Number 90 Bar & Kitchen in Hackney Wick, east London, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with an epic weekender of top DJ sets, burgers and booze until 6am.
Founded by two music industry experts and Hackney Wick residents, Number 90 is a buzzing canal-side warehouse venue with a fantastic music and art programme. It’s a landmark of the creative community with a local vibe and can easily be identified among the area’s colourful industrial buildings by its two recently finished 70ft murals by renowned street artists Dale Grimshaw and Zabou.
I visited for dinner on the first night of birthday merriment and feasted on burgers and cocktails with a warm-up soundtrack courtesy of Stranger Than Paradise Records, the independent record store based at Mare Street Market.
The menu is all about comfort food with a twist, featuring some tempting Greek-style kebabs and glazed ribs, loaded burgers, luxury fries and creative vegan dishes.
The rather enormous TNG burger was smokey and flavourful with a high-quality, well-seasoned beef patty in a fluffy, seeded TNG activated charcoal bun. It was taken to the next level with fruity and tangy chutney, moreish baconnaise sauce, smoked cheddar cheese, brie, baby gem, beef tomato, sweet red onion marmalade and smoked bacon.
The Chicken burger had a lovely home-cooked taste and was a real contrast to the TNG burger. The tasty Italian herb bread bun was packed with tender, crispy chicken schnitzel, baby gem, red onion, tomato, subtle aioli and punchy chorizo paste.
It’s hard to pick a favourite dish, but I was wowed by the Slow-cooked duck confit dirty fries. The generous portion of classic skin-on fries were topped with flaky pulled duck confit (just like the kind you’d find in a French bistro), rich cheese sauce and mouthwatering red wine gravy, finished with fresh pomegranate seeds. They were incredibly decadent and a real treat – ideal for sharing along with a burger.
Our second (and thankfully more modest) side of Sweet potato fries was exemplary – definitely some of the best in town.
The cocktail list is a well-edited mix of classics done well. 90’s Elderflower pisco sour was potent and refreshing, made with Macchu Pisco, St Germain, lime, simple syrup, egg white and Angostura Bitters. We also loved the sweet and aromatic Iced 9Tea – Earl grey tea mixed with Martini Rosso, Southern Comfort and lemon.
Number 90 Bar & Kitchen is perfect for a night out in Hackney Wick and I can definitely see myself spending the warmer nights on that glorious terrace overlooking the water.
For more information, menus and booking, visit: www.number90bar.co.uk
Chérie City was a guest of Number 90 Bar & Kitchen
All photos by Chérie City
