Proof indeed that there is no such thing as bad publicity, the deluge of negative reactions to the arrival of the Yellow Bittern appears to have had only a positive effect on the restaurant's bookings.
You can hardly have escaped the media attention given to the tiny Caledonian Road restaurant (which we were the first to write about), particularly following its chef's impassioned posts on Instagram about guests not understanding how to play their role in the great hospitality game.
But if you'd thought that having a 2.9 rating on Google or relentless negative features in the broadsheets, tabloids and even on TV would put folk off, you'd be wrong.
"We are pretty much full up until Christmas now with a table here and there," chirped Hugh in a post on Instagram this week. "The ould begrudgers who said we can’t open a restaurant at lunch to suit us and our families won’t be happy at this news," he went on to say, "But for the rest of you it is good to know that there is a little restaurant ran by and for the people who work there, doing what they believe in, cooking the food they like to eat, serving the wine they like to drink, and you can come down when you have a lunchtime free and have a bottle and plate of food and indulge in the joy of living. (Which should be a daily occurrence in a better world!)"
If all that's making you want to learn a little more about the restaurant, you can read our Test Drive or take a look at our Instagram reel.
More about The Yellow Bittern
Where is it? 20 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DU
When does it open? Monday to Friday lunch only
Find out more: To book call 0203 342 2162 (they also accept letters and postcards) or follow them on Instagram @luncheonmagazine
Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners
