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ItalianShoreditch
Jonathan Lawson's Italian-leaning dining room on Rivington Street in Shoreditch London, opened 2017, runs hand-rolled pasta, North African accents.
OrderWhatever fresh pasta is on, and the Sicilian-spiced lamb if it's on the night.
TipCounter seats wrap the open kitchen. Walk-up only at the counter; tables book a week ahead through their site.
££££
Modern EuropeanShoreditch
Owen Kenworthy's Modern European dining room on Columbia Road in Shoreditch London, opened 2010, runs a daily-changing menu of small plates.
OrderHouse charcuterie board, then whatever offal main is on the night.
TipBest on a Sunday after the Columbia Road flower market closes at 14:00; the kitchen runs to 17:00.
££££
Modern EuropeanHackney
Max Rocha's solo Cafe Cecilia by Regent's Canal in Hackney London opened 2021. Modern European plates with Anglo-Irish notes, drawing on River Cafe and St.
OrderWhatever fish course is on, with the Guinness bread to start and a bottle from the natural-wine list.
TipBook Wed-Sun on Resy; lunch and dinner slots release a week ahead. Saturday brunch is the quieter door.
££££
CafeWestminster
The 1946 Westminster greasy spoon on Regency Street in London, white-tiled formica-tabled cafe, runs the canonical London full English at the counter.
OrderThe full English with white bloomer toast, plus a mug of strong tea.
TipCash and contactless. Closed Sundays and Saturday afternoons. The 09:00 queue is film-crew familiar.
££££
ItalianShoreditch Spitalfields
The Pellicci family's 1900 east-London cafe on Bethnal Green Road, Grade-II listed for the 1946 marquetry interior, runs a daily Italian-British greasy spoon.
OrderThe full English with extra fried bread, and a slice of their housemade lasagna.
TipCash and card; closed Sundays. Queue runs out the door on Saturday morning. The interior is the listed treasure.
££££
Sourdough PizzaHackney
Dan's 48-hour-fermented sourdough pizza counter on Upper Clapton Road in east London, opened 2013, runs a six-site Sodo group focused on seasonal toppings.
OrderMargherita on the 48-hour base, plus a chalkboard daily special with whichever in-season vegetable.
TipWalk-up only at Clapton; the Bethnal Green, Hoxton, Walthamstow, Hammersmith and Deptford siblings take Resy bookings.