8 Hoxton Square

Have been here twice now and both times have been very impressed. Friendly staff, good service, exceptional food, lovely décor. Great menu (food and wine), and food is very well executed. Last night I had the risotto with porcini mushrooms, girolles and burrata. The burrata is such a stroke of genius, worked perfectly with the dish. My husband had venison haunch with mash, carrots, and shallots. Both were great. We also got a good wine recommendation from the waiter and he didn’t try to upsell us, just suggested something that was exactly along the lines of what we were looking for. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Clearly looking at the reviews below I should have come for brunch.
I was drawn to it because it is the sister restaurant to 10 Greek Street which is always a good place.
Was surprised that it wasn’t overly packed on a Friday eve, but just as well. Tasty dishes, good wine, decent service and a relaxing but good vibe. I’d say I am a fan, although food-​wise all was good but nothing blew my mind.

Le «borough» d’Hackney fut un peu un quartier à la réputation sulfureuse mais actuellement en pleine renaissance ou l’on peut y sortir le soir en toute sécurité avec des rues qui abondent de commerces et de pubs. Un arrondissement qui d’ailleurs inclut l’autre quartier très en vogue en ce moment de Shoreditch où se trouve un nombre impressionnant de tables modernes et inspirées. On pourrait même parler de «petite ville dans la ville «car l’ambiance y est conviviale et où il fait bon vivre si l’on recherché quelque chose de plus alternatif. Au cœur de Hackney, l’un des plus anciens squares de la ville, le «Hoxton Square «construit en1683. Initialement un endroit plutôt industriel qui depuis les années 90 s’est reconverti en un emplacement où passablement de galeries d’art et d’endroits à la mode comme bars et restaurants ont trouvés des locaux adaptés.
C’est donc simplement au numéro 8 de cette place que se trouve dans une ancienne maison victorienne, le «8 Hoxton Square «. Une de ces nouvelles tables de Shoreditch dont la réputation se fait de bouche à oreille mais qui n’est pas si inconnue que cela car les propriétaires sont ceux du réputé «10 Greek Street «, autre table connue mais dans le quartier de Soho.
Une plus ou moins nouvelle table qui est arrivé à associer dans un lieu plutôt décontracté, une cuisine actuelle de qualité, une carte de vins originale et un service jeune sans chichi mais de grande efficacité. Une cuisine qualifiée de «Européenne moderne «car on y retrouvera passablement de références à des ingrédients méditerranéens mais tout en conservant les base de la cuisine britannique comme on l’aime quand bien préparée, à savoir rassurante et gourmande.
Une petite terrasse où quelques personnes dinent mais l’intérieur restera plus attirant surtout par une soirée un peu fraiche comme celle-​ci.
La salle type brasserie est plutôt de taille réduite avec des murs de briques apparentes, une banquette sur l’un des côtés et un ensemble de tables de type bistrot avec des chaises qui pourraient rappeler celles des anciennes écoles. Un éclairage légèrement industriel pour apporter une touché très contemporaine à l’ensemble.
Sur ces murs, de grandes ardoises avec la carte du jour mais qui vous sera également proposée sur papier.
La carte qui change quotidiennement et qui d’ailleurs est mise à jour sur leur site internet proposera un choix de plats plutôt limité mais également étudié afin de contenter tout un chacun. Des influences espagnoles, italiennes mais aussi britanniques. Le chef Cameron Emirali chaque jour propose des plats de saison en s’inspirant de quelques classiques mais souvent fortement revisités.
Sur les tables en bois, une carafe d’eau et un excellent pain type focacia vous seront apportés avant de passer commande.
Je choisirai le poulpe, pomme de terre et n’duja. A priori on pourrait s’imaginer retrouver dans son assiette un poulpe à la galicienne mais l’assiette a complètement été repensée. Le poulpe est parfaitement grillé, magnifiquement tendre. La pomme de terre est traitée de manière plutôt inhabituelle car elle n’est pas simplement cuite à l’eau mais préparée comme un gratin ou plutôt un ensemble de très fines lamelles de pommes de terre confites. Association parfaite apportant une touché presque caramélisée à l’ensemble. La touché pimentée traditionnelle fumée a été transformée en une intelligente préparation également pimentée mais réalisée avec le n’duja qui est l’un des plus célèbres produits de Calabre. Il s’agit d’un saucisson piquant à tartiner, à base de viande de porc et de piment. Le nom de cette spécialité provenant du mot français «andouille «. Une entrée vraiment gourmande et presque innovante.
En plat principal, je choisirai un met classique, le bœuf noir gallois, fleurs de brocoli et anchois. Classique dans la préparation mais la particularité étant la viande. Une viande très réputée pour pour la qualité gustative de sa chair. Issu de troupeaux importés avant l’ère romaine, le «black «est robuste et trapu et paît sur des terres à faible rendement tout au long de l’année. Sa viande naturellement persillée se caractérise par sa tendresse et la profondeur de son goût qui en font la favorite des critiques gastronomiques comme des restaurateurs. Le problème avec un tel plat c’est si la viande n’est pas parfaite, cela né restera qu’un morceau de viande avec quelques légumes… Malheureusement ce morceau par malchance né tient pas ses promesses. Problème de bête ou probablement de rassissement. Le même plat avec une viande plus tendre aurait été parfait. Pour accompagner une sauce à base de beurre, herbes et zestes d’orange.

