A lustrous little gem, nestled in a rough exterior, The Hackney Pearl is a cosy local with very friendly staff serving superb Square Mile Coffee, delicious food, a great wine list, well executed classic cocktails & beers from Meantime. Nothing fancy- just good, tasty & friendly. Keeping it simple and doing it well. The interior is a work in progress. Think Gran's kitchen meets continental bar. www.thehackneypearl.com
The Hackney Pearl
Bar in Hackney Wick
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All In London Review
Hackney Wick’s cosy neighbourhood restaurant
Compared to a previous visit four years ago, on the inside the Hackney Pearl hasn’t changed in the slightest, it’s shabby chic but reminds us a bit of a school canteen. They’ve achieved their aim of becoming a locals’ hangout, as there are several tables occupied by people working on laptops, mostly sporting regulation East London tattoos and beards.
But the main draw is definitely the food. Starters of bresaola drizzled with olive oil, with roasted fennel and a delicious sumac aioli, and beetroot-cured salmon on toast with crème fraiche paired with lemony, juicy caperberries, are both fantastic flavour combinations.
Roasted chicken leg is perfectly cooked, with superbly crispy skin and tender meat. On the side there’s moghrabieh, a type of couscous with bigger, softer grains, sprinkled with sumac; here they use the properly aromatic, citrusy stuff rather than the blander version sometimes found in supermarkets. A dish of Toulouse sausages and roast potatoes is hearty and filling.
It’s a shame they don’t have the gloopy cakes they had last time, as dessert is limited to ice cream or lemon posset. Alternatively there’s a choice of English cheeses, among them Francis, a pungent variety with a cider-washed rind.
The Hackney Pearl is a charming little spot in the middle of East London's industrial landscape.
Reviewed by Leila
Published on Aug 26, 2014
Best For
Places for dinner before clubbing in Hackney
Dine then dance...
This excellent little neighbourhood restaurant offers gourmet British food without sky-high prices. Everything is made freshly on the premises, from the breads to the desserts, and you can feast on things like Toulouse sausages with roast potatoes and braised venison with orange and mint gremolata.
User Reviews
Matt
from Hackney wick
from Hackney wick
Nov 14, 2015
Nice place, food ok but overpriced, staff nice, owner sadly quite unpleasant
Anonymous
Feb 13, 2010
I love this place. It's so good to have somewhere cosy and local to have a (really excellent) coffee in the day time and a drink in the evening. This is exactly what Hackney Wick has been needing. The foods fab, too: simple, fresh and tasty. I plan to spend a lot of time there in the future.
Anonymous
Feb 10, 2010
I have had a completely different experience to the last visitor. I have been in the Pearl 3 or 4 times and have always found the staff to be really helpful and friendly. They have a great wine list, make excellent cocktails and the coffee is amazing. They also make the best soup I've ever tasted. I would recommend it to anyone.
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