Are you a fan of people-watching? Then Jones and Sons’ courtyard is the perfect eatery for you. Located in a bustling hotspot of East London’s edgy, eclectic and sometimes outright bizarre assembly of characters and happenings. A boxing class was in full swing as we enjoyed our fluffy and moreish focaccia, topped with creamy anchovy butter; the perfect backdrop to a menu that packs quite a punch.
To start, we sat in the early evening shade and tucked into the meaty trombetta courgette salad, which was perfectly matched by a gorgeously creamy butter bean labneh. The ‘63 Degree Duck Egg’ was equally exquisite, oozing with yolk and complemented by crunchy asparagus and truffle shavings.
We finished our starters, together with the refreshingly sharp Rhubarb Sour cocktail and headed inside for the main event. Jones and Sons started life as a Victorian textile factory, its industrial past cutting through the now minimalist, contemporary design – think exposed brick and Brooklyn-style light hangings. The staff’s impressive eye for detail throughout our meal matched the sleek interiors.
The Summer Vegetable tart was beautifully presented, the accompanying braised baby gem was so buttery and delicious that it converted me from lettuce agnostic to a die-hard lettuce devotee. The White Crab pappardelle was creamy, soft and salty; it made the perfect partner to the bottle of Organic Preignes le Neuf Chardonnay we ordered. With its brightly lit, exposed kitchen in full view, the opportunity for people watching continued inside, as we observed a small battalion of chefs busy at work.
We couldn’t resist the dessert menu. Served with a dark chocolate sorbet, the Jones and Sons’ take on the Eton Mess was a totally unique one. The Bakewell Tart was an impressively remarkable reinvention of the British classic, served with pistachio, almond and lemon gelato; enjoying its rich summer flavours was the perfect finish to our late summer evening in Dalston.
Jones and Sons is rich in its food and charm. It’s not only nailed its cool and industrial aesthetic and recrafted classic European dishes, but it proved to be the perfect spot to soak in the comings and goings of a busy East London – that’s back in business 🙂
Jones & Sons
Stamford Works,
3 Gillett St, London N16 8JH
@jones.and.sons