Salut!

Salut! is a quietly exceptional Modern European restaurant on Essex Road in Islington, opened by German-born brothers Martin and Christoph Lange -- who also serve you themselves. Hardens recommends it as "worth discovering" for its "open kitchen that gives it a lovely and buzzy vibe" and "interesting and good value modern European cooking," while Tripadvisor ranks it among the top 400 restaurants in London out of over 20,000. The Nudge praises "casual-yet-fine-dining food, a relaxed atmosphere, and remarkably friendly service provided by the owners themselves." Islington Council licensed it for a pavement terrace on Essex Road. Time Out named it among its Top 100 Restaurants in London.

Chef Christoph Lange's cooking is ambitious and technically precise: the menu includes dishes such as tartar three ways with 45-day dry-aged shorthorn rump, wood pigeon with celeriac remoulade and pickled heritage carrots, salt marsh lamb with dauphinoise and savoy, and Paddock Farm 45-day dry-aged sirloin with kale, king oyster mushrooms and truffle pomme purée. The "Carte Blanche" set menu -- 2 courses £38, 3 courses £46 -- is one of Islington's best value fine-dining options. Sunday roast available (2 courses £35 / 3 courses £42). Dinner Tuesday to Saturday; Sunday lunch.