100 Hoxton - Review

100 Hoxton brings a return to Asian Fusion cuisine in East London!

100 Hoxton Restaurant is the latest venue by the team behind the ever-popular Zilouf's in Islington.  Understated and functional yet effortlessly cool, the design of the restaurant manages to make a feature of the Bauhaus-inspired former council block in which the restaurant resides – an approach only East Londoners could get away with! An impressive 24 cover ‘floating' steel bar surrounded by concrete pillars takes centre stage in the venue, whilst the exposed brickwork, low-hanging industrial lighting and distressed concrete floor is par for the course in these parts of town.  The room is livened up with colourful table tops painted in geometric patterns and deep green leather stools. Like the venue, the food appears to have up-cycled an old idea into something fun and exciting too.  Executive Chef Tim Yates cut his teeth in Sydney's Thai restaurant scene whilst Head Chef Francis Puyat harks from the Philippines, so it's no surprise that the menu provides a fusion approach.  Fortunately, this isn't the fancy pants mish-mash cuisine that threatened our palettes at the start of the millennium, but an altogether more considered and hearty approach to East-meets-West cuisine. The menu provides a concise and appealing selection of generously portioned sharing plates.  If it's subtly and refinement you want in your food then this isn't the place for you.  The kitchen clearly isn't afraid of delving into its spice box and an overall theme of big punchy flavours dominates throughout. The result is mostly positive, with dishes coming up trumps including the 7-Spiced Crispy Quail yellow plum chutney, chicory, baby onion salad; the Grilled Bream in Banana Leaf; and the Edamame & Split Pea Fritter Halloumi with lime pickle yogurt.  However, a degree of restraint is occasionally needed on dishes like the Braised Octopus with garam masala & celeriac puree.  Pricing is really keen, with plenty around the £6-10 mark, so it's no surprise that the venue has developed something of a following amongst the locals. Food: 3.5/5 Venue: 3/5 Cuisine Type: Asian Fusion Dinner for two (excluding drinks): £45 Cocktails: £8 Wine: £4.50 100 Hoxton 100-102 Hoxton St London, N1 6SG Tel: 020 7729 1444 http://100hoxton.com