Dalston isn't short of a cool bistro or two, and Side Piece joins the ranks nicely. Its name comes from being a side piece, literally, to the original site, Dan's, on Tottenham Court Road. While Dan's is a wine shop and bar, managed by Natty Boy Wines aka Parched who are known for finding the best natural wines across the globe, Side Piece leans more into the gastro side of things. Here, there's space to sit down, relax and - yes - enjoy a glass or three of wine, but also indulge in some small sharing plates to go alongside.
The vibe is design-focused with an aesthetic blend of warm-toned woods, simple furniture, artfully placed books and wax-covered candle holders. It's the kind of place you'll want to take a snap of for social media. The dishes sound pretty picture worthy, too. Smaller apetisers include marinated olives, barrel-aged feta and aubergine whip with pitta. Larger plates might look like tropea, courgette and black eyed bean salad, alongside lemon and herb chicken wings, and spanakopita flowers. We're into the sound of the seasonal desserts, like fresh, sweet strawberries and cream with a drop of ouzo. Options change regularly and are shown on a traditional blackboard displayed on the wall, which brings a nice, old fashioned feel to the place.
Side Piece has an intimate atmosphere and with not a huge space to work with, it gets cosier as the night continues. It's the kind of place you'll want to bring a date or best friend for a catch up, not a huge group or team night out with colleagues. So far, reserving a spot ahead isn't possible, but keep an eye out for booking online in the future which might make it a little easier to snag a seat.