Mosaica @ The Factory

 

Mosaica has been around for over 10 years and is rated by both Hardens and the good Food Guide but being tucked away on an industrial estate in north-west London you may not have heard of it, much less visited the place. Increased publicity has arisen from the connection with co-owner and music producer Labrinth (real name Timothy McKenzie) whose studio is upstairs. His music industry connections mean that celebs like Plan B, Adele and Tinie Tempah have eaten here. But don't come for the celebrity sightings, the restaurant is good enough to stand on its own credentials. The vibe at Mosaica is laid back, there's a breezy music policy, and the style is New York loft living. This former chocolate factory is a huge and imposing space, spruced up with a crazy mixture of furnishings and art (many of them taken from the
artists' studios that share the building). But it's not a case of style over substance. The food is good too. Sourced from Smithfield Market, the meat is carefully selected ("they almost have to come with a birth certificate", according to their publicity material). The fish from Billingsgate Market is so fresh it's still in rigor mortis when it's picked up from East London at 5am while pasta, bread and ice cream are all handmade on the premises. It may be tricky to find but it's well worth the effort.