Brat x Climpson’s Arch

Brat’s location in a London Fields railway arch has a decidedly more casual feel than its original Shoreditch sibling. Part greenhouse, part deluxe BBQ, and part future dry-cleaning bill, there’s a relaxed attitude to this space that suits bigger groups and louder voices. The chalkboard menu of Basque-inspired dishes is largely the same—famous flatbreads, a grilled john dory, chicken rice, and cheesecake—but this restaurant feels like a very different beast. 

photo credit: Brat

Plastic chairs scrape along the tarmac floor in the main indoor-outdoor dining room, smoke billows from its grills, and the bar always seems to be shaking something. Sitting on school chairs while paying not-insignificant prices isn’t for everyone. So it’s a good thing that the back dining room is more straightforwardly comfortable. A long wooden bar, stable chairs, and the same excellent wine list are all present. The food doesn’t quite hit the heights as the original, but this restaurant feels like it's serving a different kind of crowd—and they’re just as thirsty as they are hungry.