THIS is seafood. A lunch for the ages.
Getting straight into it... Cornerstone is in the painfully cool Hackney Wick - first time I'd been to the area and I can see why it's got its rep. Reminded me a bit of Bushwick.
The decor - very much of the area. Understated but classy. Comfy chairs! Which I never expect in such hipster places like this - you generally get a bench (which they do also have) or something industrial.
Service - attentive and friendly without being OTT.
Bread course - I love a bread course me, and this delivered big time. Fresh out of the oven with a delicious charry taste which was almost a little fishy smelling weirdly (keeping with the overall theme of the place).
Grey mullet tartare - an explosion of flavour: the sauce - oh man. The fish was tender and perfectly seasoned. An incredibly well balanced plate of food - sour, umami and delicious, the yolk added a different texture.
Crab crumpet - I had literal chills when I took the first bite. Not often that that happens. It fully lives up to the hype. Their flagship dish and an absolute steal at £16. The crumpet itself was perfect foil for the sweet, creamy brown crab and rarebit topping. Next level delicious. In my top 5 dishes of all time, swiftly followed by....
Curried hake - another in my top 5! The crunch of the crispy potato, the softness of the creamy succulent fish, offset with a zingy, slightly spicy katsu style curry sauce (which I wasn't expecting) which was thick and rich and perfect - an absolute fucking riot of flavour. There was plenty of sauce left so of course I used the remaining bread to mop it up - judge me if you will, frankly idgaf as it was fucking delicious.
Peach Melba tart - what a finish! All going along very nicely until I get the crunchy, salty almond brittle in the middle - that's when the party got started boiiiiii! Turned what was already a lovely, creamy, fruity dessert into a world beater - adding crunch and a different depth of flavour.
On drinks it was their summer special cocktail Cider Collins - an absolute buzz of a drink, perfect for summer. Zingy af, the cider really shone through but it felt like a traditional Collins. Total winner of a drink.
This lunch will stay with me forever. Believe the hype with this place beautiful people! read more