Antidopean Inspiration Hits Hoxton, London

Salted caramel peanut butter strike your fancy? How's about smashed avocado with chili chutney on toast, Friends of Mine? Actually, Friends of Ours has both and more. This new Antipodean-inspired kid on the block hit Hoxton in late February, courtesy of (you guessed it) friends Man Wong and Anthony Dyer: "We worked in the City for ten years, and realised we spent more time worrying about what we would eat than on our actual jobs at a recruitment company." These pals swapped the corporate grind for a perch on Pitfield Street and most days you'll find them there -- but when they get a chance to dine locally, here's their fav for inspiration and good eating:

Bistrotheque 74 reviews Bethnal Green  23-27 Wadeson Street, London  French Restaurants “Assuming you've found it, you've got a table.... and you've got the hunger, I don't see what could possibly go wrong here. Bistrotheque is proof that chefs are modern-day clerics - if you stir the right things together, they'll put me under a spell.”  Thomas A., London

José 44 reviews Borough  104 Bermondsey Street, London  Spanish Restaurants, Tapas Bars “By far the best tapas in town... Amusing atmosphere, very vibrant and easy going! The restaurant is not big, actually very small, and you might have to wait before getting a spot, but it is well worth the wait!”  Valerio M., London

Eyre Brothers 24 reviews Liverpool Street / Broadgate  70 Leonard Street, London  Portuguese Restaurants “Even when we become quite loud and rambunctious under the influence of the wine, the staff weren't openly annoyed with us and actually laughed with us. With such nice food and staff, we really appreciated the open atmosphere and unpretentiousness.”  Joy L., London

Tayyabs 473 reviews Whitechapel  83-89 Fieldgate Street, London  Indian Restaurants, Pakistani Restaurants “London has a ton of amazing Indian food, but Tayyabs is by far my favourite - and in my opinion the best. I've been lucky enough to sample nearly every dish, and you can't go wrong with any of them - although the lamb and chicken tikka are standouts.”  Jeanine W., London

Gökyüzü 35 reviews Harringay  26-27 Grand Parade, London  Turkish Restaurants “The food that arrived in front of us was a huge pile of meaty goodness. Lamb koftas, shish, chicken wings, chicken shish, more bread, rice, bulgar wheat, salad, and dips. I wouldn't eat Turkish anywhere else in London!”  Lauren S., London