Mission

I felt like this review needed a bit of an update since I’ve been the first time. I’ve been SEVERAL times since, and every time I go, I fall in love with the place. Maybe it’s because my partner has an insane interest in wine. But we have amazing service every time we go, and we chat quite a bit with the servers about wine. It’s just so warm and welcoming. I even managed to go for brunch, and the croque madame is killer.
They also recently (like within a the last month) hired a new chef: Seb Myers. He used to work at the Chiltern Firehouse, but he’s now at Mission. And the food is fantastic. Make sure you order the chicken liver snack. Because it will blow your mind.
We found out about the new chef when we went a few weeks ago with a couple of friends. We tried a selection of the small plates, and most of them were really tasty. The dessert was a bit lacking for me, but overall the food was top notch. Over the weekend we went back. Maybe we shouldn’t have gone to a wine bar in the afternoon after we spent the morning/​afternoon drinking a lot of Champagne, but we did. And we had an amazing bottle of Californian wine. And we decided to eat. And there’s now a very moderately priced five-​course menu on offer. (£30). Win. We ordered it. Plus the supplemental courses. Plus wine.
I remember being completely wowed by the food, but I was so drunk I don’t remember what we had. I know I sent text messages to my friends about it. I also don’t remember if we actually ended up with our dessert, but oh well. I remember the cheese was delicious. And the porridge. And the chicken liver.
I’m glad that they’re just getting better and better. I’m sure we’ll be back many more times to enjoy our love of Californian wine, and our love of the food and atmosphere.

This place is a solid four stars for me. Came thinking it was a wine bar, but it was more just a bar with some cool outdoor seating that served interesting wine among other things.
Started our order off with a great white wine (Pinot Grigio) which was refreshing for summer, and an orange wine, which tasted like a bad Belgium beer. The orange wine was our only disappointment.
Continued with some food, including bread with oil and salt, smoked peaches and burratta cheese, and fried quail services with spicy siracha dip. The food was excellent– bread was plentiful and tasty, cheese and peaches were filling and succulent, and the quail was tender with some spice.
The party really ramped up outside as we enjoyed our evening. A group popped a champagne bottle that ended up spraying us. No worries though. Another night we would consider sitting outside and ordering other drinks than wow. We finished the evening with two glasses of red– Carignan I think and a Pinot noir. Both good but the star of our show was the white wine and the food.
The atmosphere was cool with the inside more intimate opening out onto an outdoor patio. I would describe it more as a trendy bar (yes suspenders and flooding trousers) than as a wine bar. Sager and wild is a better bet for wine.

I’m conflicted about Mission: the wine list will always keep me coming back, the design and atmosphere are interesting (though avoid the mezzanine as the acoustics are dreadful), the service engaging and friendly; but the food is just not quite to the standard it needs to be.
Whilst I can remember clearly the last 4 bottles of wine I had, I can only remember one of the courses (OK sea trout as a main) which is disappointing. I don’t need them to be a destination for food (Typing Room up the road has that well covered) it needs to be better than it is.
So 5 stars for wine, 3 for food

I really really really liked this place, but was hoping to love it. It just missed the mark ever so slightly.
The space is amazing – the way they nestled into this railway arch is really nice, comforting and relaxing.
The wine is outstanding (as you would expect). I would drink that pinot noir we were served for the rest of my days…
The upper loft of the place can be rented out for groups, and thus a large group occupied the space which definitely created a bit too much noise.
The service was spotty (and that to me was hugely disappointing for a restaurant of this caliber).
I liked the food – great burrata (although a bit too runny), nduja arrancini were good but a tad dry, good octopus cooked well, but just lacking something, and lots of samphire (only for one dish please). It was all tasty but nothing that blew me away, especially at the price point. And the pistachio cake could have been a bit more exciting.
So go for the wine, the space and a little nibble and you will no doubt be happy.

I’d give it 3.5 stars but am rounding up.
Food was okay. A big group of us ordered a tasting menus of sort, and everything was solid. However, i didn’t see anything that was a stand-​out. A lot of standard dishes that are just done well enough.
Service was good during dinner, but quite bad before it began. I got there early, and the guy had said I could sit and wait over a drink, but he never really came with the menu or anything. In the end, I left and wandered about the neighbourhood. During dinner, though, our waiter was very prompt and sociable.
Ambience is nice and hip. It can get quite noisy, though, so don’t go if you want anything intimate.

East London railway arches will forever remind me of Phil Mitchell’s garage in Eastenders, however, never one to turn down oiled up mechanics as a worst case scenario, we popped along to see the result of the Paradise Row rail arches transformation from prostitution stomping ground, to unused space, to new hip hangout.
Instead of grubby overalls I was greeted by a row of little restaurants, a craft brewery, East London’s cool kids and, of course, lots of bikes. Having trouble knowing which one to choose (as all the options seemed pretty similar) we went for Mission as we had stayed in this area of San Francisco before and loved its vibrant Mexican vibe mixed with middle class organic eateries. This Mission was more of the latter, offering brunch basics with a twist, cocktails, craft beer and a wonderful selection of Californian wines.
The archway had been transformed from a dank, industrial space into a classy Californian style bar with the use of dark wood, beautifully displayed wine in cabinets and naturally backlit shelves, all pulled together with a quirky West Coast palm tree.
After a fight with the awkward patio style door, we were immediately greeted, seated, and given a friendly warning that even though brunch finished 10 mins before if we were quick they would make an exception.
We skimmed the one-​page menu and, in our usual style, decided to order two dishes to share, though this is now standard practice at brunch we did defer from one of our usual costumes and steered clear from the extensive drinks list, instead selecting a fresh juice which seemed in keeping with the healthy Cali theme.
After a quick chat with our waitress, and bumping into one of my boyfriend’s old school pals, our straight-​from-​kitchen steaming food arrived.
Quick swap and we got stuck in. I love variety; sharing the avocado, roast tomato and sriracha was a perfect partner to the rich and creamy eggs with wild mushrooms on toast.
Both were incredibly fresh and the portion size was just enough to feel satisfied.
Finishing up it took a while for us to grab someone’s attention for the bill which I much prefer rather than getting shoved out of the door.
After my initial rave review I returned yesterday and though we had a nice time and the staff were as delightful as ever, I paid £8.5 for 4 bits of asparagus and half a boiled egg which was very disappointing, because of this I would recommend sticking with the brunch menu rather than branching out to lunch.

A little paradise for wine drinkers, Mission in Bethnal Green is an excellent wine bar with a relaxed atmosphere, delicious food and brilliant service.
Mission is a beautiful wine bar located in the railway arches at Bethnal Green, just a few steps away from the tube station. While this means that trains are rattling above your head from time to time, it also makes for an original environment remotely reminiscent of a wine cellar. Something that worked well for me.
The place spreads a warm and friendly feeling, a little bit perhaps like a more modern take on London staple Gordon’s Winebar, just with a distinct focus on Californian wines.
The lovely staff, behind the bar and other, are very friendly and attentive, without being pushy.
I started my wine journey with two tasters, a Riesling and the Albariño Bonny Doon Vineyard, Monterey County, California, from 2012. After careful consideration, I decided to go with the Riesling Jekel Vinyards, Monterey County, California, from 2011. I expected to prefer the Albariño due to the fact that my last American Riesling experience with the catchy name Kung-​Fu Girl left me disappointed, and I avoided any American Riesling experiments ever since. So I was pleasantly surprised that I actually liked this slightly sweet white.
In itself, it was no revelation, just an acceptable Riesling. However, in combination with the heavenly rich chocolate hazelnut cheesecake, it did really shine. The typical Riesling flavour complemented the strong chocolate dessert with plenty of crunchy hazelnuts perfectly.
For my second glass, I followed the recommendation of the bartender and ordered a special, the 2013 Sadie Famliy Chenin Blanc «Skurfberg», Olifants River, South Africa. By that time, the place has become more lifely and busy, and quite a bit louder. I enjoyed the buzzy atmosphere, for me it was an inspiring place to do some writing, and the service was still great. I was slightly disappointed, that I had to remind the staff of my order of some bread, but as I was in no hurry, I was fine with that. The bread was well worth the wait. It tasted excellent and came with a tasty dash olive oil.
I had hardly finished my second white, when the highly attentive bartender already came up with the next suggestion. This time, his recommendation for a light red was the 2012 Pinot Noir Sager + Wilde by Domaine De La Cote, Sta Rita Hills, California. It was a beautiful red with a mildly fruity note, just right for me.
After one dessert, some bread and three wines, I decided to head home, but I am pretty sure that I will visit Mission again soon — there are still plenty more wines on the menu that I should try!

Fancy coffee and fancy brunch fare for an even fancier fee.
Did I like my flat white and goats-​cheese-​and-​lentils? Yes. Did I like paying £15 for it at Mission? Eh.
I was envious of the pancakes and bacon plates that went out to a table full of men in the corner, as they looked like the legit real-​deal American maple syrup extravaganza, but my lentils were impressively flavoured and heartily scoffed in a matter of minutes.
Ultimately though, the atmosphere of the place just didn’t really resonate with me. It had a stark, industrial vibe, which you’d expect in an establishment that’s set up in a railway arch. But the placement of the doors — opening straight onto the dining area — was wholly off-​putting, especially given how cold it was outside when I visited. Every time another customer would open (and leave open) the door, me and my dining companions felt a creep of cold air that lingered and never had enough time to go away before the door was opened again. Plus, the service was a bit on the standoffish side.
So, in a nutshell:
— Tasty (if pricey) coffee and brunch
— Poor atmosphere
— Hipster beards abound

Mission sits under the arches at Bethnal Green and is about a two minute ride from the tube. It’s super hip and I believe it’s popular for brunch and dinner. I had an ok experience here — staff were friendly but forgetful, and food took an awfully long time to arrive. I had the avocado, tomato and anchovy brunch number and it was good, but the other members of my group didn’t have such good options and were disappointed with the food.
I don’t know if the foot was just off the pedal when we were there, so it’s probably worth another shot. I’d love for them to concentrate a little more on service and better quality food, because I actually like the venue and it has a decent vibe.
Oh, and the cups of tea here are very good.

This pains me.
I realllllly wanted to love this place. I adore Sager & Wilde. I love wine. I’m into Bethnal Green/​Paradise Row. I admire brunch of all kinds. The reviews were rolling in 5-​star deep. So when a group of us were looking for a place to try, I quickly mapped us to Mission even though it was a bit out of the way…
And, unfortunately — it was a letdown. Perhaps an off day? But it was the day I went, so here we have it.
Mission missed the mark for me on several fronts:
Food — the biggest miss. The best dish of the 4 we ordered was the one I got for our 9 month old baby. Granola, fruits, seeds. It was very nice! Everything else was downhill. The Onglet was cold with soggy veg, and the avocado on toast also cold and bland. The most agregious though were the «baked eggs» which came to the table in a hot pot of soup with some eggs floating in it. It was truly terrible, with pieces of egg shells to top it off. I wasn’t looking for that kind of crunch! Beyond that, no toast served with it (and at £9, why?) and I was left basically eating a hardboiled egg soaked in red sauce. It was one of the worst meals I’ve had in London. I’m so sad to say it. I’m not a picky eater, I really wanted to love it.
Service — Ok. It was fine, but not really great. A bit disconnected which resulted in some food arriving many minutes before the rest, lack of water, lack of coffee, almost seemed like too many people trying to do everything.
Proper stemware — this is a wine bar. I expect mimosas to be served in champagne flutes. While the mimosas were fine (standard) they were served in wine glasses. I AM picky about glassware, and this should be pretty standard.
Seating: everyone was piled on to one side of the room, the other side empty. Weird. I will say that in the summer/​nice weather the outdoor space will be a treat — if they can conquer some of the other issues.
That’s it – I sat on this review for almost a week. I just can’t vouch at this point. As they’ve been open for several months now I feel like they should be up and running smoothly and it felt like it was the first morning and the kitchen staff hadn’t shown up. Frankly, I could’ve made those disastrous eggs.
Perhaps I’ll be back for drinks (their wine list is nice) — but brunch? Likely not.

