It seems a bit odd to leave New York for London only to find myself in a Jewish deli, but sometimes you just have to accept life and move it along. A dear friend in London thought I’d enjoy Mishkin’s, and she was most delightfully right.
Mishkin’s is located in Covent Garden, and defines itself as a “sort-of-Jewish-deli.” The look of the place reminded me of New York, with the exposed brick walls, kitchsy-chic decorations (what up neon lights), and the lovely candlit vibe. The room in the back is an old recording studio they found and reassembled, and if you flick a switch the “Recording” light pops on to let your waiter know you need some attention. My friends and I opted to sit in the front room, where we could enjoy the general atmosphere and buzz, but it’s good to know there are some options if need be.
The food is described as simple Jewish comfort food and cocktails, and although it might be a bit simplistic of a description, I think it’s right on the money.
I went with the Macaroni and cheese with salt beef and Colemans, which was a bit like pastrami, and the effect was out of this world and oh-so-delicious. Maybe a bit heavy, but a smaller portion filled me up and was exactly what I wanted after a few weeks dining through Europe. The pasta was perfect, the cheese was done just right, and overall the flavors were insanely blended — perfectly accented with a side of pickles, which I specifically asked for and was quite glad I did.
The drinks were also quite nice, and I went with a Bramble, which was gin, chambord, simple syrup, lemon juice, and muddled blackberries. It reminded me a bit of a summer picnic, and was drink and dessert all rolled into one. The cucumber and basil martini was strong, packing a punch from the Hendrik’s, but the flavors were refreshing and balanced well with the heavier food.
Overall I’m a big fan of the hole-in-the-wall style this place has going for it, especially as it’s located in the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden. Centrally located in London, it was an easy meeting place for the small crowd I had with me, and we were all quite content to catch up and settle into the leather banquettes.