I know, I know, TFC is a chain and we're not supposed to review chains. But first things first, my…read morelocal Turkish Food Centre was the very first in the chain, established back in 1980 as a market stall here on Ridley Road. Also, its not exactly competing with Tesco or Wal-Mart for world domination: TFC has about a dozen medium-size shops mostly north of the river. Lastly, this branch is sort of hidden away, and looks smaller than it really is, so I'm not sure that even locals will know about its many charms. It offers fruit and veg at similar prices to the market traders vocally advertising their wares outside. There is a bakery at the back where you can buy deliciously warm and fresh Turkish flatbreads, sesame-covered loaves or layered borek pastries. There's a massive meat section if thats your thang. They also do a nifty line in barbecue equipment - I assume this is because the many local ocakbasi restaurants source their tongs and charcoal here. This is all for wholesale prices. OK it might lack some popular brands or a Finest range, as in other more familiar supermarkets, but what you miss in reassuring familiarity you gain in the chance to try new things and a guaranteed saving at the tills.

A slice of instant Istanbul in a supermarket... As mentioned before it's a chain store but don't…read morelet that put you off... It's much bigger and better than it looks from the outside.... I always go to the produce counter to purchase vegetables like globe artichokes or broad beans which are hard to find elsewhere... The bakery offers delicious baklava which is freshly made and taste like it. Iranian pide is always available along with khoubez... There is a good range of chilled products like halloumi and stuff like cacik, taramasalata and various dips and stuff. This place is good for sourcing White mulberries and dried fruit/nuts ideal for muesli.

This is a cute new little café and shop in Dalston Lane - a very welcome addition to the…read moreneighbourhood! The café is smaller than it looks from the outside - there is basically one table to sit at, but when the sun is as brilliantly shining as it is at the moment, one can enjoy food and drinks al freso at additional tables outside. The coffee I had was ok, and perhaps because we got there late on a Sunday afternoon the food selection wasn't overwhelming. (A couple of cupcakes and a sandwich). But they do sell delicious bread, cakes and cupcakes from London's best bakery (E5) and the "Happy Kitchen". That means the sweet stuff is vegan - thumbs up for that! In addition they offer a variety of health foods and ingredients (including Asian food), as well as eco toiletries, cleaning products, etc. The selection is somewhat limited compared to other, bigger stores, but if you live in the area "Healthy Stuff" definitely provides a useful resource.

I managed to smuggle my boyfriend into this cafe/shop without him seeing the name. "Healthy Stuff"…read moremight have put him off. But we were both happy when we sat down at one of the three tables. This part of Dalston Lane isn't very busy so there'll proably always be a free seat and you wouldn't be disturbed by shoppers passing by either. The blackbord above the till lists a menu of salads, toasies, fresh juices, and other wholesome treats. I loved my green salad with avocado, sprouts, and basil tofu. For a dish and a big glass of juice you'll pay about 10 pounds per person. It's unlikely that I'll find myself in that area again soon but I'd recommend a visit to anyone who happens to be around.

This place. Just this place. Everything about it is stunning - the interior, the waiters, the food,…read moreTHE WINE, it's truly wonderful and I urge anyone to go here wherever they live in London. If you're looking for a truly unique and authentic wine experience this is the place. Tony, the owner, is so proud of his store and so passionate about his wine and produce. Everything is fresh and of top quality but at reasonable prices. We started with a glass of their lemoncello and grapefruit prosecco. For someone that doesn't really like prosecco, I loved this. We then ordered a charcuterie board (3 choices for £10) served with crackers and a lovely chutney. We had the salami and special black pepper sausage with tunworth cheese. The cheese was outstanding - packed full of flavour and melted in your mouth. The meats too exquisite - the salami was our favourite for sure! We also had a side of bread and olives. The olives were pure buttery goodness! We couldn't get enough! We also ordered the baby squid in tomato sauce - it was tasty but slightly too fishy for us. Still fantastic quality though. I then had a glass of their Italian rose and a glass of their homemade red. Both delicious, the Rose in particular was fresh and just perfect for a summers day. We couldn't have left happier and every mouthful was a pure delight! We'll be back! :)

