Review of Bistro Sable in Islington

Opening in late 2025 on the former site of The Smokehouse, Bistro Sable has brought genuine bistro chic to a corner of Islington, and what an arrival it is. The dining room is a beautifully considered space with original artworks lining the walls, French signage setting the tone, an open kitchen hums with quiet confidence, and candlelit tables flicker with a roaring fire.

The details have been obsessed over, and it shows. Within moments of stepping inside, we'd entirely forgotten we were in London. We were warmly greeted on arrival and shown to a wonderful table with a full view of the room, always a good sign. The menu is a love letter to the French classics: pâté, steak tartare, all the greatest hits present and correct. Taking our waitress's recommendations, we opted for the house specials with a cheese soufflé and French onion soup, though not before demolishing an exceptional baguette plate with the most outrageously good butter and crudités. No apologies.

The soufflé arrived perfectly timed, impossibly light, melt-in-the-mouth, a warm hug in edible form. The soup was tangy, deeply savoury and quietly magnificent. Both were remarkably generous for a lunch sitting, and by the time our mains arrived, the room had filled, and that wonderful hum of a happy, busy restaurant had taken hold. Sidenote: the restaurant is both dog and child-friendly.

For mains, we chose the rotisserie chicken with frites and green salad, alongside the classic boeuf bourguignon with pomme purée. The half chicken was flawlessly cooked, bathed in a white wine and girolle cream sauce of genuine deliciousness. The bourguignon was exceptional with the beef slow-cooked to perfection, rich and deeply flavoured, accompanied by a pomme purée that was, frankly, mostly butter.

Bistro Sable is not playing games: these are the finest quality ingredients, handled with real skill, and the flavours are extraordinary.

Somehow, we rallied for dessert. A shared chocolate and cherry mousse proved to be a revelation, rich and silky. The crème brûlée had that perfect caramelised crackle giving way to a creamy, cloud-like custard beneath. Absolutely heavenly.

Bistro Sable has the rare quality of feeling both effortlessly stylish and genuinely welcoming. The kind of place that's already someone's favourite restaurant, and will quickly become yours too. Exceptional, full stop.

Address: 63-69 Canonbury Road, Islington

For more information or to book click here.

Written by Claire Selby 

Photography courtesy of Bistro Sable