The pop-up has been one of the cultural and economic successes of recent years. Whether that be the pop-up shop, gallery or restaurant the idea of using what was underused or vacant for something new and exciting seems to have worked. It cuts down on the outgoing costs and, if you do it right, can create it owns buzz of excitement. Which is exactly what The Seagrass is doing right now.

Housed is the still-operating 19th century Manze pie and mash shop on Chapel Market in Islington, The Seagrass is using the fantastic decor (original tiles, wooden pews and marble counter) of what would be a closed evening space to create a fantastic ‘new’ restaurant.

Three courses for £ 30 (cash only payment) and it isn’t licensed, so it is a BYOB (normally the mongrel of the restaurant world) but that just means you save money on the wine and can be guaranteed to be drinking something you enjoy. 

I had the lobster and crab bisque, the sea bass fillets and the chocolate brownie. All were excellent, although I think I should have had the roast duck starter judging from the comments around my table!

As with all pop-ups it is hard to tell how long The Seagrass will stay at this venue, but judging from how many smiling faces were tucking into the food last night, I think it will be here for a while. Let’s hope so. 

Details about this spot (Show on map)
The Seagrass | Restaurants (British) | Three courses £ 30
74 Chapel Market N1 9ER | North-East | +447902015200
Thu – Sat 19:00 – 23:30

Located along ubér cool Upper St in Islington, the Gallipoli Bazaar restaurant is a combination of Lebanese, Turkish and Mediterranean cuisines – offering a huge variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

The restaurant is one of the ‘Gallipoli’ branded restaurants along Upper Street, and offers a reasonably priced menu with all the traditional favourites such as kebabs, tangines and cous-cous. The set menu is fantastic value at £16 per person, which includes a vegetarian starter followed by any main, dessert and a coffee.

The restaurant is split on two floors, however still manages to illuminate a very warm and inviting feel to its customers. Deep red fabrics line the chairs and sofas, and beautiful coloured glass fittings hang from the ceiling – creating a cosy atmosphere.

However if word gets out it’s your birthday, be prepared to partake in some forced chair dancing whilst gyrating to excitable Turkish music. Fortunately, they sell a good selection of alcohol which makes the chair dancing exercise slightly less horrifying.

To complete your experience, take a seat outside and choose from a variety of fruit flavoured tobacco before lighting up a traditional shish pipe and watch the world go by.

It’s Gallipoli Bazaar’s authentic food and lively atmosphere that keeps the regulars coming back, always ensuring for a romantic night evening or great night with friends.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gallipoli Bazaar | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Turkish/Lebanese) | 2 course set menu £ 14.50
107 Upper St | North-East | +442072265333
Mon – Fri 18:00 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 13:00 – 00:00

Hardly a hidden gem I’ve picked is it, seeing as star chef Yotam Ottolenghi has had a worldwide success with his cookbooks and he can now be found gracing the TV screens, but even so his flagship restaurant on Upper Street in Islington is amazing.

Mixing influences and ingredients to a frightening but dazzling effect Ottolenghi somehow makes it all work, look amazing and taste even better. Sample salad for example: grilled pear with Roquefort, spicy macadamia, mixed leaves and orange blossom dressing. Sample main: seared scallops with juniper and celeriac mash, pickled cucumber and walnut salad and crispy pancetta. But to be honest, I could have picked anything off the menu and it all sounds and tastes fantastic. 

Dinner is rightly very popular so I have booked in the past, but whatever time you come you will not be disappointed. The selection of a three of four salads I had last time I went for lunch was brilliant – the roasted cauliflower with celery, pomegranate seeds, almonds, herbs and cinnamon being the best. 

There are a few other, smaller, locations to what I presume will be an expanding Ottolenghi chain in Notting Hill, Kensington and Belgravia but the Islington branch is the largest and the only one to open for dinner in the evenings although Ottolenghi has now opened a ‘proper’ restaurant (Nopi) if you can’t get in at Islington.

Go, queue if necessary, but go as it really is that good.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ottolenghi | Restaurants (Middle Eastern) | Mains £ 12
287 Upper Street, N1 2TZ | North-East | +442072881454
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 23:00, Sun 09:00 – 19:00

Steaks are a heated topic for many foodies and claiming to know the best steak restaurant is not something I am going to be so stupid as to do, but Garufa is definitely a very good starting point if Argentine steaks are your meat of choice.

The restaurant itself is very nice little local neighbourhood place; a wood and brick interior with black and white photos of Argentina on the walls, friendly staff and good service. The wine list is unapologetically Argentinian and, not surprisingly, heavily balanced in favour of the red drinkers. 

I’ve started with the squid and the chorizo and both have been excellent. As have been the side dishes (they used to do a fabulous butter bean dish but that seems to no longer be on the menu). I recommend getting the chips with garlic and parsley or the butternut squash and potato mash to go with your steak.

The steaks themselves are very very good, obviously. Personal tastes come into your cut of choice, but I have had the grilled prime Argentine Sirloin steak every time and have not been disappointed. 

For me the service, the feel, the decor and the side dishes go to make this a (slightly) better restaurant than the acclaimed Buen Ayre – an excellent Argentine grill on Broadway Market. If you are in the E8 area definitely pay them a visit instead as the steaks are just as a good as at Garufa and they do an amazing grilled chorizo.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Garufa | Restaurants (Argentine) | Sirloin steak £ 16
104 Highbury Park, N5 2XE | North-East | +442072260070
10:00 – 22:30 daily

Being a music fan and specifically a vinyl fan over the last few years hasn’t been easy. Record shops have closed by the dozen and second hand records have been harder and harder to find – unless you go online. But part of the thrill and beauty of records is having them in your hand. Feeling the weight of the vinyl. The smell of it. Seeing the graphic design as it was meant to be seen. And most record collectors will say the same; ideally shopping for second hand records should be done in person, on foot, not online. Luckily for me and for vinyl junkies like me, places like the excellent Flashback still exists.

Flashback opened in 1997 and used to sell second hand clothes in the basement. That has changed and the vinyl is now downstairs while CDs and DVDs can be found on the ground floor. I like the fact that the records are in the basement. It adds to the mystique. Makes the search for that elusive LP that much greater. 

The place is friendly, the staff knowledgeable and most importantly for the digger, the prices, on the whole, are very reasonable.

The Londonist recently compiled a top ten record store list for Record Store Day and what did they put top of the list? Flashback, of course. Although for the diggers, that list is a very good London resource.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Flashback | Music, Shopping | Per album € 5
50 Essex Road,N1 8LR | North-East | +442073549356
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00