Blink and you may miss it. Whether it's a bar, band, or fad, it might be all the rage one month, and the next, it's old news. So is the case with restaurants. What was August's unbeatable burger is now long forgotten, with only its wrapper blowing around like tumbleweed through the streets, replaced by a version with a softer bun and more garlicky mayo. It's tough for them, but it's brilliant for us. This week, for our tasting pleasure, three newly opened restaurants in East London (close to our Shoreditch location!) that have our mouths watering.
The Diner
There were tears (well, virtual Twitter tears) when The Diner arrived in Dalston this week. Some bemoan another notch on the gentrification ladder; others celebrate in sheer excitement and carb-fuelled joy. The latter camp makes a strong case though, with sweet potato fries, mammoth onion rings, juicy burgers, and hard teas. Located slap bang next to Dalston Junction station, The Diner is an ultra-casual, American-themed—you guessed it—diner, which serves big portions and a long list of alcoholic bevs and fries. One of our favorite things about The Diner is the infinite number of toppings you can add to your burger. "The cheeseburger please, with added guacamole, bacon, extra Swiss cheese, chili sauce, roast tomato, and onions—thanks."
Pond Dalston
Duke's Bar & Que barbecue restaurant-come-pub is quite easily one of our favorite things about Haggerston. So you can imagine our excitement in hearing that the team behind it has opened Pond, a Hawaiian restaurant just down the road in Dalston. Owner Byron Knight describes Pond as "the fine dining blend of traditional Hawaiian food, the best European cooking techniques, and dishes from Hawaii’s main immigrant communities—Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino." The menu includes an eclectic mix, with the likes of lemongrass Bulgogi steak poke, a trio of miso-dressed fishes, smoky beef ribs, ginger and coriander catfish, and macadamia coconut rice pudding. Sounds damn fabulous, right?
Dirty Burger
Across the road from Shoreditch High Street station, London's fourth Dirty Burger has just opened, tucking itself into a tiny little unit with low ceilings and with no more than 10 seats. You know what they say: great things come in small packages. With shiny-topped buns as soft as Shake Shack and juicy, meaty patties, the burgers here are worth writing home about. Even the veggie burger, or the Dirty Cop Out as they call it here, is impressive, with griddled Portobello mushrooms and rocket. Don't forget to top your meal off with doughnuts—ring ones, glazed ones, and chocolaty-sprinkled ones as far as the eye can see.
The newly opened American-themed restaurant The Diner is sure to induce a carb coma. All photos courtesy of The Diner, Pond Dalston, and Dirty BurgerYou can add an infinite number of toppings to burgers at The Diner... dangerous! A delicious Hawaiian entree from Pond Dalston The Pond Dalston team—Bulgogi steak poke, anyone?
The Diner
There were tears (well, virtual Twitter tears) when The Diner arrived in Dalston this week. Some bemoan another notch on the gentrification ladder; others celebrate in sheer excitement and carb-fuelled joy. The latter camp makes a strong case though, with sweet potato fries, mammoth onion rings, juicy burgers, and hard teas. Located slap bang next to Dalston Junction station, The Diner is an ultra-casual, American-themed—you guessed it—diner, which serves big portions and a long list of alcoholic bevs and fries. One of our favorite things about The Diner is the infinite number of toppings you can add to your burger. "The cheeseburger please, with added guacamole, bacon, extra Swiss cheese, chili sauce, roast tomato, and onions—thanks."
Pond Dalston
Duke's Bar & Que barbecue restaurant-come-pub is quite easily one of our favorite things about Haggerston. So you can imagine our excitement in hearing that the team behind it has opened Pond, a Hawaiian restaurant just down the road in Dalston. Owner Byron Knight describes Pond as "the fine dining blend of traditional Hawaiian food, the best European cooking techniques, and dishes from Hawaii’s main immigrant communities—Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino." The menu includes an eclectic mix, with the likes of lemongrass Bulgogi steak poke, a trio of miso-dressed fishes, smoky beef ribs, ginger and coriander catfish, and macadamia coconut rice pudding. Sounds damn fabulous, right?
Dirty Burger
Across the road from Shoreditch High Street station, London's fourth Dirty Burger has just opened, tucking itself into a tiny little unit with low ceilings and with no more than 10 seats. You know what they say: great things come in small packages. With shiny-topped buns as soft as Shake Shack and juicy, meaty patties, the burgers here are worth writing home about. Even the veggie burger, or the Dirty Cop Out as they call it here, is impressive, with griddled Portobello mushrooms and rocket. Don't forget to top your meal off with doughnuts—ring ones, glazed ones, and chocolaty-sprinkled ones as far as the eye can see.
The newly opened American-themed restaurant The Diner is sure to induce a carb coma. All photos courtesy of The Diner, Pond Dalston, and Dirty BurgerYou can add an infinite number of toppings to burgers at The Diner... dangerous! A delicious Hawaiian entree from Pond Dalston The Pond Dalston team—Bulgogi steak poke, anyone?