Oldroyd

Tiny and plain, with very friendly service. The food was good but not exceptional. The zucchini fries were greasy (think about it: zucchini are very absorbent). The wine was good. Would I go back? Maybe, if I were in the neighborhood.

More of a 3.5… but the large plates brought it up to a 4. We’re always trying to find new places to try. So, a seasonal menu with small plates (we love ordering a slew of small bites!), a laidback and casual vibe AND super close to where we live? We were sold :)
When we called a couple days before to try and make a reservation, they sadly told us that they were booked; however, they always saved some tables for walk-​ins. We decided to risk it and rushed from work. We were lucky as we were able to get a prime spot overlooking the hustle and bustle of Angel. Soon after, the other tables downstairs filled up and people began to get turned away! There were a few tables even set up outside for those brave enough to weather the cold. It’s best to book as the space is really small. Probably enough for 10 downstairs with seating for maybe an additional 20 upstairs. I was able to check out the upstairs as that is where the bathroom was and it felt really cramped. I actually much preferred the downstairs which due to the large glass entryway brought in a good amount of light, making the room feel a bit more airy.
We decided to start with some cocktails. I had the spotless martini which was described as a gin martini served dry with a twist, olive or pickled onion (£9) and Adam was in the mood for the Oldroyd mary — Oldroyd spiced vodka, chipotle & fresh tomato, pickled pepper (£8). We both love a good Bloody Mary but it’s definitely been difficult in London. The one at Oldroyd was good, not the best but definitely one of the better ones we’ve had. As per usual, even though Adam asked for it spicy, there was no spice to be found. A couple shakes of Tabasco and it was pretty good. My martini was really nice and well-​made though very tiny. It was almost laughable the size of the glass when it came to the table. BUT, it was a really strong drink, so I don’t think I needed a hi-​ball glass of it: D
As we looked over the small menu (4 small plates/​appetizers, 6 large plates/​mains and 2 sides) everything sounded really fantastic. We opted to start with two of the small plates: the smoked pork belly & pea croquettas, truffle mayonnaise (£4) and the Mazzancolle prawn alla griglia, gremolata (£3.50 each). We love a good croquetta and this one was freshly fried. While the truffle mayonnaise was superb, the croquetta was underwhelming as it was pretty bland. We couldn’t taste any smokiness and if we didn’t know what was supposed to be in the croquetta, there was no way we could have guessed. The prawn was fresh but, unfortunately, slightly overcooked and the shell was burned in places. This lead to a bitterness that made this dish unappetizing.
We were feeling a bit underwhelmed at this point and were nervous as we had ordered 4 of the large plates. However, Oldroyd completely redeemed themselves with the large plates. The Cornish crab tagliarini provencal, brown crab rouille (£9) was incredible. The pasta was so thin and delicate and the sauce with the fresh and sweet crab were perfect. We thought about ordering another. Definitely get this if you go. The lamb & almond meatballs, salsa romesco & pickled garlic (£7.50) was another highlight. The meatballs were flavorful, tender and moist (hate a dry meatball!) and the pickled garlic was such a nice surprise adding some acidity to cut through the fattiness of the dish. The addition of almond in the meatballs was also fantastic and we loved the crunch it added. We also ordered the mackerel, beetroot & horseradish (£9). The fish was cooked really well but, it was a bit of an unmemorable dish. Lastly, we opted for the grilled pork ribeye, lentils & salsa verde (£14). This was so delicious. The pork was cooked perfectly — tender and juicy and went really well with the homemade salsa verde. The lentils were still firm but retained great flavor. This was a definite standout as well. We also thought we should get something to balance all of this meat and opted for the heritage tomato & green bean salad, béarnaise reduction (£4.50). The mix of tomatoes were sweet and fresh and went well with the crunchy and sweet green beans. We loved the béarnaise reduction with the tart flavors in balancing the sweetness of the other components.
After all of that, there was no way we would be able to order dessert, though they had a selection of four desserts with one being a cheese plate. While there were a couple of issues with our starters, the large plates were fantastic overall. It’s definitely a nice addition to the area, so stop by and order a bunch of plates (especially the tagliarini and pork!).

