Alistair's Brasserie

A Thursday night, first person there, charming service, gorgeous wine, sexy steak, mushrooms meaty, chips perky and the pudding orgasmic.
Tables near the door aren't much fun 'tis true but get there early and you won't have to sit there. Billie Holiday on the sound track too. Very nearly perfect.
Don't tell anyone.

The food here is absolutely amazing, and the service is friendly and relaxed as is the general atmosphere.
I have visited three times and each time I have been so impressed with the quality of the menu, the wine, the service and the whole experience.
I would completely recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys excellent and exciting food.

Alistair!

Hello, we haven't met before, but I dined in your quaint abode on Friday. I cannot recommend your fine fare highly enough.

I was dining with a lovely Stokey resident and we thought we'd take a "risk" and try somewhere new... Little were we to know what was in store for our tastebuds!

We started with bread and olives - bread warm, butter homely, olives tasty. Moved on to mains -- gfriend had fishcake (moist inside, crispy outside) and lovely salad; I fell in love with my gnocci with poached egg, caramalised onions and salad. We also shared some fresh market veges which were cooked to perfection.

Despite our savoury tummies being full, our sweet tummies were excited about the great choice of desserts. I went for the brownie with peanut brittle and ice-cream - DIVINE; and gfriend when for the apple, rubarb and ginger crumble with ice-cream - DIVINE.

A house red was also reasonable (13.50) and topped off a lovely Friday lunch.

Just another reason to be jealous of all the Stokey residents!

Thanks Alistair and your lovely, friendly staff! x

This man can really cook ! But not sure he's appreciated in Stokey which is not exactly awash with gourmands and people don't realise what they've got on their doorstep with this place. Shame it tends to get overlooked by those who do know their grub as they decamp to Islington.

Really really great - Good Menu, nice understated space. Alistair obviously works very hard to produce the size of menu and quality food that is evident here.

I will be visiting more regularly - he definately deserves the patronage of the locals.

It was while staying with friends in Islington about 6 months ago that my partner and I discovered this little gem of a restaurant on Stoke Newington's Church Street. Don't be put off by the understated decor; it actually makes for a surprisingly intimate dining experience.

Having been lured back there on several occasions due to its ever-changing seasonal menu, we founds ourselves looking over the autumn menu as we nibbled on complimentary rosemary bread, parsnip crisps humus and olives - a great start. Starters were a creamy celeriac soup and a fantastic Stilton Soufflé with figs.

Main courses were a lovely rich Venison Casserole with Butternut Squash and Potato Gratin and a big juicy rib-eye steak with homemade chips. Chips were great but, if anything, I wanted more because I only had about 15! So, we managed to make room for a caramelised apple rice pudding to share with a glass of desert wine.

The wine list was a tad short but the friendly waiters ensured us that there was plenty more to come and the house red was well worth £12.95.

This really is luxury comfort foods at its best and so I would highly recommend this small but satisfying little eatery, which is really what Church Street needs. If you do go on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening be sure to book for the £21 offer.

I really like Alistair’s, the food is excellent and a good price. I would definitely recommend this place, for this type of food, I think it might be the best in Stokey. Certainly much better than the Three Crowns.

As the other reviewers have commented, the decor could be better. That said, it is massively improved since they decided to wallpaper part of it.

Being a regular Stokeyite I had enjoyed Alistair’s food during his brief residency at the Daniel Defoe. I was pleased to see that he was opening a restaurant.

The food is great - similar dishes to your typical gastropub fair (steaks, pork belly, duck, sea bass and veggie options) but very well cooked with care and attention to complementary flavours. The menu changes every couple of weeks which is good for local regulars.

I had the lamb chump with a creamy dauphenoise potatoes and my partner had a tender and tasty steak. The time before I had the pork belly in a spiced syrup sauce and my partner had the sausage and mustard mash. All were excellent.

The only thing that lets this place down is - as the other reviewer commented - the decor and seating. I wish they would put some linen on the tables which look a bit scruffy and the door opening so close to one of the tables is not great.

However don’t let this put you off. The food is excellent and well priced compared to places like the Three Crowns and the Fox reformed.

Enjoy!

I went here for lunch today as I wanted to try somewhere new in Stoke Newington High Street.

Lets start off with the postitves shall we. The food is great. Whilst the menu is limited what they make they make well. I had the sausages and mustard mash which was full of flavour and well made. My partner had the chicken Caesar Salad which again was well made and full of flavour.

The wine was good and came with big glasses so we were very happy.

The negatives. The brasserie was small and I dont think that the owners made the most of the space. It felt cramped and being a Saturday it was very small and full of the Stoke Newington Yummy Mummy Brigade.

We were seated right next to the door and were constantly intreupted by customers coming and going throughout our stay. It semed that the owners had tried to cram in as many tables as possible into a limted space. Whilst the restaurant was by no means full it certainly felt like it.

Having said all that I did enjoy the food and would go back but during a week day as it was to crowded for my liking. I hope that the owners make some small changes for the good as recommended above.

Also they new more staff as the waiter seemed harrassed as it was just him for about 7-8 tables.