Vinoteca King's Cross

Sip a pre-prandial sherry while you survey the convex bar, bulging forth to welcome you in from King’s Cross – the fifth outpost from wine wonders Vinoteca. Sit near the open kitchen for a glimpse at what's to come or punt for a table near the in-house wine shop and enjoy enthusiastic chatter from clued-up staff. Stylish wood and tables sans clothes tell you you’re in smart casual territory and groups of post-work drinkers coexist nicely alongside date-night duos. The menu comes with a selection of smartly-chosen wines and there's an extensive list for the curious. Start with crispy spiced Cornish squid, paired with a cava to cut through the creamy aioli before settling in to glorious steak bavette with a stack of enormous golden brown chips – crispy, salty and fluffy in the middle. Whole mackerel with piquant pickled vegetables is a light delight but you should ruin your diet with panna cotta and rhubarb – poached in pink moscato, of course.