Mussel Men, Dalston ★★★★★

In a nutshell (seashell?): This laid back Dalston venue has all the quality (with none of the snobbery) you'd expect from a seafood restaurant – at a fraction of the price.

The welcome: With an informal dining atmosphere, ex-shellfish stall now permanent venue Mussel Men is definitely one of the best restaurants on Kingsland Road. Walking into the spacious, wood panelled interior, it's clear you're in for an entertaining evening. With nautical-inspired decor so authentic you'll feel slightly wobbly, and waiting staff on hand to provide entertainment in the form of thumb wars and silly, lobster-shaped hats, the vibe here is typically East London, tongue-in-cheek, young and plenty of fun. For summer Mussel Men is perfect, boasting a huge outside space, with whitewashed walls and large tables to relax for a casual drink and a nibble.

The food: Despite the gimmicky extras, the food remains at a consistently high standard. With starters ranging from an oyster tasting plate to delicious mackerel and beets, and mains including lobster rolls, mussels and one of the tastiest gnocci dishes we've tried, rarely is seafood so consistent and reasonable. On top of that, the cocktail menu is life-affirming: Bloody Marys that leave little to be desired (even for proportion snobs) – and for the brave-hearted, their version of a clamato, a "Mussel Mary" (for those unfamiliar, this is just like a Bloody Mary, but with clam juice – don't be alarmed, though, there's nothing fishy about it).

Would we go again? Absolutely – with top-notch British seafood and an atmosphere to boot, we'd take a group of friends and while away the evening on Blue Lagoons, Mussel Mary's and some live entertainment. Enjoy.