Highbury

• Patron are launching their Maison Patron delivery service

  

  Poor old Patron barely got a chance to open its second restaurant in Highbury before the shutters came down for lockdown. So we're pleased they've managed to sort out a new home delivery service at both their original Kentish Town restaurant and the new Highbury location.

  The Maison Patron menu does sound

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• Farang launch their new Larder service with meal kits, ready meals and more

  

  Over in Highbury, top Thai restaurant Farang has an interesting new offering during Lockdown. With just the one chef - owner Sebby Holmes - in the kitchen, they've launched Farang Larder this week.

  As the name suggests they'll be offering a range of food, drink and meals to fill up your store cupboard and fridge.

  There are five recipes kits. Choose from red, green, jungle and massaman curry kits or Miang for Days - which has everything

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• Franks Canteen is taking over the Sunday lunch service at The Woodbine in Highbury

  

  Highbury's Sunday lunch game looks set to get a little stronger from this coming weekend. Local restaurant Franks Canteen is about to take over the Sunday lunch service at Blackstock Road pub, The Woodbine.

  "There's no reservations, Paul from Franks told Hot Dinners. "Just rock up - it's family-friendly and we'll be serving from 12 to 7pm.

  "We'll be using our usual great suppliers, Swaledale for meat and

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• Bourne's fishmongers are opening an evening seafood bar in Highbury

  

  A Hot Dinners exclusive

  Ever since they first opened their doors in Highbury in 2017, Bourne's Fishmongers have been on a mission to share their enthusiasm for British seafood with Londoners. The duo behind it are Lee Bourne and John Long. Bourne trained as a chef at Islington restaurant Fredericks before heading into the fishmonger trade at top London fishmonger Steve Hatt. He teamed up with fellow Highbury local John

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• Patron Cave à Manger are bringing their Parisian brasserie to Blackstock Road

  Popular Kentish Town brasserie Patron is expanding - they've picked Blackstock Road for their second site, serving up all manner of classic French wine and dishes.

• Franks Canteen in Highbury is now open for dinner

  

  Five years ago, wedding caterer Paul Warburton opened Franks Canteen in Highbury as a weekend only brunch spot, just a few doors down from popular Thai spot Farang.

  Now, having built up an incredibly loyal local trade, and dabbling with some supperclubs, he's about to open Franks Canteen permanently in the evenings.

  "Our plan is to run in a similar way to our daytime operation," he told Hot Dinners, "which is food influenced

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• Top Cuvee

   

  Highbury wine bar

• Dead Rabbits Saloon brings luxe burgers to Highbury

  

  This Highbury burger spot boasts a head chef who's worked in Michelin-starred kitchens and has burgers on the menu which really deserve a gourmet label. Expect BIG burgers, with pork belly, oxtail, bone marrow and more thrown into the mix. 

• Anglo Thai is the next residency at The Mountgrove Bothy

  

  Fresh on the heels of Chinese Laundry's successful sojourn there comes news that AngloThai will be the next residency at the Mountgrove Bothy.

  If you haven't been lucky enough to try their food to date, let us enlighten you. The chef is John Chantarasak who was twice shortlisted for the Young British Foodie ‘Chef of the Year’ and until four months ago was working at som saa. He's now branched out on his own, and after some time cooking around the UK, Europe

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• Test Driving Top Cuvee in Highbury - a top team for a new neighbourhood spot

  

  With wine as its focus, but some cracking cocktails as well, this neighbourhood small plates spot is a welcome addition to the area.

• Top Cuvée in Highbury is a wine bar and bistro (with added Three Sheets cocktails)

  The people behind Three Sheets are getting into the wine bar business with Top Cuvée in Highbury. Expect food from an ex-Naughty Piglets chef, a decent wine list to drink in or take away - and a few of their great cocktails too. 

• Maison Bleue Canteen is the nearby sister cafe to Islington's Maison d'Etre

  

  One of Islington's most popular cafés is Maison d'Etre, just on the opposite side of Highbury Corner from the station (right next to another Islington fave, Black Axe Mangal). They've been doing storming business there for the past few years in a tiny space and now they've expanded with a second cafe, Maison Bleue.

  The second spot is a mere 5 minutes walk away, so if you've ever

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• The Chinese Laundry is back with a six month residency at The Mountgrove Bothy

   

  When it first opened on Islington's Upper Street, Chinese Laundry quickly developed a fan base. Giles Coren loved it, saying in the Times; " they have done exactly what hipsters do, and they have done it brilliantly. So welcome to Chinese Laundry – Britain’s first Chinese Hipster Restaurant". And Olive magazine dubbed it "Quirky, fun and super-friendly".

  But when fire damaged the building and then squatters moved in, it was all

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• Beam cafe expands from Crouch End to Highbury's Blackstock Road

  Three times Time Out neighbourhood cafe winner Beam is coming to Blackstock Road with its quality weekend brunches and a dedicated evening menu.

• Farang is going permanent in Highbury - we catch up with Sebby Holmes to find out more...

  

  Ever since it opened early last year, the praise has flooded in for Seb Holmes's Farang in Highbury. With a background of Smoking Goat and The Begging Bowl, as well as a lot of street food under his belt Holmes brought some properly authentic Thai food to the area. 

  However - there was always the worry that it wouldn't be a permanent venture. Farang was set up on the

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