Best Modern European Restaurants in Highbury/Islington

Lovely restaurant with an amazing staff. Nayara was very attentive with our table , Jesus bartender did a fantastic cocktail and the chefs Kilian and Enrique did an amazing ribeye .

We love going to this place and enjoy the food greatly. It’s also close to Emirates Stadium, which makes it convenient for match days. One criticism is the prices seem high generally and particularly on match days.

Our first time at Perilla for my father’s 70th. There were 2 vegans in our party of 5 and the staff were so communicative and accommodating. The set menu was modified and they remained communicative and cheerful when other amendments had to be made to the booking. The experience on entry is comfortable and welcoming. The restaurant smells fresh and alive. We were met with smiles, offers to take coats and bags and directions to our seats. There is some delightful theatre around menu and cutlery which I will not spoil in this review. A very charming birthday card was on the table. Our waitress was charming, thoughtful and patient as were all the staff we met. There was no pressure to buy extras or expensive bottles. We had the mini glasses with the taster menu and 2 non alcoholic options, that were home made and delightful. The wine pairings were wonderfully explained by the sommelier and they provided different pairing for our vegan guest which was above and beyond. The food is a sensory adventure. All cooked and prepared to perfection. Our plates were scraped clean and even the less adventurous diners in our party dived in. The restaurant was as ever busy but service remained slick without the screaming and crashing about that many popular spots have. The desert for our vegan guests became a brilliant riddle as we were challenged to guess the ingredients. Food as magic. The bill arrives in a gorgeous printed envelope with a handy division according to seats. These tiny touches are what make perilla great. You are constantly eased. We were so impressed and even though this is not cheap dining that is because it is premium dining. If you want to experience fine dining perilla delivers. The space is unpretentious but manages to transport you to a time before brexit and the fire state the UK is in. Perilla is vibrant and special. Dive in, swim about and enjoy a brief few hours of eloquent decadence and taste exploration.

Enjoyed a lovely meal at Margo’s. It’s above The Dally private members club, which looked good fun and with a nice looking bar. The restaurant is on the upper floor with a great art collection. I had Hispi cabbage, followed by Beef Short Ribs, Dauphinois - all delicious and a very generous portion size. Service was good, not too fast, not too slow and the atmosphere was nicely laid back. Definitely coming back soon.

Relaxed and highly enjoyable tasting menu experience in a beautiful space, extremely moreish flavours and warm service. Great value for high-quality creative dishes and interesting wine pairings too. Will definitely be back to try new menus!