There’s a secret garden in Shoreditch – and it’s not a members only club.

The Venue
There are plenty of secrets looming behind walls in Shoreditch – some stylish, some disturbing, some both. The secret looming behind the wall at Rochelle School in picturesque Arnold Circus is one of the best restaurants in the area – and gaining access is as easy as a wall with a buzzer. As you buzz the Rochelle School Canteen the doors will open, and you will be transported into a converted schoolhouse surrounded by a walled-in green space where beautiful people are sitting on the grass, listening to low key music, being served excellent food. Is it paradise? No, it’s simply the best canteen in Shoreditch.

The Atmosphere
Elegant but professional, the canteen serves Rochelle School, a converted arts building where professional artists in a variety of capacities work professionally in studios and offices. The atmosphere is correspondingly artistic – stylish but successful artists line the tables having business meetings that you would actually want to eavesdrop on. But the staff are what really make this canteen stand out – with the most professional and upscale attitudes in Shoreditch and a warm familiarity with the food, they pay attention to the clientele and take a real pride in their work.

The Food
Simple, innovative, tasty, and relatively well priced, the exceptional menu relies on fresh high quality ingredients. Bread, butter and olive oil will set you back about £2.00, but it’s high quality bread, fresh butter and good olive oil drizzled with sea salt. For a starter, smoked trout comes accompanied by a cucumber and mustard seed compote – simple ingredients that combined taste so right, you wonder why you hadn’t thought of combining them before. As a main they serve a Globe Artichoke, which is simply a huge steamed artichoke with a dipping sauce. It seems simple but is very satisfying. For dessert for try the chocolate brownie with plain but amazing quality vanilla ice cream.

The Drink
The canteen has an extensive drink list, and a series of high end bottled juices or coffee. The drinks are on the pricey side, however, no doubt to counter balance the value of the food.

The Last Word
You may not be an artist working at Rochelle School, but high quality service, ingredients, and great value mean everyone deserves to take a lunch break at the best canteen in Shoreditch… just make your way to the buzzer on the wall.

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