Plates in Shoreditch became the UK’s very first vegan restaurant to be decorated with a prestigious Michelin star.
A short walk from Old Street, standout dishes at the restaurant, according to Michelin inspectors, include the house laminated sourdough bread with whipped butter, fermented red currant and winter spices; the barbecued maitake mushroom with black bean mole, kimchi, aioli and puffed rice and the raw cacao gateaux with sour cherry, coconut blossom ice cream, African pepper, toasted macadamia and raw Caramel.
Michelin called it a ‘momentous moment’ and said that Plates is a ‘groundbreaking establishment that has raised the bar for plant-based cooking in this country’.
However, it also made a point of adding that Plates ‘is not just the “vegan Star” – it is a Star full stop.’
Plates isn’t the easiest place to secure a reservation at.
The restaurant is pretty small and is, understandably, permanently packed with diners.
Tables are completely booked up all the way through February, March and April.