45 Curtain Road

Set on its namesake stretch in East London, 45 Curtain Road is a confident ode to craft and contrast. The kitchen leans into a dialogue between Japan and Iberia, where smoke, citrus and umami weave through each dish with quiet precision.

Small plates set the tone. Smoked bonito tataki is nudged by guindilla and olive, while aonori milk bread arrives warm and ready to be torn, slathered with butter, red miso or sobrasada. The sea is given a bright, agile touch, from crystal prawn tempura with onsen tamago and togarashi to horse mackerel crudo lifted by radish, aubergine and yuzu olive oil.

Larger plates strike a balance between indulgence and restraint. A free-range Suffolk pork chop is paired with Japanese salsa, while a Rubia Gallega rib eye comes finished with ponzu and a hint of cerveza. To finish, a sly wink of jamon ice cream with sherry and yuzu olive oil, or a burnt miso and yuzu cheesecake crowned with pistachio cream.

Make a date at 45 Curtain Road and let curiosity lead the way. The rest is deliciously inevitable.