Akari London
Japanese restaurants can seem daunting and formal to the uninitiated, but this izakaya (a relaxed drinking place with food) set in an old pub is a successful mix of the casual and the tasty. As well as the customary sushi, sashimi and sake you can enjoy nourishing noodle soups, spicy pan-fried dishes, draught Asahi beer and homemade ice cream and cheesecake.
Duke Organic
Opened in 1998, this is the UK's first and only organic gastropub to be certified by the Soil Association – and it's worth a visit not just for its green credentials but because the food here is consistently good. The décor is informal and bohemian with old wooden tables and menus chalked on a blackboard – this is very much a busy pub with a dining area to one side. The menu, produced in conjunction with the Riverford organic farm in Devon, features a daily changing menu where “fruit and veg are the stars”.
Fredericks
This long-established Islington restaurant draws a well-heeled crowd to its airy dining room with white brick walls enlivened by foliage and brightly-coloured art. There's a patio garden where tables are laid as weather permits, and a Club Room where you can get coffee, brunch and lighter fare. The menu offers a satisfying range of dishes such as scallops with pork belly, côte de boeuf and chips, and poached pear with caramel sauce.
