Inside Godet on Essex Road
What exactly is a wine-focused pub?
The name really gives it away; think old-school boozer given a new lease of life with a lot of love and attention given to its wine list (although there is beer too).
And where is this one?
You'll find it at the top end of Essex Road, close to where it hits Balls Pond Road. It's about a ten-minute walk from Highbury and Islington station, or you could also use the overground stations of Dalston Junction or Essex Road to get here.
This brightly coloured pub is what you're looking for
Who's behind it?
Sylvain Bertozzi is the man in charge and he has form as far as the wine side of things goes, also being responsible for Hackney wine bar Binch which is only about a mile away.
So what's on offer?
We say it's a wine-focused pub, but wine isn't the only thing on offer here - there are also nine taps for craft beer sourced from all over the UK, with various tap takeovers planned for the future.
As for the wines, they are listed by the dominant grape variety and there were 13 on the opening list ranging in price from £39 a bottle (£7.50 a glass) to £65 (£13.90). That entry-level Chardonnay was a gently sparkling wine from the Loire, which was fabulous.
And there's food?
There is. Right now the weekday residency is being run by Perk'd Up Burger - a venture that started life as a burger kit company during lockdown and is serving up a range of smashed burgers and bar snacks. They also go big on pickles and house-made sauce.
There's a really extensive offering of bar snacks including these must-try frickles with house sauce (£7) and four cheese croquettes (£8)
The signature cheeseburger (£12) made with dry-aged ex-dairy cow beef.
Face plant Veggie Burger (£11) - signature veggie double patty with cheese, bread and butter pickled, crispy onions and house sauce.
The unmissably good churros with miso salted caramel (£9). We could have eaten these all night.
Anything else we should know?
Did we mention it's also a listening bar too? Every Wednesday to Saturday you'll find DJs playing a 'laid back' set.
Yet another place to add to our burgeoning list of London listening bars
Overall thoughts
Following hard on the heels of the opening of another wine bar in a former pub, nearby Goodbye Horses, the arrival of Godet on Essex Road is starting to make this part of Islington a pretty interesting place to come if you're into your wine. We like that they're not too serious about the offering and that they've picked a good food residency to kick off their bar food offering too. It's a nice laid-back spot to spend an evening and we reckon it'll do very well.
More about Godet
Where is it? 382 Essex Rd, London N1 3PF
Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @godetlondon.
Hot Dinners were guests of Godet. Prices correct at time of publication.
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