Malina

Polish-food aficionados might recognise Beata Murphy & Jola Pinchard as the team once behind South Kensington veteran Daquise, & this delightful restaurant is their latest venture. Malina (‘raspberry’ in Polish) is a labour of love. Its homely interior combines bare-wood tables with cream wooden panelling, red lampshades & cute motifs of raspberries. Refreshingly, you can avoid stodge here; lighter, more modern dishes include herring tartare on pumpernickel bread, & clear beetroot soup with wild-mushroom stuffed tortellini. In contrast, mains can be uncompromisingly hearty. Pork knuckle braised in beer with sauerkraut & roast potatoes will keep you full until Christmas. The eponymous fruit rules the dessert list. Opt for raspberry soufflé, or meringue with amaretto cream, toasted almonds & raspberry sauce, followed, perhaps, by Polish mead or a shot of vodka.