Popham's – London Fields

Popham's in London Fields is a bakery by day and transforms into a candle-lit pasta restaurant at night. It's a pretty setting under the railway arches, intimate and quiet, with a warm atmosphere and an open kitchen.

The service was very good. I was half an hour late to meet my friends, but the staff were kind about it and brought our drinks straight away.

The service was very good. It felt celebratory and warm — the kind of place where the staff seem to actually want you to have a good time.

Starters & Small Plates

We were advised to order a mix of appetisers and small plates before moving onto pasta.

• Goat's Cheese Croissant Crisp – Very small, so we shared one between two, but it was delicious. The goat's cheese with the sweetness of apricot jam worked really well.
• Bread and Butter – Freshly baked. The butter was very salty, which I enjoyed.
• Balsamic Aubergine with Olives and Anchovies – The aubergine was exceptionally smoky and well-cooked.
• Whipped Feta and Roasted Tomato Crostini – A safe option. The tomatoes were fresh, the feta was good, but it lacked excitement.

Pasta

• Mortadella and Pistachio Pesto Pasta (£17.50) – The pasta was excellent: creamy mortadella, flavourful pistachio, and well-presented individual shapes. The problem was the portion: it was more like a half-portion. At this size it felt overpriced.
• Cavatelli with Pollock and Tomato – Tasted good, but the presentation was odd — it came across as more of a stew than a pasta in sauce.

Three pastas between two people would be more realistic. At this size and price, it felt overpriced — and I left hungry.

Dessert

• Chocolate Mousse with Cherries, Kirsch and Crème Fraîche – Ironically, the biggest portion of the night. The mousse was rich and airy, and the classic chocolate-and-cherry combination was wonderful.

Verdict

The atmosphere was lovely and the food was well-cooked, but the portions were too small for the price. I left hungry and felt it wasn't good value for money.