Clara's Wine & Bistro

In East London, Clara's Deli, Wine and Bistro slips neatly between neighbourhood favourite and polished bistro, the sort of place where a simple plate and a well-poured glass speak volumes. Deli & café by day, wine bar & bistro by night.

The cooking leans European with a sunny, coastal accent. A warm wedge of manchego fritti finds lift in romesco, while mussels with samphire nod to the shoreline. There is homely pleasure in bread and butter, and a well-curated spread in a charcuterie and cheese platter, all encouraging a graze-before-you-feast rhythm that suits unhurried conversation.

Larger plates favour balance over bravado: a classic salad niçoise, thoughtfully assembled, and spiced lamb neck fillet, sweetened by sultanas with rice and a lick of burnt leek. Sides show quiet confidence, Roscoff onions bringing gentle sweetness, Pink Fir potatoes offering nutty depth - before a finale of red plum and frangipane tart or a properly dense chocolate torte.

It is relaxed yet considered, the kind of dining that feels equally right for a quick bite or a slow evening. Drop in, follow your appetite from snack to sweet, and let the conversation, and the good times, do the rest.