Crouch End
Arocaria Taverna,
48c The Broadway (corner of Weston Park) 0181 340 0580 - Friendly, uncomplicated, meat oriented Greek food. They have a great balcony upstairs, excellent for evening dining, overlooking the lights and sights of Crouch End

Banners,
21 Park Road, tel: 0181 292 0001 - One of our favourites. The food is usually good, it's still a lot of fun and a cool place to hang out; the music and the cocktails are great, we usually enjoy ourselves here. However, service can be more slack than laid back.

BarBella,
1 Park Road, tel: 0181 348 5609 - Owned by Mr PizzaBella. American style, good value. Some love it, some are less enthusiastic. Tables small and close together. Cheerful, noisy and crowded, but looking a bit tired now.

Le Bistro
36 The High Street Hornsey N8 tel:0181 340 2116 - Good classic French cooking at reasonable prices. At present you can just walk in, but it hâs become very popular, so it may soon be necessary to book.

BoomBar,
18 Crouch End Hill tel 0181 340 4539 - Open all day and evening. South African run, wide variety of freshly made food delicious, different and not too expensive. Try the Jambalaya or the South African specialities like Lamb Bobote. Decent wine list too. Last guest visit June 97, still excellent. Booking advisable esp. Saturday night

Boom'Rang,
298 Park Road, 0181 352 9372 - The Australian branch of Boombar, it's run with the same easy going efficiency which has made the Boombar such a success. And yes, they do serve kangaroo, along with other aussie delights.

Le Bouzy Rouge,
Despite the French name, this wine bar is Greek run. Decent, uncomplicated food in pleasant surroundings.

Le Cadre,
10 Priory Rd, N8 tel: 0181 348 0606 - Listed in the Good Food Guide, top quality french restaurant, an excellent alternative to Florians for that special night out.

Le Cafe Rouge,
66, Crouch End Hill tel:0181 340 2121 - A branch of a successful chain of "French" Bar/Restaurants, taken over by Whitbreads July 96. Comfortable, well designed and decorated, professional service, newspapers to read. Order carefully, because everything, including bread and vegetables is extra. Crouch End has more interesting (and cheaper) places.

Cafe Solo,
Recently opened by the proprietor of La Bota, good value for money

Charlie's Pizza,
12 High Street Hornsey N8 - 6pm-11pm Closed Mondays, but open Bank Holidays. This place was recommended by an Italian friend, she says it's the only local place that really reminds her of Italy. Decent food, wide choice, generous portions, charming service, reasonable prices. Two courses, plus coffee and wine came to £11 per head, without service.

Dragon,
8, Park Road. tel 0181 348 6904 - Delicious and unusual Eastern dishes, as well as the familiar "Chinese Restaurant" food. Usually good value, good service, lovely food, but on our last visit  the service was offhand and the food unimpressive.

Fiction,
60 Crouch End Hill, tel 0181 340 3403 - Opened May 97 on the site of the Crouch End Book Shop of blessed memory, hence the name. First visit revealed teething troubles, but they are well into their stride now and we had a wonderful meal there in July 97. This is Crouch End's only completely vegetarian restaurant. At present it's excellent value, but prices might rise when they become better known. Closed for lunch, Dinner every evening from 7pm except Monday.

Florians,
4 Topsfield Parade 0181 348 8348 - Wine Bar, but also serious Italian food, this is Crouch End's gastronomic best. Imagination, skill, service and ambiance but expect to pay at least £20 per head in the restaurant. In the Good Food Guide. Like many local restaurants, they also do a fixed price menu, in the bar, usually about £6 for two courses and coffee, which is great value. Best to book ahead on Fridays and Saturdays if you can.

The Happy House,
Chinese Restaurant. Tottenham Lane - We tried this place for the first time in July 95, although it has been there for 15 years. Quiet, family run, peaceful atmosphere, delicious food, good value.

Honeymoon,
33 Park Road. tel 0181 341 5113 - Specialises in Peking Cuisine, pretty good. Their fixed price buffet is especially good value.

The Jade Place,
Very good; the fixed price menu is exceptional value. The buffet is usually decorated with various root vegetables carved into herons and lotus flowers. Last guest visit April 97 reported still excellent

Jenny's Burgers,
Basically for children: chicken nuggets, burgers, milkshakes, etc. However, it is quite cheap and they do serve decent coffee

La Bota,
31 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, tel 0181 340 3082 - Mon-Fri 12-3; 6-11.30 Sat & Sun Open All Day. Tapas Bar where you can have a regular full meal, or choose a few tapas. We found five tapas enough for a good meal for two, and with wine, dessert and a glass of port each the bill came to £30 for two. We really enjoyed this place - although desserts unimpressive & service can be slow. Last visit June 96.

L,Amico,
Crouch End Hill, recently shut - but watch this space....

Oboe,
29 Park Road. 0181 348 5774 - We don't know why this place is not more crowded, perhaps because its eclectic menu's hard to classify. It certainly deserves a visit: friendly and with a wide selection of freshly cooked, original food: including modern British & vegetarian. Good selection of Belgian beers.

O's Thai Cafe,
10 Topsfield Parade tel: 0181 348 6898 - Opened July 97. Weâve been twice and the food is delicious and inexpensive. Crouch End has lacked a Thai restaurant until now and Oâs has been popular from the word go. They offer an early eater discount of 10%: (seated 6.30-7.30, table cleared by 8.30) Be prepared to wait for a table sometimes

Penang Penang,
45 Topsfield Tottenham Lane 0181 340 5247- Lovely Malaysian restaurant, good food, good value.

Pizza Bella,
4, Park Road - Usually excellent and good value, especially the lunch menu. Can get crowded Friday and Saturday nights. Very child friendly: children get free balloons, crayons, pictures to colour and special menu items, but there is lots of good, grown up food as well.

Satay Malaysia,
10 Crouch End Hill 0181 340 3286 - Singapore/Malay food, delicious and good value.

Shamrat of India,
Tottenham Lane - Another good, North Indian Restaurant, this is where Bob Dylan eats when he records in Crouch End. The cooking and presentation are a little more refined and the decor more pleasing than most. The wallpaper has been admired (and indeed up) for many years.

Wisteria Tea Rooms,
Middle Lane - One of the best in London. Only open during the day, but wonderful selection of teas, coffees, snacks and savouries (like Welsh Rarebit) and home made cakes. On sunny days you can eat in the garden and the whole place is non smoking. Open 11-6, closed Mondays.

The World Cafe,
130 Crouch Hill tel 0181 340 5635 - Chic cafe on Crouch Hill serving snacks and delicious, elegant main meals. Opposite Eurythmicsâ recording studios, so good place for star spotting. Best cappuccino in Crouch End, Mon-Sat 9.30am-11pm, Sun 9.30am-10.30pm.

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