Elk in the Woods

Stray from the hard-edged bustle of Upper Street & into shaded Camden Passage to hunt out Elk in the Woods. On weekend mornings, well-to-do wanderers take a break from the street’s antique shops to queue for posh breakfast food, such as duck egg with asparagus or pancakes with baked pears, goats’ yoghurt & maple syrup. Lunchtime could bring an equally fancy sandwich, while bookable dinners see an interesting range of meats (from rare-breed pork & fennel sausage to skewered quails with plum ketchup) alongside fish pie or a salad of farro (crunchy wheat grains), pomegranate & feta. Minimalist, with mad touches, the two-roomed interior features rough-hewn wooden walls adorned with skull-&-antler displays, psychedelic forest wallpaper, concrete & brick. Drinkers have a choice of beers, racy cocktails (from cucumber martinis to Venezuelan hot toddy) & a few wines by the glass. Staff match the stylish surroundings, but can be offhand.