Islington’s Upper Street is among the most restaurant-heavy streets in the capital, with the likes of Ottolenghi, Chick ‘n’ Sours and MeatLiquor all having set up shop here. Nordic restaurant Skal has decided to get in on the action, finding its home in the Grade II-listed building which used to house Rok.
Inside, you will find a cosy, rustic-chic dining room which conjures up images of log cabins in the Nordic countryside. Exposed wooden floors, wicker chairs and a pile of logs which sit underneath the pass and power the kitchen’s grill add to the homely feel, but are juxtaposed by an industrial-style open kitchen complete with metal pendant lighting and whitewashed tiles on the walls.
When it comes to the food, you can expect to find traditional Nordic dishes which have been given modern and seasonal twists. The menu changes depending on which produce is in season, but on your visit you may come across starters such as gravlax with dill-mustard sauce, pickled cucumber and wasabi, or a plate of house-pickled vegetables to share between two.
For your main course, choose from the likes of venison meatballs with wild mushrooms, lingonberries and pickled cucumber, or maybe lightly cured and roasted cod served in a white wine sauce.
To finish up, diners can choose from a selection of traditional Nordic desserts, with options including Swedish rice pudding and a sticky chocolate cake called kladdkaka. Drinks also hail from the region, with aquavits and Nordic wines available, as well as classic cocktails that have been given a Scandi twist.
Skal is open for both lunch and dinner, and gluten-intolerant diners will be glad to know that much of Skal’s menu is free of the stuff. For those who don’t eat meat, there are also usually a few vegan options available.
Wondering about the name? Skal is the Swedish work for ‘cheers!’