Last Updated on March 6, 2026
Local dining in style at Salut! Islington
3.6 out of 5.0 starsThe brainchild of Martin Lange, who grew up in a family-run restaurant in northeast Germany, Salut! is a small neighbourhood restaurant in Islington, founded in 2016, with Martin running front of house and his brother (and co-founder) Christoph in the kitchen. Although Christoph has returned to Germany, Salut! remains a defining part of the local dining scene, with an open kitchen, around 40 covers, and a relaxed atmosphere. Stripped-wood tables and benches, dark paintwork, and a shabby-chic, rustic interior make this corner venue intimate, cosy, and welcoming, while the large windows let in plenty of light.
For most of the week, Salut! is an evening venue, with lunch offered only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a neighbourhood restaurant, the sort of place where you’d probably go for a special meal with friends, and when we arrived for a late lunch on Friday, it was quiet. I suspect it’s much livelier at the weekends and in the evening! Greeted with a glass of fizz, though, for us it was the perfect opportunity to catch up.
Focaccia with whipped truffle butter to nibble on was a welcome start. The focaccia was delicious, freshly baked, pillowy, and with that slight hint of bitterness you get from good quality olive oil. Whipped truffle butter was too fresh from the fridge, though, and could have been left to come to room temperature for more flavour and a better texture.
My white fish ceviche starter, I believe, came with grapefruit rather than orange segments, coriander, trout roe (perhaps in the sauce), and toasted pine nuts, but was delicious nonetheless with fresh, firm slices of seabream and an excellent light, piquant sauce.
My companion’s charred leeks with marinaded lentils, crispy kale and pomegranate vinaigrette looked very pretty, though she felt the leeks were rather chewy.
For my main course, I picked seared venison with black pudding croquette, onion, celeriac fondant, and red currant jus. A beautifully composed dish; the venison itself was cooked to a perfect pink, firm, and pleasantly gamey. The rich red currant jus and berries were an excellent complement, and I loved the black pudding croquette, which was rich without being overly heavy. I could have eaten a bowlful of the sweet charred onions too, particularly with the soft, melting celeriac puree and fondant.
My companion’s market fish was hake with a herb crust, a smoked tomato bisque, cavolo nero, confit potatoes and mussels. Well-cooked fish was firm but flaky, and the accompanying bisque was very rich.
The side of purple sprouting broccoli came with toasted almonds and was a delicious, light option that helped offset the richness of our main courses.
For dessert, we shared the dark chocolate and pear mille-feuille with a sweet pear reduction. While this was far from an authentic mille feuille, it was nonetheless delicious with a rich chocolate, pear and aniseed flavour
Our wines were paired for us with the starter and main course. I particularly enjoyed the red wine pairing for my main course, Chapelle de Boucarut Empusa, which had the perfect red berry notes to complement the venison. I also noted the marked balance that the Domaine des Laurier PicPoul de Pinet brought to the ceviche (I’d tried it with the fizz and it was almost spoiled by the acidity of the ceviche).
My companion enjoyed the Lustru Grillo Sicilia DOC enough to continue drinking a second glass with the main course.
The Salut! Carte Blanche menu £38 for two courses or £46 for three courses) is served from Monday to Thursday evenings from 5.30 pm to 9.15 pm, on Sunday from 5.30 pm to 9 pm and for lunch from 12 pm to 3 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. At other times, there’s a concise à la carte menu.
Salut!
412, Essex Road
Islington
London, N1 3PJ
Dinner: Monday – Thursday 5:30 pm – 9.15 pm, Friday & Saturday 5.30 pm – 9.30 pm, Sunday 5.30 pm – 9 pm
Lunch: Friday & Saturday 12 pm – 3 pm, Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm
020 3441 8808
Looking for an alternative? Check our feature on great British restaurants in London
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