American style chicken wings on our Capital’s doorstep. Yep, that’ll do us!

Orange Buffalo started out as a food truck in Brick Lane and has since gone on to open its thriving Hoxton Square joint, with Tooting next in its sights (set to open this summer) – and we can see why the expansion is happening.

We headed down the Old Street branch, nestled into hipster setting, Hoxton’s Bar and Kitchen. To be frank, the food is incredible. The wings are smothered generously in sauce (which we’ll get to shortly) but even beneath this smothering, the skin remains crispy and the chicken juicy.

So, let’s talk sauces. Their range spans hugely and whilst you can stick to a more subdued heat, there’s a punch-packing bully of a chilli waiting for you to face its wrath – The Viper wing. Apparently, there are more people in the world who have climbed Everest than have gotten through a portion of these and they’re NOT for the faint hearted. Don’t believe us? This menu offers milkshakes and mini milk ice lollies to help handle the heat when you need it. Told you.

Obviously the chicken is the hero here but at the same time, you can’t neglect the sides. Buffalo style curly fries, crispy onion wings and the creamiest mozzarella sticks you might ever taste are all worthy of your tray space. Not forgetting the blue cheese dip, of course.

The whole look and feel of the dish screams America, with all food presented in baskets and the whole space is an ‘order at the bar and collect your tray’ style service, so you’re getting a full 360 experience.

Orange Buffalo Hoxton is definitely a vibey place to say the least so if you’re looking for a relaxed, tete a tete it might not be the spot for you but if you’re looking to get a bit rowdy over some wings before donning your dancing shoes, this is definitely the one for you.

Book a table at the Orange Buffalo website.

Paternoster Chop House, perhaps now more commonly known as Channel 4’s First Dates set, is one to add to your London foodie list. The minute you head into Paternoster Square, which is a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Cathedral, you notice the restaurant thanks to its vibrant atmosphere and of course, that First Dates sofa in the corner.

There’s a buzz in the restaurant which makes for a perfect, relaxed date night or catch up spot with friends. The iconic semi-circular bar is a magnet for casual after-work drinks but there’s nothing casual about their mixology skills.

The Gin Fizz cocktail, topped with pretty pink petals was refreshing and sweet in equal measure and the Old Fashioned with a twist doesn’t overwhelm in the mouth but instead had a subtle spice lingering on the palate.

Now, onto the best bit, the food. This Great British Chop House prides itself on honouring the times where ‘meat was king, portions were hearty and provenance was everything’. Perfection. To start, we tried the black pudding scotch egg, steak tartare with confit egg yolk and homemade pork pie with piccalilli. The scotch egg had a gorgeously rich, runny yolk and then black pudding casing made for a smoky aftertaste. The highlight was the outer crumb though, which added a salty, crispy texture.

If you’re not feeling like a slab of meat is your choice for dinner, there are plenty of alternatives – lamb chops, pork belly, herb smoked sea trout or a vegan dish leading with grilled Calcot onions and featuring dumplings, puy lentils and artichokes.

We, naturally, did go for the big slab of meat and opted for rib eye with red wine gravy. The meat, 300g and 42 day aged, was succulent and melt in the mouth but that was not the hero of this meal. The surprising hero, was the creamed mashed potatoes with Tunworth cheese. Silky to the point of almost runny, this potato is topped with thick slices of Tunworth, a British, camembert-style cheese which adds to the creaminess and provides a salty, thicker texture. We’re going in strong here but they actually were the BEST potatoes we’ve had. Fact.

Dessert was also a big hit and no matter which way your sweet tooth takes you, PCH has you covered. From a warmed, dense carrot cake, topped with cream cheese, candied carrot batons through to a rich, decadent sticky toffee pudding and chocolate truffles. Whatever you choose, we’re confident it will end your experience perfectly.

Prices at Paternoster are as you’d expect for a central London hotspot and steaks range from £22 (flat iron) through to £35 (fillet). For drinks, you’re looking at between £9.50 (white chocolate fizz) and £16 (Dirty Tea Time) and you can get a bottle of white wine for £30 (Novas, 2016).

To book, visit The Paternoster Chop House website. Want an insider tip? Ask for the table with the view of St Paul’s dome… a stunning backdrop for a stunning evening!