Happy punters at Newington's Green's hot new opening
So what do we need to know about Cadet?
This new Stoke Newington wine bar burst onto London's scene this summer with a bang. Just weeks in, it's already fiendishly hard to get a seat at (it's walk-ins only). The folk behind it are Francis Roberts and Tom Beattie who also run the wine importers Beattie & Roberts. They're joined by charcutier George Jephson along with chef Jamie Smart who is ex St John and Lyles (and has recently come off a residency at P Franco).
Where is it?
You'll find in a former chicken shop on Newington Green, an area that's become quite the foodie hub in recent years. There's Jolene across the green while Jumi Cheese, Yield and too-cool-for-school butchers Stella's all close neighbours, not to mention Perilla around the corner.
It's not the easiest place to get to if you're coming by public transport but the nearest station is Canonbury on the overground which is around ten minutes walk away.
Where should we sit?
Frankly, given its popularity right now be grateful you have any seat at all. We rocked up nice and early in the evening to secure our spot (it's worth noting that the evening menu doesn't start until 6pm).
There's a mixture of counter dining and high tops along with a very covetable group table at the entrance, plus a few tables outside.
If we have to wait for a seat, what's nearby?
Handy places to go for a drink while you wait include Yield wine bar, you can pop across the green to Jolene for drinks and snacks and nearby The Cellars is a decent local boozer.
What's on the menu?
It's a tight menu of snacks, a few larger plates, a cheese option and a dessert that changes very regularly. Here's what we had to give you an idea of dishes, portions and prices.
Rillettes (£4) - the perfect wine snack.
Pate en croute (£12) - an absolutely gorgeous bit of charcuterie by Jephson, we were blown away by this dish. But we would have loved a slightly thicker slice for that money.
Tomato tart with perroche, a French goats cheese and tagette aka marigold leaves (£12)
Berry and cherry stone clafoutis (£9) - served warm from the oven and hoovered up in an instant.
How's the wine list?
As you'd expect from a place that boasts a couple of wine importers behind it, the wine list here is obviously interesting. It's an all natural affair - their wine business similarly represents "winemakers who, as much as possible, eschew the use of chemicals in the vineyard and the winery". On our visit it seemed largely French with a fairly big section devoted to sparkling and a variety of wines available by the glass.
We kept it simple with a bottle of their very drinkable entry-level white - an organic Languedoc Chardonnay by Domaine Fond Cyprès at £43.
Overall thoughts:
Apart from wishing it was even closer to us, it's hard to fault a new wine bar that's been rammed since day one. Clearly this is the kind of thing that Stoke Newington's been waiting for and if you're a fan of top tier charcuterie then you're going to need to make the pilgrimage.
More about Cadet
Where is it? 57 Newington Grn, London N16 9PX
How to book: Walk-ins only.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @cadetlondon
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