Plant-based menus and vegan pizzas will feature at this new Islington outpost

You've seen him on the Great British Menu, you've heard about his travails over the use of his name, now try James Cochran's food at his wonderful new Islington restaurant. 

The masters of fried chicken are back with their "third album". This time they're on Islington's Upper Street with new dishes, an outside space and all the fried favourites from the original (yes, the Szechuan Aubergine). All that and their signature sour cocktails too. 

Tucked down a residential side street in Angel is a canalside pub turning out Cajun and Creole food. We along for a taste of the Deep South.

The pub that inspired George Orwell's famous Moon Under Water essay has been taken over by the landlord who runs The Gun in Hackney and he's brought in help to serve up some interesting bar food too.

The London Jukebox runs world music concerts in London and now they're settling on Upper Street. Expect small music events paired with Indian sharing plates. 

A commitment to sourcing well and cooking everything - even the condiments - from scratch makes this new Islington kebab restaurant stand out from the crowd.

Michelin-starred James Cochran is going back to his roots with 1251, his new Islington spot where he'll be serving sharing menus, tasting menus and snacks, featuring modern British food, made with Kentish produce (and several nods to his West Indian heritage).

Tucked away in the heart of Canonbury, Vins is a neighbourhood wine bar with an interesting, ever-evolving menu. We pop by for a look.

It's been closed in Soho for five years, but now Alphabet bar is on the way back to London. This time it's setting up shop in Islington matching cocktails with a Mediterranean menu. 

Sourcing their food direct from their own farms in Extremadura, the family behind new Islington tapas spot Llerena can be quietly confident their food is worth crossing town for.

They already have a kebab restaurant in Battersea, and now they're coming to Islington's Upper Street. BabaBoom will be serving up all their favourite kebabs with meat and vegetables cooked over coal and some cracking Middle Eastern sides too. 

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