London Camden Town, King’S Cross, And Islington

If there were a word stronger than diverse, we would use it; this area of North London offers every type of cuisine, atmosphere, and price range, often all on the same street. In Camden Town, the delicious smells from the market stalls travel all the way down Camden High Street, and your hardest decision will be whether you feel like Thai, Brazilian, or Italian. If you want something more subdued, restaurants and cafes abound: Parkway, running from the Tube toward Regent’s Park, is home to tapas, Indian, and noodle bars, and Camden High and Kentish Town Road also have some good cafes. In nearby Islington, Upper Street has over 100 restaurants, with close to 200 more in the surrounding area, ranging from Turkish to French, dirt cheap to exorbitant, and boisterous to romantic. For a taste of the ungentrified, pre-yuppie Islington, head to Chapel Market, just off Liverpool St. opposite the Angel Tube station. Here you can have an English meal with all the fixings for under £3 in any of the hole-in-the-wall restaurants that line the street. Just don’t expect linen tablecloths.

Gallipoli Cafe Bistory, 102 Upper St. Gallipoli Again, 120 Upper St. (☎0207 359 1578), and Gallipoli Bazaar, 107 Upper St. (☎020 7226 5333). Angel. Three’s usually a crowd, but not with this group of tasty Upper St. eateries. In fact, they only bring the crowds. Dark walls, patterned tiles, and hanging lamp and lanterns provide the background to spectacular Lebanese, Turkish, and Mediterranean delights like hummus, falafel, kisir (simliar to tabouleh), kebab, and moussaka. Try one of the set meals for 2, which come with a selection of hot and cold appetizers (£11-15 per person). Gallipoli Cafe was the original; Gallipoli Again opened in response to its immense popularity (with the added bonus of an outdoor patio); and Gallipoli Bazaar, which sits between the other two, serves up sheesha and food in tea-room surroundings. Again and Bazaar wheelchair-accessible. Open M-Th 10:30am-11pm, F-Sa 10:30am-midnight, Su 10:30am-11pm. Reservations recommended F-Sa
Mango Room, 10-12 Kentish Town Rd. (☎020 7482 5065; www.mangoroom.co.uk), Camden Town. A neighborhood favorite that’s been around for almost a decade in an area where few restaurants last more than a year. Dark wood tables are accompanied by fine linen tablecloths and funky modern paintings. The brief but delicious menu features modern takes on Caribbean appetizers like plantain and sweet potato fritters (£7). Entrees include roast honey and ginger duck breast with potatoes and juniper berries jus (£12), or seabass, tiger prawns, and scallops with papaya sambale and fried cassava (£13). The tiny bar serves a wide array of potent tropical drinks at night. Wheelchair-accessible. Reservations recommended Sa-Su. Open daily noon-midnight
Le Mercury, 140A Upper St. Angel. This sunny, sophisticated little corner restaurant offers delicious and delightfully presented French food at extremely affordable prices. Dig into delicacies like foie gras and duck ballontine with roasted dates and slow roasted honeyed pork with granny smith apples. Perfect for a romantic date. Starters £3.50; entrees £6.50; desserts £3. Wheelchair-accessible. Open M-Sa noon-1am, Su noon-11:30pm. Dinner reservations recommended
Camden Bar and Kitchen, 102 Camden High St. (☎020 7485 2744; www.camdenbarandkitchen.com), Camden Town. By day, a sleek and funky eatery serving up Mediterranean dishes; by night a cool pre- or post-performace bar. A mixed Camden crowd of artists, students, and shoppers feast on entrees like haloumi and vegetable kebabs with pesto dressing (£8.50), free-range jerk chicken with mango salsa (£11), or spaghetti with blue swimmer crab, chili and garlic (£9.50). Also serves brunch Sa-Su until 4pm. Mixed drinks £5 per glass, £13 per pitcher. Open M-Th 10am-10:30pm, F-Sa 10am-11pm, Su 10am-10pm
Cuba Libre, 72 Upper St. (☎020 7354 9998; cubalibrelondon.co.uk), Angel. A colorful and spirited restaurant packed with Cuban character: Che’s friendly face, Havana posters, and other random kitsch abounds, accompanied by rambunctious salsa music. The menu features specialties like fried plantains and “old rags” (shredded braised beef with yuca and plantains), and also offers a selection of tapas (M-F 6 for £12). The bar in the back has some dance space and the paved terrace is perfect for outdoor revelry. Starters £6.50-7.50; entrees £12-14. Paella night M: order paella for 2 and get a bottle of wine free. Wheelchair-accessible. Happy hour M-F 5-8pm, Sa-Su noon-8pm (2 for £8.50 among the 241 different mixed drinks). Open M-Sa 10am-2am, Su 10:30am-10:30pm
Ziloufs, 270 Upper St. (☎020 726 1118; www.ziloufs.com), Angel. A marriage of Thai and Western cuisine in an atmosphere of subdued sleek. Serious dishes like rare Thai beef salad with cashews, penang curry duck with lychee and bean sprouts, or the specialty pork belly with Thai spices, are accompanied by wrought-iron tables, gold trimmings, and chandeliers. After dinner, move to one of the leather couches and enjoy DJs or live music (Th and Su). Entrees from £7. Mixed drinks £4 before 9pm. Open Tu-Th 5-10pm, F-Sa 5-11pm, Su noon-8pm. Bar open until midnight
Afghan Kitchen, 35 Islington Green Angel. This tiny restaurant sits on a busy street, but the simple decor makes it feel serene. Share wooden benches with others downstairs, or have a table to yourself upstairs. “Traditional Afghan home cooking” means manageable portions of spicy meat and vegetarian dishes with sides like daal, spinach, or yogurt; most are £5-6.50. Sides £2-3.50, yummy baklava £1. Partially wheelchair-accessible. Open Tu-Sa noon-3:30pm and 5:30-11pm
Trojka, 101 Regent’s Park Rd. (☎020 7483 3765; www.trojka.co.uk), Camden Town. The name of this restaurant and Russian tea room means “three”: an apt moniker, given the menu’s Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish influences. If you’re too broke for the sevruga caviar (£42 for 2 people), the lumpfish caviar (£10 for 2 people) does the trick. Other specialties include blintzes, borscht, smoked mackerel, beef stroganoff, schnitzel, and chicken Kiev. Coffees, teas, and homemade desserts are also served. 2-course lunch menu M-F £10, Sa-Su £8. Entrees £6-9. Live Russian music F-Sa nights. Open daily 9am-10:30pm
Pizzeria Oregano, 18-19 St. Alban’s Pl. Angel. 2 steps away but almost hidden from Upper St. A step above cafeteria-style decor is simple enough, but the wood-grilled pizzas (from £6.50) and entrees, including their specialty seafood pastas (from £9) are top-notch. Nice antipasti selection (from £5.50). Open Tu-Th 5:30-11pm, F 5:30-11:30pm, Sa 12:30-11:30pm, Su 12:30-10:30pm. MC/V over £15.

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