So, you find yourself in Islington with tickets to the Almeida Theatre, one of London’s top theatres offering some great productions with big names all within an intimate space. You do not however want to be thrown out due to your stomach rumbling throughout the performance; it would seem sensible therefore to go for a pre-theatre bite. Where then should you eat if you want decent food in pleasant surroundings in time to get to the theatre for the usual 7:30 start; without the bill scorching a hole through your pocket during the performance?
Below you will find a guide to some of the London Food Review’s favourite pre/post-theatre eating spots within a short walk of Almeida Street.
ALMEIDA
Address - 30, Almeida Street, London. N1 1AD
Cuisine: French
Telephone: 0207 354 4777
Though I have gone off the Almeida’s a la carte menu and find the décor a little dull, if going to the Almeida Theatre then the restaurant opposite is hard to beat. For £15.95 you get well executed French food, decent enough service and a tidy dining room. Being literally 5 seconds walk from the theatre means you can leave dining until that little later and the staff are always able to get you on your way in good time. Not the finest restaurant in London however reliable food, the price and sheer convenience combine to make it somewhere to return to time after time for pre/post-theatre.
FREDRICK'S
Address: Camden Passage, Islington, London. N1 8EG.
Cuisine: Modern EuropeanTelephone: 0207 359 2888
Just off Upper Street you will find a delightful restaurant called Fredrick’s only a few minutes from the Almeida Theatre. The dining room is beautiful, the main part sitting beneath a high faulted glass roof; a pleasure to sit in at any time of year but especially in the summer months. The a la carte is not particularly cheap however they do offer a great pre-theatre menu. The three or four options for each course are a fine selection of modern European; with interesting takes on classic flavours and all executed with skill. With the wine list providing a reasonable selection at the lower end it makes Fredrick’s one of the most lavish places to go in the area for fine dining in time for the theatre – it certainly offers a little bit of something for everyone.
LE MERCURY
Address: 40A, Upper Street. London. N1 1QY.
Cuisine: French
Telephone: 0207 354 408
Sitting on the corner of Almeida Street and Upper Street Le Mercury is also within spitting distance of the theatre. The food is French and unlike the other places that we are recommending you don’t have to eat off a set menu. The selection is considerable often having at least 8 starters and 8 mains to choose from. The cooking is unlikely to blow your socks off however it is tasty, comes out quickly and the house wine is very well priced – with all this on offer it really is a bargain.
GALLIPOLI CAFE / BISTRO
Address: 102, Upper Street, London. N1 1QP
Cuisine: Turkish & Lebanese
Telephone: 0207 359 0630
They must be doing something right at Gallipoli as one of the most difficult things about eating there is finding the right one, thanks to its popularity the owners have opened two further restaurants within a stone’s throw all with pretty much the same name. Its popularity is however well deserved. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and there are a number of set menus to choose from on top of the a la carte; a selection of 12 meze for £11.50 certainly isn’t over the top. This is a great place to share a few small plates before popping down the road to the theatre. The staff are friendly and helpful – Gallipoli is a sure-fire way to start your evening out with enjoyable, reasonably-priced food.
Sea Fish - 205 Upper Street, London. N1 1RQ.
Cuisine: Fish & Chips
Telephone: 0207 354 0276
Deal: £8 - £10 for fish and chips.
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, however a few moments walk from the Almeida Theatre you will find Sea Fish, which is little more than a fish & chip shop. That said it is very good fish and chips, served in a pleasant and lively environment with decent, albeit eclectic at times, music and to top it off it is bring your own – though with a recently introduced corkage fee of £2.50. For many Sea Fish would tick all the boxes for a pre/post-theatre bite and with it being byo you can have a bottle of something a little better than usual; why not have a reasonable bottle of champagne and even with corkage you aren’t getting near the prices of a ‘cheap’ bottle in a more upmarket restaurant. There is certainly a time and a place for Sea Fish and with the right company one of those times could certainly be before a theatre trip.
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