Tucked away inconspicuously down Middle Lane, 2 Sixteen brings a little bit of Caribbean flavour to Hornsey, serving up excellent homemade fare at equally excellent prices to those lucky enough to know about it.

The Venue
With woodchip walls, brushed wood flooring and smattering of red for the gooners, 2 Sixteen is about as close to your typical Caribbean shack as your going to get in the better end of N8. It’s not just about authentic West Indian charm though, with vivid local artwork costing a pretty penny adorning the walls, brightening up the place no end and adding to a modern and stylish aesthetic that raises it above the typical banality of your more average West Indian eatery. Seating is simple, the toilets basic and the view offers little more than a peek at the parked cars outside, but this is a place where atmosphere is key. And luckily it has it in abundance.

The Atmosphere
The tone is set by a scotch bonnet-warm welcome from the fabulously authentic front of house, who invites you in, makes sure you feel every bit at home and then heads off to create yet more of the appetising aromas coming from the kitchen. She’ll be back too, saying hello to passers by, welcoming in her friends for a chat and generally making sure this is somewhere that feels as community-centric as you’d expect from an authentic Caribbean restaurant – a Desmond’s for diners, perhaps. Reggae covers complete the deal, transporting a clientele that can’t be generalised to somewhere a lot more tropical than an unremarkable street in Hornsey.

The Food
The fare at 2 Sixteen is homemade and fresh, meaning the dishes boast clear, clean and intense flavours that benefit hugely from the obvious dedication and enthusiasm in the kitchen. It’s a menu full of traditional recipes given a personal flick of the wrist, so expect to enjoy flavours that are a little bit more individual than many alternative restaurants. The jerk wings (£3.50 for a starter), for example, are all the better for being just a tiny touch sweeter than your usual, with a hot yet well balanced sauce thickly drizzled over incredibly soft chicken that does actually fall from the bone. Similarly, the king prawn starter (£4.95) features plump, juicy prawns served in a hot, sweet and sour sauce that complements the fish really well, despite lacking that overbearing heat you’d expect from similar places.

Mains are equally impressive, with the curry mutton (£8.95) being a particular highlight. The meat is once again deliciously tender, well marinated and immersed in a rich spicy sauce that again balances sweetness with sour impeccably. The ackee and saltfish (£8.95) is a really good example of how the dish should be done, with good quality, well-seasoned cod lightened nicely by soft, boiled ackee. Vegetarians don’t have to miss out either, with the vegetable curry (£6.95) being particularly good. A hearty mix of green beans, carrot, sweet corn, red pepper, celery and okra, served in a spicy, warming and sweet curry sauce. All the mains are served with either plain rice or some great rice and peas that are flavoured beautifully with coconut, as well as some nicely fried plantain and zesty coleslaw.

Desserts are homemade, with a touch-too-dry Caribbean rum cake (£4.95) being bettered by some outrageously fragrant, flavoursome and soft rum and raisin and coconut ice cream (£4.50).

The Drink
There’s not a huge drinks selection at 2 Sixteen but it’s certainly ample, with wines being affordable and pretty well thought out. The house red, a fruity South African merlot, is decent value at £12.95, with the prominence of dark berries offering a nice contrast with the citrus flavours in the food. If you are looking to keep things distinctly authentic however, 2 Sixteen does a range of fruit punches which are pleasingly heavy on the white rum and made very drinkable by the addition of fruits such as blackcurrant, peach and mango, and served at the very acceptable price of £6.00 for a glass or £13.00 for a pitcher.

The Last Word
Whilst serving up food that’s traditional, delicious and really good value is a sure-fire way to keep people coming back, 2 Sixteen throws in a hugely enjoyable atmosphere just for good measure, which makes a return visit an absolute must.

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