Le Mercury

Situated halfway up Islington's popular Upper Street, Le Mercury is a quality French bistro with fast-food prices. Set over three floors, it is certainly guilty of packing diners in, but when you can get starters such as crab in choux pastry for around £4, and main courses of pork belly and fresh mackerel for about £8, you can forgive them that. The wine list is equally inexpensive, and the candlelit interior perfectly romantic. Almost everybody in here seems to be on a date.