Halo Bar & Restaurant

You'll find Halo tucked into Upper Street's perpetual restaurant shuffle, where it occupies a comfortable middle ground between neighbourhood pub and proper dining destination. It's the sort of place locals drift into on a Friday after work, order a cocktail that's decent if unspectacular, and settle in with mates. The grill work is honest—nothing fancy, but it does the job when you want something warm and uncomplicated. The room itself doesn't demand much attention; stripped back and functional, it lets conversation happen without pretension. Reviews are decidedly mixed, which tells you it's a reliable if unremarkable choice rather than somewhere that'll blow your mind. Worth knowing about if you're in Islington and want to avoid the hype, but not worth the journey across town.