Until relatively recently, wine bars and exceptional food weren’t necessarily two things that went together; the wine would always tend to be the focus, with the food somewhat of an afterthought. However, in the past ten years more and more wine bars have started popping up that put just as much emphasis on serving refined dishes of the highest quality as they do on offering an impressive selection of wines, and that’s exactly what Leroy is all about.

Opened in 2018 by restaurateur and wine enthusiast Ed Thaw, Leroy promises diners a memorable dining experience but in wonderfully laidback surroundings. Found on Shoreditch’s Phipp Street, the only evidence of the restaurant from the outside is a red neon sign attached to the brick building, but head inside and you’ll be instantly greeted by a bright, modern dining room with vinyls spinning in one corner and an open kitchen in the other. A marble-topped counter is the perfect spot for a glass of wine and a couple of snacks while tables and chairs are reserved for those wanting to try the highly acclaimed food.

Consisting of a selection of regularly changing small plates designed to be shared, Leroy’s a la carte dinner menu champions seasonal British produce without overcomplicating things. Dishes will typically consist of just a few main elements, all of which will have been cooked with the utmost care and attention to bring out as much flavour as possible. Expect everything from simple yet elegant combinations such as Vesuvio tomatoes served with feta and black olives, to delicately balanced classical plates like a raviolo of chicken with sweetcorn and girolles. Old-school desserts including peach melba and a Mont Blanc meanwhile, bring proceedings to a crowd-pleasing finish.

Guests certainly won’t be short of choice when it comes to choosing a bottle of wine to accompany their food at Leroy. Their three-hundred-and-fifty-strong list features everything from old-world classics to some more unusual bottles, with a knowledgeable team always on hand to provide guidance.

It’s still a pretty rare thing to find a restaurant or wine bar that manages to perfectly strike the balance between having a relaxed atmosphere and serving food that deserves to be taken seriously, but Leroy has it down to a fine art.