Wells, The

The Wells is an exciting new gastro pub in the Hampstead area. Inside the smart Georgian exterior you'll find a warm and welcoming interior with a crowd of both drinkers and lovers of fine food. Diners can choose between the main restaurant area on the ground floor complete with open kitchen, one of the upstairs rooms, or there's even an inviting outside terrace area to enjoy over the summer months. On the menu you'll discover fresh and innovative dishes such as smoked haddock and cockles with creamed broad beans and soft poached egg, followed by a decadent chocolate tart with milk ice cream.

Reviewed by Linda Buttle

A recent addition to the North London dining out scene, the latest from Beth Coventry and Tom Etridge, owners of the highly successful The Waterway in Maida Vale by the canal, and Golborne House in Notting Hill. Originally an old inn, The Wells trades on two floors in this extremely attractive 18th century building, with a choice of different dining areas, all benefiting from the light and airy interior.

The food preparation is in the extremely capable hands of Andrew Gale. Dishes could include: a wonderful warm onion tart with Montgomery cheddar and lambs lettuce, raved about by Richard Johnson of The Independent, who described it as a 'slice of heaven', or potted foie gras and duck liver parfait with fig compote to begin with.

Followed by: rump of lamb with artichoke purée, girolles and white beans; pan fried salmon with ratatouille, fennel and garlic cream or roast cod with pea purée, red wine lentil stew and pancetta. An interesting wine list with sensible prices starting from £10.50. Sure to be a success.

Richard Bradford