Frederick's

A well-used bolt-hole away from the City, readers have nothing but praise for this family-owned stalwart at the glitzier end of Islington. It’s smart but not pretentious, equally good for business & social occasions & the service is always excellent. Champagne flows in the bar at the front & the restaurant opens out into an airy conservatory & a garden oasis for alfresco dining during the summer months. The menu takes inspiration from around the world: there’s carpaccio of beef with rocket, truffle oil & parmesan, sweet chilli roast crispy duck with spring onion & cucumber, escalope of veal Holstein with sauteed potatoes, or a classic Dover sole. The global wine list is biased towards France, & mark-ups are fair. It might not be the most cutting edge of places, but Frederick’s shows that consistently high standards never go out of fashion.