A lovely little restaurant in Hoxton Square that serves Tapas style dishes and sufficient breakfast choices. Although a la carte mains are also available. The menu seems to be seasonal.
Quiet ambience and attentive staff. They also do a kitchen table which certainly requires a revisit!

I was recommended to try this place and it turned out to be the perfect location for my weekend brunch needs… but it’s also great for an evening hang-​out after work.
The 411:
— Super friendly staff that sets the tone for the establishment.
— Amazing food. Just what you need for brunch… good food to take you until early dinner (seriously was full till dinner).
— Perfect location to start your day with a nice paper, good view of Hoxton square. Or even better after work with some friends.
— Known for their awesome service, that it’s also rented out for special parties/​engagements.

If LFM had a score for effort, 8 Hoxton Square would get maximum marks. Their brunch menu was creative and the chefs seemed to make everything from scratch; from breads to all components of their ‘Shakshuka baked eggs, labneh & dukkah’ dish. Buttermilk waffles with vanilla cream & blood orange were executed well as was their take on the old scotch egg. Our only complaint were the teeny sized cups used to serve coffee.
The venue is cosy and tables close to one another so not great for more than one buggy. High chairs were provided and staff even offered to warm up baby’s bottle without us asking!

Both meals I’ve had here have been completely faultless. Everything from service to ambience has been completely on point, not to mention the food; the first time, I had a fantastic bollito misto which was delicious down to the last bite. The second, we had lamb shank wrapped in pancetta which was equally wonderful and served with sprouting broccoli.
Service both times has been excellent and they go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience, and the fact you can book makes it fantastically convenient. Likewise, the location in Hoxton is out of the way of the main Shoreditch drag and is a great little bonus. This has become my go-​to restaurant for leisurely and casual dinners every day of the week.

Great kitchen, great wine list, attentive and lovely service. This is one of my «go-​to» places in London.
Fabulous place to go for that trendy/​something more vibe, without wanting to enter the arena of über-​chic, self-​consciously cool. Vibe is generally chilled, with people who just like good food and wine, w slightly artisanal feel. Enjoyed some of the best modern British cuisine I’ve ever had here.
Like to go here for dinners, lunches and coffee. Lovely outside space facing out onto the square.
Try their sister resto, 10 Greek Street, too. This is my fav though since at 10GS there is simply less space for the no. of heads, so you can end up feeling like you’re really jostling for space there.

Fantastic food with a mediterranean/​spanish tinge to the cuisine, reasonably priced, and nice casual atmosphere. They also have a really nice, long list of wines that they pour by the glass. We had:
Beet and goat curd salad. Solid, though much like the beet and goat cheese salads that you could find anywhere these days.
Grilled prawns with bottarga and raddish-​buttermilk slaw. This was outstanding. The bottarga added a rich nuttiness to the lightly charred prawns, and the slaw was exceptional. This is one I’d like to recreate if I can get my hands on some bottarga.
Swiss chard malfatti with brown butter and sage. This also was amazing. The malfatti are little cloud-​like chard and ricotta balls. A pleasure to eat. And the sage was toasted into these delicate little crisps that popped with flavor.
Whole plaice with clams, baby turnips, and capers. This one was fine but not as remarkable as the prawns or malfatti. BTW, for Americans out there, plaice is a flat delicate white fish reminiscent of sole.

Awful service. Mediocre food for expense. I really can’t highlight how rude the waitress was to us, I only hope she was hungover and that wasn’t what she thought of as acceptable behaviour towards people paying her. Never have we felt less bad about not tipping.

