A new Italian cafe on Islington's Essex Road comes from a seasoned restaurateur and promises an all-day menu based on the cafes of Milan. 

The Scotch Egg Challenge has become one of the highlights of London's food calendar. If you've somehow been unaware of it until now, let us educate you. Essentially, it sees some of London's top chefs descend on a pub for one night to produce what can be argued are the very best scotch eggs in London. These are all put to a jury who decide upon who to give one of London's most sought-afterawards. 

Previous winners have

Paid for promotion

If you think there's truth in the phrase that good things come in small packages, then a delight awaits you at a new bar on Islington's Essex Road. On the face of it, Homeboy is a modern Irish cocktail bar. But, if you head through to the back of the bar, you'll find a diminutive treat - what's being billed as London's Smallest Irish Pub. The speakeasy-style pub is hidden in a tiny room at the

The stretch of St Paul's Road from Highbury Corner already has the likes of Trullo, Prawn on the Lawn and St Paul to attract folk in the evening. Now, there's another space to spend your time and money.

Rick Toogood tells us that Prawn on the Lawn is taking over the space at next door coffee shop Sawyer & Gray in the evenings turning it into a cocktail and oyster bar for Sawyer & Gray Lates. They'll be serving up food and drink at night from 6pm

We'd heard recently about the sad news of the closure of Islington's Rok - but things move fast on Upper Street and there's already a replacement.

Taking over is plant-based restaurant Slaw. They had a series of successful supperclubs and now they're going to the next level - with a residency in the old Rok space. They say "Our ethos is to produce deliciously healthy food in a sustainable and

A new restaurant that's specialising in just the one thing is opening in Islington. X-Upper is all about gourmet sausages and they've rustled up some impressive chefs to create them. 

Expect Irish food, drink and hospitality at this Islington bar which is serving up everything from cocktails featuring Barry's Tea to curry chips and Tayto crisps.

One of Islington's most popular cafés is Maison d'Etre, just on the opposite side of Highbury Corner from the station (right next to another Islington fave, Black Axe Mangal). They've been doing storming business there for the past few years in a tiny space and now they've expanded with a second cafe, Maison Bleue.

The second spot is a mere 5 minutes walk away, so if you've ever

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.