What can you tell us about Salvation in Noodles
Originally based in Dalston on Balls Pond Road, owner Colin Tu has opened a second SIN, this time in Finsbury Park. The name comes from the Vietnamese noodles that make up the main part of the menu - but there's lots more to the place than that.
Where is it?
It's just around the corner from Finsbury Park station at the top of Blackstock Road.
And how is this one different to the original?
It's much closer to a handy tube station, that's for sure. But the biggest difference is the new bar that seats six people. While it's very useful if you're waiting for a table, it's also a lovely spot to perch for a couple of cocktails and snacks if you're in the area. And Finsbury Park is a bit of a wasteland as far as decent cocktail joints go, so this is very welcome.
So what are those new cocktails?
The ones we tried (at £8 each) were an excellent Hanoi Sling (vodka, apricot brandy, triple sec, Kamm & Sons, lime juice, raspberry syrup, ginger beer) and the Scofflaw (Four Roses Small Batch, dry vermouth, lemon juice, Grenadine syrup and orange bitters). Both nice and strong, very more-ish and well it's worth popping into the bar at SIN just to try these.
If the bar's busy - where can we meet for a drink?
There's precious little in the immediate area but if you're up for a bit of a walk, we'd recommend a quick glass of wine at Finks Salt and Sweet (Thur-Sat) or a short walk down Seven Sisters road gets you to The Bedford Tavern, which has a strong wine list and lots of craft beer. Alternatively, the massive garden in the Faltering Fullback is worth trying during the summer - but it's VERY hard to grab a table there at peak times.
And how about the food at SIN? What should we order?
Obviously the noodles - we went for the Pho Dac Biet - rare steak, chicken and king prawns in oxtail soup - but the winner was definitely the Mi Quang - rice noodles cooked in turmeric with braised pork belly, prawns and a soft-boiled egg. Just on the nice side of spicy heat for us (i.e. not too much) and complimented with a great black sesame cracker.
But while the noodles will be the clear draw for some - for us it was the array of snacks that will keep up popping back for more. A definite winner here was the Xa lamb chops - yet another great example of how chops are taking over London menus (in a good way). Sticky and delicious.
Khoai mon chien - taro chips with sriracha mayo - were another great snack and don't leave without ordering the fried spring rolls either.
And drinks?
Lots of softs available and although we didn't have it this time, the Vietnamese coffee ordered on a table beside us looked excellent. There are plenty of bottled beers (the Vietnamese beer for £3.50 won out on a hot day for us) and wine ranges from £18.50 (Journeymaker Chenin) to £28 (Queen of Whites Riesling from Tesch) a bottle. Although note that glasses are 125ml - so bottles are a better deal.
Overall thoughts:
Very slowly, Finsbury Park is drawing in restaurants which are starting to really elevate the area. The noodles here are great, the cocktails are nice and strong and the snacks are worth popping in for time and time again. It's a godsend for locals and well worth popping into if you're in the area for a concert or Arsenal match.
Salvation in Noodles is at 2 Blackstock Road, London N4 2DL. For more from them, follow them on Twitter @SINDALSTON
Hot Dinners were invited to Salvation in Noodles. Prices were correct at the time of writing.
