Melange gets its name from its mix of French and Italian dishes on the menu, though in reality its culinary offering is straightforwardly Mediterranean with a strong British accent: moules marinière and asparagus risotto, but also roasted pork belly and steak and chips.
Those steaks use prime Yorkshire beef, aged for up to 28 days; we tried the sirloin, which pleasingly came with visible chargrill marks and soft red meat. The linguine di mare consisted of a generous helping of tiger prawns and mussels lathered in chilli and garlic and sweetened by ripe cherry tomatoes.
Cocktails focus on well-mixed Franco and Italian favourites (Aperol Spritz, French 75). Breakfast, meanwhile, brings eggs and freshly cooked waffles.
Chesterfield-style seating and white tiled walls create a strong contemporary look that’s clearly a hit with Crouch End locals, as during our evening Melange was packed out with local diners. If Crouch End isn’t your hood, there’s another branch in Barnet.