Oldroyd is a narrow but two storied restaurant that has a super casual, slightly ramshackle feel to it. Don’t expect slick décor. It’s all about a laid back vibe and friendly service. The staff are very welcoming and all smiles.
The dishes are designed to be shared and between the two of us, we shared a starter (which our waiter said was more like nibbles) and three mains. Given all the rave reviews, the food was surprisingly underwhelming.
The Cornish crab croquetas with rouille were perfectly fried and crunchy but tasted bland. If you’d asked me to guess what the filling was, I wouldn’t have said crab. The rouille, which should have been garlicky and vibrant, didn’t add much either.
The first main that arrived was the iron bark pumpkin, kohlrabi, wet walnut & cow curd salad. It was fresh and colourful to look at but was underseasoned and lacking in flavour. I was expecting sweet chunks of pumpkin which should have stood out against the rest of the dish but these were fairly bland, resulting in a fairly lacklustre salad.
The oxtail and black olive fettuccine was good but the ragu lacked the richness I was expecting from the oxtail. As the sauce was so light, it didn’t compete well with the wide strands of fettuccine.
The braised cuttlefish, fennel, coco beans & cima di rape was probably the best dish we had. The cuttlefish was perfectly cooked and not rubbery at all. But the dish resembled a big crostini with the cuttlefish etc heaped on a slice of rustic bread. I think this would have worked better as a starter.
We had a good time at Oldroyd and the service was spot on. However, the food was a letdown.

Oldroyd is one of the hottest new restaurants in Islington, having come from Polpo alum Tom Oldroyd. It’s near the Angel end of Upper Street, right near Camden Passage and Islington Green. The upstairs part of the restaurant takes reservations, but when I called just the day before we wanted to come for dinner, I was told that there were no available reservations until 10 PM and that it was best to try the downstairs no reservations area before 7 PM. My flatmates and I came after work at 6:45 PM, only to be advised that the wait would be 45 minutes. It’s not a large restaurant so we waited outside by the neighboring kebab shop. The estimate was not too far off, and it’s definitely hard for them because they have only 8 seats at tables inside, 3 seats at a bar by the kitchen, and 3 seats against the window. They also managed to have 4 seats outside because it was a summer evening, but I imagine that won’t be available as it gets closer to winter.
As for the food, for a group of 3 we were advised that if we got one of the larger mains (the crab tagliarini or the pork ribeye), then we only needed 3 of the mains and a side or two. They were out of the monkfish special (which sounded really lovely), so we went for the crab tagliarini, the lamb & almond meatballs, and a confit swordfish served with beans. We also got a starter of smoked pork belly & pea croquettes with truffle mayonnaise and the zucchini fries. Of all that, the croquettes were absolutely divine. It wasn’t like Social Wine & Tapas’ croquettes where all you could taste was the meat, but this one was all about the truffle (and they were very generous with the truffle mayonnaise!). In my opinion, the crab tagliarini was far too sour (I think it was lemon juice or something), and the confit swordfish tasted like a cross between tuna and chicken (the dry flaky feeling). The lamb & almond meatballs were ok, but was heavy on the tomato sauce and didn’t stand out from a regular serving of meatballs. We were very happy with the zucchini fries (isn’t it funny that they called it zucchini and not courgette?) though they could have used some sea salt or be served with ketchup.
I imagine that this is the type of place that will keep changing its menu, and given that it is still in its early days, there is a lot to look forward to. I want to love this restaurant, I really do, but I think I will have to give the menu another go to be truly impressed.

The perfect local restaurants (luckily, I live nearby).
The menu’s short but perfectly crafted. Highlights of the meal was the crab pasta and the radishes with roe, which were both perfectly balanced, simple yet exciting dishes!
Prices are similar to other laces doing small places of a similar quality. It might seem a bit steep for Angel, but take my word on it, it is worth every penny!

Just open a week, and we went to check it out. Nice independent feel, friendly and welcoming staff, and excellent food. Menu is not large, but innovative and delicious. Our group of 4 had no problems finding plenty to satisfy everyone. FANTASTIC addition to Angel/​Islington — and a welcome relief from the march of soul-​less chain restaurants overtaking London. HIGHLY recommended