Have you noticed how all the interesting food places seem to open up outside of Central London these days? It is logical I suppose, as that is where younger people – who are the main customers of restaurants – hang out after work. I am not including the obvious celebrity hangouts, which are not really for eating in but for being seen in and hopefully for the paparazzi to catch you walking in, looking fabulous.
Take #Bethnal Green’s Paradise Row, just opposite the tube station, a Central line stop away from Liverpool Street. It is teaming with great places to go after work – although lucky foodster that I am, I was lucky enough to go this week in the day on the pretense of research. #Paradise Garage was sensationally good and also great fun, with sweet and amusing staff making sure we had a great time. If you are lucky, you will get embraced by Coco when you finally stumble off having had ‘one for the ditch’ as she urged us to do. As is normal these days, there were lots of small plates and sharing dishes with a modern twist. Smoked whiskey butter for the bread, lots of little jellies – eel jelly anyone? – and dainty blobs with interesting on trend garnishes such as touches of seaweed amongst the offerings. The venison tartar was very toothsome as was the gorgeous brandade with a black ink sauce. It’s all a little bit different without being so far out that it puts one off. There are quite a few more tempting outlets along the strip of railway arches, so that you could just drop by after work and stroll pass before picking your entertainment for the night. #Mother Kelly’s for example is a wonderful #Artisan beer tavern with an enormous selection of unfiltered interesting beers, pils and pale ales. Passionate staff will talk you through 
the intricacies and give you little tastings of startlingly interesting beers. Book your Christmas party now!