There are a lot of places to eat in Spitalfields. But between all the venison doughnuts and face-melting Thai food, sometimes you just need to sit somewhere nice, relax, and get a good risotto or a plate of calamari. Blixen is that place. Let’s talk about why.

First off, the location is ideal. Blixen is a few minutes from Liverpool Street tube (so you can’t get lost), and it backs out onto Spitalfields market, though it’s not really in the market itself. That means you get all the buzz of walking past stalls and traders on your way to dinner, without having to deal with actually sitting outside when it’s cold, nor tourists bumping into your table on their way to Las Iguanas.

Second, the food is actually good. Maybe you won’t go into work raving about it the next day, but by and large everything on this brasserie menu is really simple and really satisfying, in the sense that you’ll get the pleasure that you’re seeking from that plate of steak frites or rigatoni. It’s an excellent choice for brunch, and it’s also a good shout for group dinners, when the sharing plates and mains will sort you and your crew out.

If we’re eating out in the area ten times, we might hit up Som Saa and Gunpowder twice each, Hawksmoor once for a big night out, and the rest of the time we’ll come here. It’s good, it’s easy, and it fits every occasion. Plus, the posh interior and pretty bar means we can feel like we’re being fancy without dropping a ton of cash. That’s not easy to find in London. Luckily, Blixen is.