The story
Chef Jake Finn brings his fire-focused cooking to Cinder Belsize Park, a Mediterranean eatery where he prioritises hearty tables over pretty plates. Growing up in a large family that encouraged his culinary interests, Finn developed a deep respect for cooking over flame that now defines the kitchen. Every item on the menu meets the heat of the Josper grill to deliver smoky depth without fuss. This approach keeps the focus on substantial flavour and high-quality ingredients across the board. Finn views the space as a sharing-style venue where tapas-inspired portions encourage communal dining. His background includes stints at The Ritz and La Petite Maison, yet he deliberately moved away from fine dining conventions to build a place grounded in warmth.
The menu opens with moreish starters like grilled bread paired with confit garlic tahini and burnt tomato salsa. Vegetable sides receive equal care, whether chargrilled sweet peppers meet quinoa and mint or courgettes share a plate with stracciatella and sour cherry molasses. Lamb loin chops bring robust Mediterranean flavours through a dressing of yoghurt, maple, and sage. Fish selections offer variety, from cod boasting a special texture and smoky edge to whole sea bream accompanied by fennel and radish. Sweets provide a simple conclusion to the meal, with classic crème brûlée and lemon posset available to finish. The kitchen also handles vegetables with creative twists, such as mastelo glazed with kalamata and oregano or hispi cabbage dressed with chilli and red onion.
Indoors, Cinder offers only 18 covers, so tables line a long banquette in a layout that feels intimate rather than cramped. The Good Food Guide describes the vibe as convivial, noting it resembles sitting in someone's front room. Staff move breezily around the compact floor to keep service relaxed. The drink list complements the Mediterranean cooking with a classical wine selection offered by the glass, featuring choices like a racy Vinho Verde and a strawberry-forward Bourgogne Pinot Noir. Champagne lovers can order a glass of Renard Barnier Brut, which offers notes of red apple and vanilla acidity. For sparkling alternatives, a DS Milismato Prosecco provides bright pear and citrus tones suitable for afternoon sipping. Cocktails and non-alcoholic spirits like Seedlip Grove 42 round out the beverage options at moderate price points.
Recognition
Details
History
1 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Post-lockdown, chef Jake Finn’s Belsize Park eatery started with outside seating only but quickly became a vibrant addition to the local community. With just 18 covers indoors, it’s a tight squeeze (a few tables lined-up alongside a long banquette), but there’s an easy-going, convivial vibe about the place – ‘like sitting in someone's front room,’ observed one visitor. Relaxed, well-informed staff know the crowd and go about their business breezily. The menu isn't fussy either, there's plenty of choice and almost everything is ‘kissed by the flames’ of the Josper grill. Proceedings start well, with moreish, almost ‘ashy' grilled bread, confit garlic tahini and burnt tomato salsa. After that, it's all about full-on flavours and intelligent ideas, with plenty of char to boot – from courgettes with stracciatella, pine nuts and sour cherry molasses to lamb loin chops dressed up with yoghurt, maple and sage. Fish is also worth a punt – our cod had a special texture and smoky edge, or there might be whole sea bream with fennel, radish and fresh herbs. A couple of desserts (crème brûlée, lemon posset) round things off. Drinks are reasonably priced across the range, from an impressive cocktail menu to a fairly classical wine list offering plenty by the glass, and the place is now open for breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. In short, Cinder is ‘exactly what you want from a neighbourhood restaurant.’
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