"Leaving dinners can be impossible situations with big groups. Which is why, sometimes, you just need to make sure everyone eats well, and accept that some catch ups will happen over a pint later on. Bubala is the perfect restaurant for when everyone is happy to be locked into a superb (and generous) vegetarian meal for £30 a head. The food - from bread, to dips, to a date and black syrup ice cream - at this lowkey Spitalfields restaurant is delicious, and it’s well placed when you’re looking for somewhere to go onto for drinks once you’re done." - jake missing, rianne shlebak