Restaurants

Set on a bland stretch of modern, residential Hoxton, not five minutes from the square itself, the on-site restaurant of the Oriental School of Catering is smarter and sassier than its institutional appearance first suggests. Attentive, all-in-black student waiting staff promptly present you with the limited lunch-only menu (£5.40 mains; £7.25 with a soup and accompaniment), which is changed every six months. You'll find Indonesian satay chicken, stir-fry Vietnamese beef and Malaysian mee goreng – concocted by the all-in-white student chefs in the long, open, central kitchen. Our meal was well presented and tastier than expected at such a price. There's also an underused bar area for a crafty glass of draught Cobra. Most visits are swift and functional.

Time Out Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007