Long before Shoreditch got all chock-a-block with spiffy upscale restaurants worth turning London's foodie focus east, there was Eyre Brothers. This well-established fine dine of a restaurant does up simple and savoury Iberian dishes in a handsome and low-key setting. Odds are that service will verge on the impeccable whenever you visit.
Lunch here is a treat, special but not too dear. During the day, service stays formal but is a bit relaxed and there's a feeling that a few savvy customers know they can have the place to themselves with room to stretch out a bit. And if you've got the time, Eyre Brothers a fabulous setting for overdue catch ups.
Starters hover mostly around the £8 mark with most mains priced around £16 or £17. If you've got a few more quid than that, the grilled fillet of acorn-fed Iberico pig marinated with smoked paprika, thyme and garlic and patatas pobres (oven potatoes with green peppers, onions, garlic and white wine) for £21 is substantial and gorgeous. It's highly recommended you go with the restaurant's suggestion of having it cooked medium rare. Puds cost about a fiver and continue to please. Eyre offers tapas and petiscos of the “authentic gutsy” variety too.
Wines by the glass and bottle are all Portuguese and Spanish. There's something for all budgets. A wise diner would strongly consider saving a bit room for a fortified quaff at the end of his or her meal. The restaurant's list of sherries, ports and Medeiras amazes. A glass of fino or similar will set you back around £6.
Eyre Brothers is located at 70 Leonard Street, EC2A 4QX.
Photo/Chris Osburn
Disclosure: Londonist visited Eyre Brothers upon invitation by the restaurant.
