, maar toch lekker, zonder evenwel gastronomische kwaliteiten. Eerder van het Jamie Oliver-type ... creative cooking et voilà. Geen omweg waard.

The good things are a great location by the canal, with outside dining, a lovely bright interior and friendly staff, and a good menu.The downsides: we sat down 8.30pm and by 11pm we had had a starter and main course. This was a warm summers evening in London and this place should have been packed - it was less than a sixth full. In addition. a number of items were not available from the menu.It's hard to criticise a place that has been set up to to give disadvantaged people training, however, we wouldn't go back there again. I compare it with Brigade, at London Bridge, where we ate earlier in the week, which was excellent.

Recently visited with friends and was really impressed by the superb quality of food and the attentive service. A great concept in a lovely location overlooking the canal. Have to say the food was of a very high standard. Go and visit!

The restaurant is owned by a Trust so proceeds go towards reducing social and economic disadvantage and supporting people to gain knowledge, skills and opportunities. It was a quiet night so I can understand them only having one waitress but as there were 2 large groups we had to wait quite a while to be served and there was a large wait in between courses.The waitress was great though and went out of her way to make sure we were content. The food was of a good quality, we were a group of 8 and everyone left satisfied. I probably would go back.

you have to try this place!service was attentive and friendly (lovely little lass) and the food couldn't have been better.we had the scallops to start - best ive ever had. steak for main which was seasoned and cooked to perfection. choc fondant for pudding - which was lush.I am a very fussy restaurant goer, but this was a perfect little place.

We live in Hackney and wanted a small local wedding. We decided to have our wedding dinner and party at the Waterhouse restaurant. We've been there before during the summer, we had dinner outside on their balcony overlooking the quiet Regent's canal and we loved it. For us it was clear this would be THE place for our wedding and knowing that our money would be going to a charity made us feel even better. In general the food is high quality for the price range, but our wedding dinner was PERFECT. We had a 5 course meal: belinis with a wide range of yummy canapés while people were enjoying the swans on the canal, then on a table exactly the way I wanted it, we had our starters, mains, palate cleanser et dessert. The gave us the choice between 6-7 starters and mains, so everybody had exactly what they wanted, and same for dessert. The service was friendly, relaxed and attentive to details: refilling glasses with water and wine throughout the whole evening, making sure everyone was happy, and still managed to stay discreet= PERFECT!And the food....oh my! Amrit, the chef, and his team blew our minds with the best scallops I have EVER tasted (and I am a foodie), the lamb was delicious, all the side dishes were plentiful and perfectly cooked, the palate cleanser was a mango sorbet and the lemon tart was also fantastic. I know all our guests enjoyed their food, the veggies also had plenty of choices. Their wine list is also very good.We ended up dancing ceilidh around the table with the staff to digest our delicious meal and we really had so much fun!I am writing this review now because we are going there tonight for their very special Valentine's menu, and again, it looks amazing!

We like exploring London with our canoe and on foot, and with people we know in East London this place was just the ticket ! Really good food, great location above the canal, friendly staff..I could go on ...just do it ....

I have walked past The Waterhouse restaurant many times in the last 7 years. For some reason I have never found the time to visit. That changed a couple of weeks ago and I am really pleased that I made the effort. The restaurant is based on ethical principles and is run by the Shoreditch Trust for the local community. Accordingly, the prices (for both food and wine) are reasonable.I have been on two occasions now and both meals were excellent. The cuisine was unexpectedly upmarket, with beautiful flavour combinations and very elegant presentation.Service is very polite and courteous and leisurely. Though I would not normally encourage leisurely service, in The Waterhouse this is a complement where you can easily spend 2 hours having a meal sitting by the canal. I will be sure to make meals here a regular fixture.

I almost didn't want to review this place because so that I could keep it to myself! I decided to go here for my 21st birthday after reading the reviews on here, and I was delighted with my choice.The restaurant has a classy but relaxed interior, with a few small tables outside by the canal that would be perfect for lunch in the summer. I was the first to arrive with a couple of friends, and the restaurant was empty when we walked in. At first, I thought that it would be a little awkward, but the staff were so friendly and welcoming that we immediately felt at ease. The place filled up too - it wasn't empty for long.The menu is small but varied, with a wide range of interesting foods. I won't comment on the individual dishes as the menu is changed quite frequently, but I must say that the quail and bacon starter was absolutely divine. All of the food was brilliant - my only criticism would be that the roast beef could have been a little more tender, but it was still delicious. This food wouldn't have been out of place at a fancy West End joint. The mix of flavours in each dish was perfect and were balanced very well. We did not have the desserts - instead I was surprised with a chocolate, fruit and nut birthday cake, which the waiting staff were complicit in! It is quite hard to hide things from me but I didn't see it coming at all. Of course, the cake was delicious. The wine was very good and extremely cheap for a such a high quality restaurant - around £13-20 a bottle.The service was even better than the food and really made the evening. When I made the reservation, the man on the phone was kind enough to inform me that there would be a group of around 30 18 year olds who might get noisy and asked if I was still happy to go ahead with the booking, which was extremely kind (and no, they were not boisterous at all!).The waiting staff cracked the perfect balance between friendly and formal and were some genuinely lovely people. I would go as far to say it is the best service I have received, especially as a large group of 21 year olds. Overall, this is a wonderful little restaurant and I can't wait to go back here again.