I love a good railway arch, so Mission is a winner from the start. And Paradise Row is such a lovely address, you really do feel you’ve gone to heaven once you step into Mission on a drizzly Autumn night.
I was lucky to have been invited to a private party here which was held in the mezzanine area above the main restaurant. Almost a bit claustrophic, especially every time a train thundered above.
We were treated to a slection of delicious bites including deep fried rice balls, garlic potatoes, cured meats — they all had in common that they were rather awkward to eat … Glasses were generously topped up with their house wines — which were excellent. And judging by the wall-​to-​wall wine racks they take their wine rather seriously.
Eagerly awaiting my next invitation …

A new wine bar under the arches in Bethnal Green. The interior was stylish and an efficient use of the space.
As you’d expect from a wine bar the drinks were good. I tried selection of tasty reds and a couple of house cocktails. My lasting impression was one of disappointment unfortunately because of the food.
I had the mussels which are normally a favourite of mine but found them tasteless and gritty. For desert pumpkin cheese cake which tasted like something I could have got from the corner shop.
The service was efficient and friendly.

We booked a table for two early Saturday eve. The place just started to fill up. The design is interesting with the rack of wines in as a centre piece and a palm tree in the middle hinting the Californian connection to this Bethnal Green new fine dining place. For me the best thing about this place is that it is literally 2 minutes walk from my place.
Obviously Bethnal Green is coming up and the Mission is another fine addition to the once rough area. I was a bit afraid the octopus I ordered as a starter might be too exotic for my liking but it was a nice surprise to find it more meaty than I thought it would be and combined well with the potatoes and the with sauce. My girlfriend’s butternut stop was absolutely delicious! As a main we both shared the slow cooked lamb shoulder that was full of flavour and the meat just fell off the bone, a bit pricey but recommended.
We couldn’t decide on one dessert so we ordered the wonderful dulce de lece and the only disappointment on the evening — the buttermilk pudding. It was served with honeyed pear and didn’t had a distinct flavour other than the too dominant alcohol ingredient, absinthe I presume, considering the anis favour. One does not just add absinthe to a dish.
The wine, needless to say, was wonderful. I had the Petite Syrah from Napa Valley.

Brunch in a wine bar anyone?! I know, I was suspicious too at first, especially when Unilocal didn’t have much to say on this place yet. Even more so when my housemate told me to meet her under a railway bridge arch in Bethnal Green. But it turns out as well as having an ever-​changing collection of wines by the glass, this place — the second venture from Sager + Wilde — also does a great weekend brunch!
We arrived pretty much bang on opening time of 11am on Saturday. There’s a decent-​sized outdoor courtyard but I was lured by the décor inside — wood-​panelled walls and an arching corrugated ceiling with a real palm tree and wow-​factor wine rack at the back. The biggest and most beautiful air-​raid shelter I’ve ever seen!
The brunch menu was hard to narrow down so we predictably over-​ordered. My mate got a beautiful steaming hot bowl of ‘nduja baked eggs which came with toast. I got the mortadella and gorgonzola grilled sandwich which was bigger than I’d expected and dominated by the cheese. So tasty but I had to break up the richness with the sides we ordered — avocado for a token healthy touch and garlic & rosemary potatoes because they sounded yum (and proved to be so, browned off nicely). We treated ourselves to some Mission Fizz (mine with orange juice, friend’s with grapefruit juice) and I can also give a thumbs up for the coffee.
Now if all of that wasn’t already giving me the warm and fuzzies, the refreshingly down-​to-​earth staff definitely did. We got there so early they hadn’t had their team briefing yet, so we got to watch them having a huddle with the chef in the courtyard. Probably explains why they were able to chat so knowledgeably about their menu and where they source stuff from. We were served by a guy and a girl who both had good friendly chat, whilst the guy even remembered my housemate’s name and the exact bottle of wine she’d bought from them the previous week!
Great addition to the neighbourhood, with the odd atmospheric train rumbling overhead and all. Well worth a mission to Bethnal Green — I’ll have to go back to try the evening crowd and get stuck into that wine list…

What a superb addition to the Bethnal Green area. Or any area in fact. This restaurant and wine bar is the next instalment from the duo that are Sager and Wilde. They opened a exquisitely designed wine bar on Hackney Road to huge acclaim. Like there, the wine list at Mission is extensive and the food is wonderfully executed. I will eat here again and again.