Ottolenghi Spitalfields

"As well as Dumpling Shack, there are also a load of other restaurants and mini-kitchens where you can sit in at the bar or take away food in Old Spitalfields Market. There are plenty of top options, from Yum Bun’s hard-to-resist pillowy bao to Fen Noodles—the hand-pulled noodle offshoot of Dumpling Shack—and it’s a real destination for lunch or a casual, quick dinner." - jake missing, rianne shlebak

"Shakshuka  Shakshuka never fails to result in a smile and a tomato stain down our shirts that we dutifully blame on not having had enough coffee. Let’s focus on the former and leave the latter to Vanish, shall we? A good morning medley of spices, onions, labneh, tomato, and—dun dun dun—braised eggs, the shakshuka at Ottolenghi is the stuff of London breakfast legend. A mini-chain of great little restaurants where vegetables reign supreme, there are a few Ottolenghis dotted around London but the Islington location is our favourite due to the impressive cake display in the window. Shakshuka and a Persian love cake, anyone? " - heidi lauth beasley

"At Ottolenghi, the food is vastly vegetable-based (with the occasional bit of meat or fish). But it’s all so good that meat-eaters will ponder swapping sausages for things like grilled broccoli and roasted squash salads. Most Ottolenghi locations have cafe-style seating but the best outpost is in Spitalfields, which has a full sit-down restaurant." - heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, jake missing

"For mums who like things that they already know they like Ottolenghi may seem a bit five to ten years ago if you’re some sort of food scene obsessive, but Ottolenghi is a failsafe if your mum is into healthy shit that also tastes good. They’re almost part of the furniture in London these days, but we prefer the Spitalfields branch - mostly because it has a wine bar a few doors down for when all else fails." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing

"You know the usual brunch spots—the tables are packed together, it’s loud, and the waiter will probably forget at least one of the things you ordered. The Spitalfields location of Ottolenghi, our favorite of the outposts around town, is the opposite of that. It’s a calming, minimal place to grab something in the morning, and all of the food is great. The shakshuka here is legendary and you should also get the sweetcorn and polenta cakes with a poached egg. You’ll also want to book ahead." - Jake Oliver, Rianne Shlebak, Sinead Cranna