MISHKIN’S, COVENT GARDEN…again!

Last week I went to my current restaurant crush, Mishkins…again!  I first went in March (last post) and it sparked an obsession.  I have been several times since and keep taking friends so as to spread the word.

In short, Mishkin’s is a sort of non-kosher Jewish deli…with cocktails and a New York feel.  I love it.  I won’t go into descriptions of the restaurant as you can see my last post for that.

Mishkin’s is one of the only ‘cool’ places you can reserve at the moment.  Every place I want to go to has a no reservation policy and this can be a real pain at times.  When my gorgeous friend Kate suggested drinks after work I immediately called Mishkin’s for a table.  Unfortunately they were fully booked.  However, they do take walk-ins at the bar.  Kate finishes work earlier than me so, armed with a magazine, she got there at 6pm and got a spot at the bar for us.  When I turned up at 6.45pm, she had a gin cocktail on the go and was feeling very happy indeed!

It was a lovely evening and the sun was streaming in through the window where we were sitting.  Mishkin’s has a great atmosphere.  Lots of buzz, great music, really friendly staff and of course….fantastic food.

I ordered a Diamond Fizz with sloe gin, Prosecco and lemon…my favourite of their gin cocktails, and then ordered the food.

I’ve eaten there a few times so I know what I like and must admit to sticking to my favourites when I eat there.  Although I encourage my friends to try things I haven’t had before so I can taste them!On this occasion I went for my usual starter of chicken matzo ball soup.  I love this because its like a giant hug.  It reminds me of my mum’s chicken soup.

Kate ordered the Grilled haloumi, lentil & green bean salad with avocado & chilli.  I only had a bite of this but it was lovely.  The chilli is very slight but adds a really nice and gentle heat at the end.  Its quite large if you’re having it for a starter.

I told Kate she had to try the Reuben on rye with pastrami, sauerkraut, Russian dressing & Swiss cheese.  I love this dish.  It’s meaty and cheesy and really filling.

Although not so filling that we couldn’t eat a burger too…

Or rather, I should call them steamed beef patties as that’s how its written on the menu.  Calling them a burger is a dis-service.  The beef patties are steamed rather than fried, so you get maximum taste without the grease.  Just a really juicy, tasty ‘burger’.

We also got a bowl of fries and onion rings.

More cocktails…this time I went for the Beefeater with Prosecco and lemon.

Even after we’d polished off our Reuben and steamed beef patty, we couldn’t stop talking about how incredible the beef patty was.   The bun was so soft, the beef was so tasty and juicy, the onions so sweet, the cheese so…cheesy!  It was a delight.  So we ordered another one!

At about 9pm, the music gets a bit louder and a cracking 70s disco playlist comes on. The window blinds come down and there’s much more of a party atmosphere.  Or maybe I felt that because I’d had about 6 gin cocktails by that point!  (Their cocktails are alarmingly good.)

It was a fab night and Kate and I left there very full, and very happy.  I urge anyone reading this, who lives in London or who is going to London anytime soon, to please add Mishkin’s to your ‘to do’ list.

Mishkin’s: 25 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JS
Tel: 020 7240 2078
http://mishkins.co.uk
Twitter: @MishkinsWC2