Went for brunch hungover on Sunday morning. Food was ok. Service was so rude I couldn’t quite believe it. When not being rude they loitered a long way from all the customers. When you bring us the wrong drinks, it’s not our fault. When we order coffee it’s nice to supply sugar. When we ask for the bill it’s nice to let us pay it without complaining you’ve had to do basic maths in your head.

Well isn’t this lovely? The food was all delicious and not too overpriced considering the area. I arranged a little birthday dinner for my partner here (little by necessity as their largest table seats 8).
Everyone was very impressed with the food and the waiter was super excited that my partner didn’t have a clue that some of his friends would be here. He even put a candle in his dessert which is more than I did.
So why not 5 stars? It’s tough but the aforementioned 8 person table was located downstairs and called the kitchen table. Really it should be called the under the stairs table. Some people also sat at the ‘bar’ that overlooks the kitchen and waiting on us became a little difficult. It was too cramped that food had to be passed along the table to get to the other end. Also, after we arrived we all started crying — something from the kitchen was getting into our eyes and making them stream. It lasted about 15 minutes and I was ready to leave but it passed and a lovely evening was had from then on.
I’ll definitely go back as the food was delicious but hopefully the next visit will be slightly less cramped and tearful.

Easily recommendable!
With so many new restaurants in London popping up, it’s often hard to repeat a place when there’s always 10 others you’ve been wanting to try. Which is why it’s a testament to how great 8 hoxton square is that I’ve been thrice in 2 months. And each time it followed a similar pattern — someone from out of town asking me to pick a restaurant. I came the first time and was so impressed that it seems to have become my default safe spot.
Atmosphere:
My only gripe is that it can be noisy inside and the tables are a little too close for comfort. Otherwise it features a lot of wood generally in a cozy yet modern fashion. Nice little outdoor area as well.
Food:
Amazing! The menu only has about 10 items but changes regularly and each of the times I went was different enough that it felt completely new. In my mind, the dishes ranges from quite nice to omfgwow and I think with such a limited choice, you can rest assured that each will be executed to a reasonably high standard. Highlights on my last trip were the beef ragu and the lamb.
Others:
Service is always great. Wine list is superb and very well priced — they have an impressive array of wines by the glass. Overall the place is also very good value and I always leave feeling that it could easily have cost more (another reason to keep going back!).
I’ve actually yet to try 10 Greek Street because they don’t take reservations but with 8 Hoxton Square now open (and being much nearer where I live), I don’t feel the need.

Hangover Sunday. You wake up, force yourself to take a shower and along the way, you give yourself a little scare by looking in the mirror. You look like you’ve had a rough night. You indeed had…
In. Need. Of. Breakfast. Now. So badly. Perhaps even a Bloody Mary?
The 8 Hoxton Square is EXACTLY what you need!
You would hardly notice this restaurant in the square, which is a shame as you deserve to experience this place: Perfect Eggs Benedict; lovely, tasty toast (what’s that seasoning? Ooooh do tell me!); delicious banana bread, freshly homemade lemonade and the mandatory Bloody Mary or Mimosa. The portions are perfect for me, not so overwhelming huge that you overeat and feel like a stuffed animal after leaving the venue and they have healthy options! The ‘good’ fats from avocado and salmon, mixed with wholewheat bread and have I mentioned the perfect Eggs Benedict already? Fresh spinach (to get your inner motor up and running again) or a full on English Breakfast for champions. They also chance the menu every so-​and-​so weeks so they stay interesting and they have a cute little terrace in the front. And, now this is just hearsay, apparently they also do exquisite dinner… Just saying’…
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Mrs. C for recommending this place! Truly a fantastic brunch and I actually already made reservations for when I’m back next week. Will tell you all about dinner then — stay tuned!

…and weekend BREAKFAST?!
Let me tell you — breakfast is a sad sack over here in Hoxton Square. Bill’s is quite possibly the worst (seriously, I’m done with them). Breakfast Club always with a que around the block.
And now, there is my haven 8 Hoxton Square serving breakfast 10 – 1230 weekends. My heart sings. I jump for joy. There is a patio. There is salt beef hash with duck egg. There is a fresh garden omelette. And a killer WAFFLE! Coffees! Bloody Marys! My god, someone pinch me. Or don’t. I’m full.
So fresh. So flavorful. Great service (again) and I’ll be here on the regular.
Please stay open. Please stay open. Please stay open. Please stay open. Forever and ever, amen.