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86 Highgate Road, NW5 1PB Full details & map

Restaurants & cafés

 

Time Out says   1 Users say 5/5 Rate it

Posted: Oct 31 2011

Yet another grape in the Realpubs bunch, but this one is intriguingly different - as it should be, given the company also runs the Oxford about ten minutes' walk away. Their fashionable solution is to offer around 25 cicchetti (Venetian tapas) all day, as well as a selection of starters and mains comprising classy Italian dishes and classic gastropub fare. As a result the menu is much larger than many food-minded pubs would deem sensible, but cooking from the shiny new open kitchen installed at the rear (the refurbishment works have been extensive, though decor is unfussy) is more than competent.

Highlights over a couple of visits have been the full-flavoured cicchetti of squid, tomato, chilli and garlic, and arancini (risotto fritters) filled with basil, plus a large plate of soft herb polenta served with sautéed wild mushrooms. There's a choice of around ten afters, though we suspect the ices are the pick of them. True to Realpubs style, the beers are interesting and well kept (local Camden Town Brewery pale ale is among the options) and the wine list holds some real treats. Perhaps best of all is the opportunity to sit under the elegant umbrellas of the pub's front terrace: without the red buses, you might think you were by the Mediterranean.

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Vine details

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Address

Vine

86 Highgate Road NW5 1PB

Transport Tufnell Park tube or Kentish Town tube/rail

Telephone

020 7209 0038

Vine website

Open noon-11pm Mon-Wed; noon-midnight Thur-Sat; noon-10.30pm Sun. Meals served noon-10.30pm Mon-Sat; noon-9.30pm Sun

Main courses £10.50-£18

Credit cards AmEx, MC, V

Facilities

Tables outdoors ( 20, garden; 20, terrace ), Babies and children welcome ( high chairs ), Booking advisable, Separate rooms for parties ( seating 35 ), Disabled ( toilet )

Vine map

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Comments & ratings 5/5 (Average of 1 rating)

By Cathy R - Apr 15 2012
5/5

This place is outstanding. You can choose to graze through a number of cicchetti dishes or stick to the more traditional starter / main / dessert option. Whatever route you plump for, you'll find the food here to be delicious. The menu is innovative, the ingredients of a very high quality and its all very imaginitively put together. There is a fabulous wine list and some great ales on tap too.

The refurbishment is fantastic. Unlike other gastropubs that are taken over and corners are cut by omitting to refurb toilets for example, that's not the case here. Everything has been redecorated to a very high standard and its a lovely well lit venue with a great dining room, separate bar area and fantastic outside space.

The service is really high quality too - attentive, knowledgable as well as efficient, something else you don't always get with this kind of establishment.

Whether you are coming for a casual lunch, smart dinner or private function, you will love this place.

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