With a website spewing cheesy philosophies like “unleash your inner rascal” and a ‘waterproof’ private dining room which comes complete with super-soakers, we were ready for Rascals to be a case of gimmick over substance, but were (for the most part) pleasantly surprised. Next door to adult ball-pit bar Ballie Ballerson, this casual sister restaurant is decked out in hues of millennial pink and rows of house plants, while the kitchen turns out a selection of globally-inspired small plates. Top shouts include the velvety mushroom risotto pepped up with intensely-flavoured truffle and a dollop of creamy parmesan foam, and the deeply smoky duck lightened by a peach purée and shreds of smoked white cabbage. A melting chocolate sphere for pudding was more run-of-the-mill, but Rascals pulls it back with a fun list of cocktails (Shisho Fine, Tonka the Plonka) and a strong selection of wines. Identity struggles aside (Rascals serves stylish, on-trend small plates alongside scratch cards that instruct you to start Mexican waves), this is a worthwhile destination for the Shoreditch crowd – and if you’re really brave, there’s always the ball pit for some after dinner entertainment.