Please note, Foxlow Stoke Newington is now closed. Time Out Food & Drink Editors, January 2017.
‘Your friendly neighbourhood restaurant,’ says Foxlow’s website – and the founders of the hugely successful Hawksmoor chain have shown serious savvy opening in this particular neighbourhood. Rich with affluent locals but surprisingly sparse on really good restaurants, Stoke Newington is the perfect spot for the second Foxlow.
It’s set over two floors and its straightforwardly handsome midcentury style is very stylish indeed – the walls are in austerity shades, and there are various period prints and objets d’art dotted around.
It has one of those menus on which everything looks appealing and makes you think: how hard can it be, this restaurant lark? It’s a bit trendy (shortrib with kimchi, fried chicken), a bit comforting (poblano chilli macaroni cheese) and quite a lot meaty, which is hardly a surprise given the owners’ pedigree – there’s a burger, dry-aged steaks, charcuterie.
Service is unpretentious, efficient and pally; the drinks are great, covering simple cocktails, local craft beers and refillable bottles of wine from Borough Wines. A fine place that we could see working like a charm in many neighbourhoods.