The Clove Club
London, United Kingdom
Insider Compass
An expert assessment built on data, context and gastronomic judgement.
RECOGNITIONS
About The Clove Club
Isaac McHale's two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Shoreditch Town Hall has built a devoted following for its modern British tasting menus that marry impeccable seasonal produce with techniques absorbed from stints at Noma, The Ledbury, and Momofuku. The open kitchen serves as the room's focal point, allowing diners to watch the brigade work with precision and intuition across dishes that feel both refined and unfussy. This is fine dining stripped of pretension—serious cooking served in an inviting, relaxed atmosphere that's earned it recognition as one of the UK's most celebrated tables.
Good to know
Book the lunch service for a more relaxed pace and natural light flooding the dining room, plus it's easier to secure a table with a direct kitchen view.
The chef
Isaac McHale
Isaac McHale cut his teeth in Scotland at Stravaigin before heading to Australia's Marque, then returning to London to work under Tom Aikens and at The Ledbury. His culinary worldview expanded through stages at Noma in Copenhagen and In De Wulf in Belgium, followed by time at Momofuku Ssam Bar in New York—experiences that shaped his intuitive, globally informed approach to British ingredients. Since opening The Clove Club, he's earned two Michelin stars and helped the restaurant land at #38 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list, with a philosophy centered on seasonality, restraint, and letting produce dictate the menu.
The Insider Compass
Four dimensions, each assessed independently against the same criteria everywhere we rate.
Plate
The tasting menu showcases ingredient-led cooking that respects seasonality while applying global techniques—expect dishes like Scottish blue shell lobster with lobster bisque curls, potato and black truffle, and a signature burnt clementine dessert that regulars still talk about. McHale's approach emphasizes restraint and precision, allowing stellar British produce to speak without unnecessary embellishment, though some find portions lean towards the delicate side.
Vibe
IntimateThe main dining room wraps around the open kitchen in an intimate horseshoe, creating a theatre-like experience that's surprisingly warm and unpretentious for a two-star establishment. Natural light filters through during lunch service, while evening brings a cozy, sophisticated energy—never snobbish, always welcoming.
Service
The team strikes a balance between attentive professionalism and genuine approachability, greeting guests warmly and explaining each course with knowledge rather than formality. Handwritten cards for special occasions and thoughtful touches—like remembering where guests are visiting from—add personal warmth, though pacing can occasionally slow between courses during busy service.
Setting
Shoreditch Town Hall's historic bones provide an elegant backdrop, with the restaurant occupying a spacious, open dining room where the working kitchen takes center stage. The design feels modern and inviting rather than stuffy, with tables arranged to give everyone a view of the brigade in action—a front-row seat to the craft.
These four dimensions are a handful of the attributes we review. The Insider Rating also draws on research the compass does not display — among them the wine programme, the size and quality of the cellar, the location, and how long the house has operated. It is not an average of the scores above.
Go for
- Isaac McHale's modern British cooking that draws on his time at Noma and The Ledbury
- An open kitchen experience that's intimate and theatrical without feeling stuffy
- A tasting menu that showcases impeccable seasonal British ingredients with global technique
Don't go for
- Hearty, filling portions—the cooking leans delicate and refined
- A quiet, formal Michelin experience—the open kitchen creates energy and some bustle
Details
Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, London EC1V 9LT, UK
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