Paradise Garage

The Dairy goes East

Paradise Garage

Bethnal Green is slowly turning into a trendy food and drink hub, first we had the fine dining sensation The Typing Room in the Town Hall Hotel, then the hipster wine bar Mission and now Paradise Garage, the latest restaurant opened by Robin Gill, the founder behind one of the most talked about  London restaurants, The Dairy. Robin is known for using prime British ingredients and its own garden herbs. The format of the menu at Paradise Garage is very similar to The Dairy, with a tasting menu and the usual a la carte option. Located under a train bridge with an open spaced kitchen and cocktail bar.

bread, smoked whisky butter and salumi

Cornish crab, kohlrabi, apple and grilled lemon

grilled sweetcorn, hemp seed and savoury

salt cod brandade, squid ink, shellfish crisp

clams, courgettes, herb oil

artichokes, padron peppers, fresh curd, chilli salsa

We went for the tasting menu and in The Dairy fashion, it started off with a selection of snacks, salt cod brandade with squid ink's mild saltiness and creaminess made it a very good savoury dish to start off the meal. Charred mackerel with smoked cod roe was a very robust dish with a great depth of meaty and creamy tastes, the pickles gave this dish a high contrast in flavour and coolness. Both the meat courses were top class, the venison haunch was so rich and moist with just a tiny bit of earthiness which worked so well with the mushroom and salty flavour from the miso. The Welsh lamb rump on the other hand was super tender with a good arrangement of classic garnishes such as cabbage and peas, all cooked to a very high standard.

charred mackerel, smoked cod roe, pickles, rice cracker

Welsh lamp rump, sweetbread, cabbage, peas, preserved lemon

venison haunch, mushrooms, chard, miso and hazelnuts

cucumber sorbet, melon and basil

white chocolate, strawberries, raspberry, lemon verbena

Innis and Gunn beer, blackberries and almonds

My evening at Paradise Garage totally lived up to my expectations, plenty of fresh flavours and good ingredient combinations, all nicely presently in a simple and eye catching way. Sometimes less is really more, the cooking isn't overly complicated or trying too hard and The Dairy/ Paradise Garage's formula is just spot on, in fact I think it is one of the very best modern British restaurants in the East End and I would highly recommend it if you live in East London but are seeking a quality trendy restaurant without wanting to travel to central London. 

Food 3.5/5

Head chef: 
Simon Woodrow

What I paid: 
£51 pp 

Average cost without drinks and services:
£45 pp tasting menu

254 Paradise Row, London E2 9LE