Hackney food, drink and design consortium, Mare Street Market, has just opening Dining Room. The 45-cover restaurant serving up modern British dishes is the final addition to the indoor marketplace’s family of local East London producers and artisans.
The Dining Room will join Mare Street Market’s two current dining spots, the Open Kitchen and the Deli counter, all dedicated to homegrown, quality food and drink.
Head Chef Dominik Moldenhauer, previously of Notting Hill’s The Shed famed for its farm to kitchen table approach, is overseeing the restaurant’s modern British menu which focuses on traditional techniques such as brining, curing and smoking all carried out in-house, finished on the market’s charcoal fired Robata Grill.
Decked out with vintage chandeliers and art-deco furniture from Shoreditch antiques and interiors merchants Pure White Lines, the antique space contrasts the Dining Room’s contemporary menu. Diners are invited to not only admire, but shop whilst they eat with every curated piece in the Dining Room available to purchase and bring back home.
The restaurant’s seasonal menu starts with stand-out dishes such as the delectable Grilled Scallop with Miso Butter, Chilli and Cavolo Nero and Mackerel Ceviche, Clementine, Crisp Fava and Coriander. To warm up those moody winter nights, tuck into the Duck Breast with Chestnut Gnocchi, Girolles and Sherry Butter or the rich Pastrami Braised Ox Cheek, Parsley Root Puree and Dill Pickle.
Finish the evening on a sweet note with one of Mare Street Market’s trio of desserts. Choose from the indulgent Brioche Doughnut with Salted Caramel Sauce, Cardamom Cheesecake Mousse or Oat Milk Rice Pudding with and Pistachio.
After a winter walk around the neighbouring London Fields or Victoria Park, head to the Dining Room for one of London’s finest Sunday Roasts where beef sirloin, pork belly and free-range chicken are served with a hearty helping of roasted vegetables and a Yorkshire pudding. Round off the three-course Sunday special with a choice of desserts featuring ice cream from the local Hackney Gelato alongside homemade Apple Crumble and a Miso Caramel Banana Split with Peanut Brittle.
Moldenhauer has also created an entire vegetarian and vegan menu for the restaurant which offers a selection of mouth-watering seasonal dishes. The Pearl Barley Risotto with Roasted Root Veg and Grilled Leek Hearts served alongside Walnut Oil Gremolata, Wild Mushroom and Sorrel will satisfy those with a plant-based palette.
Moldenhauer said, “With Mare Street Market we wanted to create an all-day concept where you can go from coffee and pastries, to a casual lunch, followed by a 3-course dinner without stepping foot outside. The Dining Room offers a refined menu focused on quality, seasonal produce with an unpretentious approach, and the backdrop decorated with vintage chandeliers and furniture is truly something else.”
In keeping with the whole market’s ethos, the Dining Room will see some of East London’s finest and freshest produce at the heart of every dish, from Hackney local butchery Ginger Pig to the neighbourhood’s much-loved secret smokehouse.
Diners can opt for a spot of shopping before dinner in the market’s Rebel Rebel Florist or Stranger Than Paradise record store, or head over to the buzzing bar afterwards for a nightcap with one of the East London Liquor Company cocktails. The space to eat, drink, shop and play was created by local resident Marc Francis-Baum, known for opening a collection of London pubs with Barworks such as Well & Bucket and The Exmouth Arms.