Open over the past month in an under-the-radar way is the Highbury Arts Club situated right beside Hot Dinners' favourite London wine shop - the Highbury Vintners, where the old Clock Cafe used to be.
Opening hours are a little erratic (see below) but they'll be mainly serving up tapas in the evening and a range of brunches at the weekend.
A quick look at the menu shows a range of tapas and a pincho of the week. Prices range from £3 for a tomato, chive and lettuce salad to £4 for mushroom croquettes and £5.50 for hake with mussel and wine sauce and chicken stuffed with cheese and pepper. There's a short dessert list with Spanish cheese pudding, pearss in chocolate sauce and apple pie - all at £4.
At weekends they serve up breakfast pastries and a choice of three breakfast or brunch dishes - a Sydney breakfast of sourdough toast, asparagus/spinach, bacon, poached egg and Hollandaise sauce for £5.50, a Spanish breakfast of broken eggs, potatoes and Serrano ham for the same price and pan con tomate for £2.90.
We haven't tried the food yet, but a weekend coffee made with Square Mile beans was pretty darned good.
The European wine list includes a glass of Cava for £4.80 and an interesting sounding selection of wines including a pardas Rupestris for £33 a bottle and a Piantaferro Syrah for £3.70 a glass. There's also Freedom Brewery's organic lager on draught.
The Highbury Arts Club is at 73 Highbury Park, London N5 1UA. Opening hours are: Monday Closed; Tuesday 7:00–11:00 pm; Wed-Friday 8:30am–2:00pm, 7:00–11:00 pm; Satuday and Sunday 10:00am–3:00pm, 7:00–11:00 pm (Saturday only. Follow them on Twitter @highartclub
