Welcome to the Yellow Bittern.
It’s named after a poem, which is named after a bird, which has had one single sighting in the UK, ever, in November of 1962. And while it’s quite possibly London’s most eccentric restaurant, it’s also one of the most convivially inviting, too.
You’ll find it on the Caledonian Road. And with its soft white tablecloths and carefully curated artworks, it would make for a wonderful dinner spot. Only, it’s only open for lunch. And you’ll be hard pressed to find a space given that it only has 17 seats. A situation that isn’t made much better by the fact that the place doubles as an office for Luncheon Magazine. And that it’s also a bookshop too, trafficking mostly in “obscure books”. And all of these touches seems to have made it magnetically popular.
But if you can get past all of that, there’s a great meal to be had courtesy of chef Hugh Corcoran, who has spent most of his career impressing diners/critics in the Basque Country & Paris. He’s pulling together a old fashioned, nourishing menu of “pheasants, partridges, guinea fowl, chickens, beef stews, veal kidneys, hearty soups, fattening puddings, cheeses, soda breads, Sauvignons, Pinots, Rieslings, Burgundies, Chenins, Chardonnays, Mouvedres, Carignans, Carbernets, bottles of stout, glasses of Chartreuse and books.”
And finally, there are only two sittings (at 12pm & 2pm), and getting a reservation at them requires either an actual phonemail with an actual person on an actual landline, or a politely worded letter/postcard. We’d give them credit for that move, but of course…
…they only take cash.
NOTE: The Yellow Bittern is open now, for weekday lunches (or a very early supper, 10am-6pm). You can book ahead by sending them a letter/postcard, or phoning 0203 342 2162. If you insist on going online, you can check out Luncheon Magazine’s Insta.
The Yellow Bittern | 20 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DU
Want to actually get dinner? You’ll likely want to head to one of the best restaurants in King’s Cross then.