As we were walking by to enjoy a nice meal at Trattoria Sapori to celebrate our second wedding…read moreanniversary, we noticed a new wine shop was open in Newington Green. We saw that they sold bottled beers, as well as some on draught, so we thought we'd enjoy a peek before dinner. We both had a pint, and it was so fresh and lively that it took about 10 minutes to get our pints. The inside is rustic and inviting. It would be a great spot for the pub crawls we put on for a group we lead. They do offer a large selection of wines, as well as some meats and nibbles. They've only been open a short time, but it's a nice venue that I hope gets some attention, and can expand their beer selection as time goes on. It's my understanding that it is also associated with Trattoria Sapori (same ownership), so I believe it'll do quite well. Check it out if you're in the area.

The Best Fresh Shellfish in London, Oysters,Crab,Winkle, and all your favourites served up by a…read morevery friendly Martin & Carol

A great local shop with friendly knowledgeable staff and brilliant reasonably priced meat. The shop…read morewhich is a family business and has been trading for 40 years employs over 12 local people, so not only are they really committed to the community but they are also able to deliver great service. The staff reflect the ethnic diversity of the area and there is little staff turnover which always indicates the business has a genuine positive ethos and that it is a good and fair employer. It's a busy shop and yet you don't have to wait long. Whatever, its always worth it. If you need advice with how to cook the meat they are always willing to help. If you believe in supporting local business with a low carbon footprint then support this local butcher.

This is an ok place for breakfast. They have a vegan and vegetarian option which is great but food…read moreis very plain and not very flavorful to my taste. Service was efficient and friendly and the place looks nice and clean

My friend and I stoped here for dinner around 18:30 on a Saturday. It was not busy at all. I…read moreordered a red wine to drink (pinero merlot). The wine tasted great and there were plenty of options. For my main course, I was torn between the chicken thighs and the lamb shawarma. I asked the waiter and he recommended the lamb. I'm very glad I asked because the lamb dish was phenomenal! The portion was huge and I wasn't able to finish the whole thing but had trouble stopping! My friend had ordered the jackfruit dish since he is vegan. He typically is not a fan of jackfruit but said the food was great and he was craving more.

The signboard on the street reads... 'best coffee in London'. A big statement, and being slightly…read moreaddicted to caffeine I had to put this too the test. The deli/wine bar/restaurant was not particularly busy (about two sets of tables were being occupied). I approached the barista and was handed a coffee and asked to pay £2.50. I hadn't even placed my order yet? The barista looked shocked and I was puzzled (Awkward moment alert!). Apparently someone had ordered a coffee, she didn't see their face and so she assumed it was me? Okay fine these things happen, I guess? After receiving the coffee I did actually order, I was not blown away, it was good, but not the best I've had in London. The atmosphere inside was lacking Italian charm and music also the staff members were yelling to each other about some meat in the deli. On the plus side they have a sunny outdoor area, it is right under the London Fields rail tracks however, so maybe not the place to go if you want to go to escape the hustle and bustle.

Away from the increasingly touristy Broadway Market is this unassuming Italian Lombardi restaurant…read more The menu is simple - just 3 options per course - but the food is outstanding. It's obviously not a hidden secret amongst local Italians. Definitely recommend. Also, for those with kids, the outside area has a playground and is in a small development so the ids can run around in full visibility and safety whilst you dine. Two thumbs up

Unbelieveable variety of fish on sale. African fish, European Fish, Carribean fish. Just a really…read moregood range. It doesn't look that much inside, nothing spared on decor. But in this respect, it more than makes up with what's on offer. I've never heard, let alone eaten, a butter fish. And the woman there is only too happy to take away the head, scale what you buy and fillet anything which is good, dunno about anyone else, but I'm always put off buying big fish 'cause of the bones. So it's small and unassuming. But to be honest, with this variety and nice prices to boot, I don't think anyone who's been would travel too far away from here for their fishy needs. I liked it!