Gem Restaurant

You're walking up Upper Street in Islington, past the usual suspects, when you spot Gem tucked away with its warm lighting spilling onto the pavement. Inside, it's unpretentious but genuinely lovely—exposed brick, simple wooden tables, the kind of space that feels like someone's actually thought about it without trying too hard. The menu moves between Greek, Turkish and broader Med territory, and they do it without any faffing about. Expect proper charcoal-grilled fish, slow-cooked meats, and vegetables that taste like they've actually seen the sun. It's the sort of neighbourhood restaurant that locals fiercely protect, where regulars know their order before they sit down and the staff genuinely seem pleased to see you.