Mriya Neo Bistro

West London’s magnet for the capital’s Ukrainian population nostalgic for a taste of home, this neighbourhood bistro has the bonus of staff who are remarkably friendly and chefs who happily give a cheery hello and goodbye to all-comers. Ukrainian is very much the first language here, amongst both staff and guests, and the menu is proper Eastern European old-school – from pampushka (traditional fluffy garlic bread), salo (salt-cured pork fat) and varenyk (giant raviolo stuffed with braised rabbit) to staples such as a hearty beef and vegetable borsch enriched with traditional accompaniments and ‘satisfyingly squirty’ Kyiv fried chicken (light on salt, heavy on garlic). Wines centre on the Black Sea region.