This new Islington ‘French restaurant with a twist’ has another surprise up its sleeve – or up some stairs to be precise. As a dinky stand-alone lounge, it also promotes ‘design cocktails’ at £8.50
– although the ‘design’ element seemingly consists of tinkering with classic recipes; hence Bolly Mary (curry-infused vodka, carrot and orange juice) and ‘espresso martini’ (fine, if you fancy
gingerbread syrup and Southern Comfort in the mix). Elsewhere, prosaic offerings such as sex on the beach and planter’s punch are unlikely to attract forward thinkers in search of the next big
thing. The decor suggests a hip destination (think 60s pop art and tables fashioned from squat, sawn-through wooden casks), although the line-up of basic wines, London Pride at £4.60, workaday
snacks (wasabi peanuts, mixed dried fruits and masala powder) and assorted cheese/charcuterie boards may suggest otherwise.