The London Piglet

Hackney Road is a long and dark road to walk up at night. Once the shops, warehouses and trade outlets have pulled down their shutters, there is only the odd pub, kebab shop and a Bingo hall giving any signs of life in the evenings. But out of this drab darkness, dazzles the entrance of Mr Buckley's. A neat row of Hollywood movie lights along the awning and a welcoming red neon name sign in the window promises all the fun of the circus.

Inside, it is as cosy and atmospheric as the outside promises. There is a pared down Scandi chic feel about the plywood furnishings, the smooth concrete surfaces and the lacquered exposed brick walls. But dim lighting, the cosy glow of red thrown from the neon sign and the sight of impeccably made cocktails being served in beautiful coupes creates a party atmosphere every night of the week to this eatery and bar which is open til 2am at the weekend. Primarily a restaurant, Mr Buckley's serves fashionable 'small plates' including its justifiably lauded lobster mac and cheese which is a silky, seductive tower of pasta tubes sweating in a lobster butter with the refreshing pop of caviar bursting through the unctious goo. 

 There are some adventurous dishes on the menu and some work better than others. If you're after a familiar comfort food such as burger and chips then head over to the Sebright Arms up the road where Lucky Chip are in residency serving possibly the best burgers in town. Successes were the rare sliced lamb, duck rillette and the salted caramel ice cream. With music played at moderate levels that allow conversation yet block out others, a spacious yet intimate layout that suits couples and groups alike, and a cosy bar downstairs that kicks off in the small hours, Mr Buckley's has rightly raced to the top of the East End's eaterie charts.