THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Verden

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Verden Restaurant Review:

A wine bar, deli and restaurant specializing in the holy trinity of wine, cheese and meat, this is the first joint venture between two friends, Tom Bell and Ed Wyand, in the hotspot of East London, Clapton. The space is understated, dark and stylishly brooding, with low-hanging lamps over the tables and hip music that isn’t too loud. A mix-and-match board of some of the finest cured and smoked meats in town, coupled with a great edit of cheese (hard, soft, goat, washed and blue), is a must to start; allow the staff to guide you with both. A frequently changing dinner menu is served from 6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and from it, we enjoyed the quenelles of rich duck rillettes with golden wafer-thin slices of sourdough to contrast textures. Tuesday is steak night, with a menu that includes Moorland Cross bavette with fries and béarnaise, chimichurri or blue cheese butter, for a friendly £12. The “Feasting” menu is of particular note, where groups of 12-40 can get great banquet-style centerpieces such as whole sea bass or slow roast shoulder of lamb, as well as a choice of two starters and desserts for the table to share, for £30 per head. The wine list is a galaxy of stars, and with twenty-six on offer by the glass, there’s something for everyone.