LDNReview
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Top Cuvée
Included In
Around Finsbury Park and Highbury there are lots of places to eat, but this is an area where beer comes first. Freshly made naans and late-night bagels come second. Things are always changing along the Blackstock Road though. A carpeted boozer with a framed picture of Arsene Wenger isn’t your only option for a drink and a snack. Nowadays you can get adana kofte, a bottle of Argentinian orange, or an 18 inch pizza, all along this one stretch. And now Top Cuvée is part of the group.
Top Cuvée is a spacious wine bar and restaurant off the Blackstock Road that’s a fine addition to the area for anybody looking for a couple of glasses and a couple of croquettes before being on their merry way. The menu here is split between picky things and things to share, which makes sense because this is a drinking and eating place, not vice versa. House terrine is good, salads are nice, burrata is burrata. These are things best suited to nibbling at, but the more you eat here, the less convincing things get. First, terrine. Good. Then, soda bread. Alright. Next, mussels. Okay. Before, asparagus. What’s that curdled stuff? Finally, pork. Pork? Did we order the pork? Oh, it’s actually quite nice.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
As a restaurant Top Cuvée can feel slightly hit or miss, but as a bar it’s far more consistent. It’s big, open, and you can lean or perch or do whatever you like, whilst picking on some ham, and sipping on a glass from the daily-changing natural wine list. Serving as the ‘oh this little place’ location on a first or second date is where it comes into its own. Or as a ‘let’s grab a drink here’ if you want something that isn’t a pub in the area.
If you’re looking for food that’ll make you reconsider your life then this isn’t the place and, also, well, get a life. It doesn’t really matter that the food here isn’t necessarily worth travelling for, because not every bar or restaurant needs that. They need good atmosphere, good service, and good drinks. All of which Top Cuvée has. Just don’t come here when you fancy a pint of the black stuff.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Food Rundown
Bread And Whipped Butter
House Croquettes
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
House Terrine
Mussels in XO Sauce
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Burrata Panzanella
Asparagus, Beurre Noisette, Wild Garlic
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli