Rawduck

We’re pretty sure Hackney Council stipulated several years ago that each restaurant that opened in the area had to have a ‘thing’, whether it was heritage grain tasting menus, or vegan fake-meat tacos.

Rawduck’s thing is pickling and fermentation - the normcore of the food world - and it’s been wrapped up into an attractive all-day neighbourhood restaurant close to Hackney Central. The good news is that the experimentation has been added seamlessly into the menu of tasty, Mediterranean small plates. So, think some Middle Eastern labneh (yoghurt) with a lamb dish, or some fermented soy chilli sauce to accompany a plate of fried chicken. The brunch is a staple and despite its popularity, it always feels nicely laid back. Hit it at the weekend or for a casual dinner with a few friends during the week.