Vinum

The Highgate Bar and Restaurant has recently undergone a makeover, resulting in a brand new body and menu to match.

The downstairs destination restaurant has moved up in the world to the ground floor, creating a much more comfortable and open dining environment. With its own distinct space, the restaurant now shares the floor with the bar area for a traditional pub dining room feel with buckets of buzz and atmosphere. Chocolate brown leather banquette seating and dark wood furniture now contrast with olive and sage coloured walls, whilst antique Persian rugs and hand cut Waterford chandeliers complete the picture.

In keeping with its new position, the brand new restaurant menu also rises to the occasion. Courtesy of Executive Chef and Co-director, Jamie Polito, who returns to the helm from sister pub, The Greyhound, the modern British menu is characterised by fresh, seasonal flavours. Starters include ravioli of asparagus, egg and Parmesan; carpaccio of beef with rocket and aged balsamic as well as confit duck, new potato and watercress salad.

Main courses comprise of loin of tuna with French beans sesame, garlic and almonds; risotto of vegetables with sorrel and mascarpone as well as sirloin steak with Roquefort butter, mixed leaf and herb salad served with Jersey royals. Decadent desserts include vanilla panna cotta with moscatel raisins; raspberry and lemon cream tartlet and pressed chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.

For more informal dining head for the relaxing bar complete with a stylish mismatch of reclaimed sofas and original pub furniture, a collection of gilt mirrors and antique Italian advertising posters, and order from the blackboard menu. Daily specials could include chicken liver parfait with orange and shallot marmalade or seared goat's cheese salad with green beans, rocket and cherry tomatoes.

Both menus are complemented by a comprehensive yet relatively inexpensive wine list, choices include a Beau Monde White Burgundy 2002, Pinossimo Pinot Noir 2002, Cote du Rhone, Domaine de L'Espigoutee as well as a range of red and white half bottles. Beer drinkers will also appreciate the interesting mix of bottled and draught beers including Bitburger, Baltika and Franziskaner - Cristal, Dark and Cloudy.