We went here based on a friend's recommendation. The menu is small (ca. 5 dishes per course; partially small and large portions available) and as I understood regularly updated (dependent on season). The quality of the dishes is excellent. Prices are very reasonable; in the Westend you would easily pay 100% more. The service was very friendly and the wine was good as well. In the summer, you have the chance to sit outside and oversee the canal. Dependent on where you are sitting, you can look into the open kitchen. Breakfast and Lunch will be served too. I can only say, London go there!

I went here without knowing what I was in for. All the food ordered was fantastic, the wine was fantastic, the service was very friendly, and the restaurant is very affordable! Considering I live just around the corner I will be back for more.

The food here is always excellent - superbly cooked and with rich and interesting flavours. The wine is good and very reasonably priced and the service friendly and personable with a lovely view over the canal - not one to miss!

Great food at reasonable prices and very nice to be sitting out overlooking the canal to take advantage of the sunny weather.

I don't give praise easily and have eaten at many restaurants that charge 3 or 4 times the prices here and if they charged that here I would still go again.I didn't realise this is a social enterprise if I'm honest I wouldn't of gone if I did but it opened my eyes what can be done and I will go again excellent food friendly attentive staff and canal side diningExcellent all round

We found this Restaurant whilst researching Trip Advisor, we were visiting a Museum locally and decided to have lunch here. The reviews are spot on.The staff were excellent and attentive, the open plan allows you to see the food preperation and its quite obvious that the trainee chefs who are learning are really enjoying themselves.We had lunch and the food was well prepared and tasty. Would certainy return if we were back in the area.

Really excellent service. Not a super busy restaurant when we went on a Saturday night. You can really enjoy a homely feel in such situations. Great cause, and the staff is well-informed and will discuss the ethical background of the place at leisure. Good wine. Lovely canal-side window seating. Menu was creative. Delicious chocolate fondant and homemade strawberry icecream. Really enjoyed the complementary bread also - an uncommon feature in British restaurants.Would certainly go here again, and on a special occasion too.

We went out for a birthday dinner and were not disappointed.The room is well designed and lit and looks out over the Hertford Union canal. The service was excellent, friendly and informed.The food is interesting and well prepared and served -- delicious.The wine list is short but adequate and they have beers from the Redchurch (micro)brewery in neighbouring Bethnal Green.Overall is was a good evening and excellent value for money.

We ate here a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed one of the best meals we've had in London for ages. The food was excellently prepared and presented and was delicious and all at a very reasonable price. Friendly, efficient service - good people doing a great job. Do support this restaurant.

I had the Christmas menu here, generous well cooked flavoursome seasonal food - three courses for £27. Excellent! Good reasonable wine list too.

A chance drop in pre-meeting makes this a platform for a re-visitLIKES=====clean simple layout and menuease and friendliness of service staff product knowledge or ability to gain clarificationquality of ingredientspresentationDISLIKES========can't think of any and wanted to stay longerMENU=====changes regularly every 4-6 weeks (?)we tried the Starters: courgette flowers with goats cheese, soft-shell crabMains: fresh pasta, breast of duck with pak-choiDesserts: cherry pavlovaoverall: EXCELLENT

I visited this restaurant two weeks ago with my family on a sunny wednesday evening. I selected it because it was on the Tastecard and we got 50% off our food bill, however i would be more than willing to pay full price for such fantastic food and attentive service. I chose the Chicken on a bed of seasonal veg, while my dad had cockles and seafood linguine and my mum had the lamb cutlets. Having sampled all three, they were all cooked to perfection perfectly seasoned, and the lamb and chicken both tender and of a fantastic quality. The staff were incredible, very accomodating and went out of their way to help us enjoy our evening. The added bonus of all this, is the stunning view along the canal of as summers evening. I cant wait to return.

Visited on a Tuesday evening. There were 4 or 5 other couples. Staff were very welcoming and helpful, our Frenh waitress was particuarly sweet and did far more than she needed to make our visit a pleasurable one. Inside is modern, airy and clean if a little unrememrable. Window seats have view over the canel, there are also places to seat outside. Food was good if not spectauclar. Wild garlic mushrooms on toast with goats cheese was a substaitail and tatsy starter. Crispy duck in salad leaves with chili was disapointing - the duck was very tough and the seasoning lacking bite. Complinenatary tomoato soup was a lovely suprise and delicious. My main course of mushroom ravioli in parsley butter was really excellent - pasta was hand made and succulent. We didnt have pud as none of the options really appealed (chocolate tart, rhubarb fool?? and cheese selection). The house white, a South African Chenin Blanc was really excellent (£18.50 per bottle) The tapped beer was very well priced and one of the best pints i have had in London for a long time.

First off, this place is a social enterprise so the staff are sometimes coming at this from a difficult place, but the seasonal and always tempting menu has always pleased me. Over 6 or 7 visits over 3 years the menu has always been adventurous and inspired and gnerally very well crafted - hand made pasta, some memorably light vegetable soups, simply grilled mackerel, clever roasts and grills, and a respectable wine list - that really do hit the spot and were as good as the best meals I've had in Europe- whoever is at the helm really does know their stuff. On occasion however, the food has come out of the kitchen disastrously overseasoned and novice waiters have left us scratching our heads with amusement, but on the whole, well meaning, fun and friendly and deserving of more local support. When the weather is right, you can enjoy the towpath cyclists and joggers passing by from a small canalside terrace.

Very pleasant setting with open kitchen, floorboards and terrace overlooking the canal. Menu is simple and seasonal, comprising a daily pasta, risotto, paella, pizza, soup etc. Fresh eco-friendly ingredients. Wait staff were very friendly although there was a bit of delay some times, but not a big issue. Very good value for money.