The Clerkenwell Kitchen

An emphatically cheerful feature of the Clerkenwell lunchtime landscape, this eatery behind St James’s church bills itself as a champion of organic & ethically sourced ‘home cooking’. When the weather’s good, bag a spot on the smart decking out back – otherwise the blond-wood & bare-brick dining room is a buoyant bolthole if you fancy picking from the compact menu. Wild rabbit served with peas, bacon & charlotte potatoes or lamb chops with beetroot purée & salsa verde might fit the bill if you need to race through your lunch hour, although you can also order a pud such as blackberry fool if you have time to linger. To drink, homemade lemonade is a level-headed alternative to the line-up of wines & artisan beers. Also open for breakfast, afternoon tea & takeaways.