What’s new? Eating out on the Dalston-Haggerston borders, that’s what. And so we head east to Queensbridge Road where The Richmond, a new restaurant and raw bar, has taken over the site formerly occupied by LMNT, a budget eatery better known for its batty "Carry On Cleo" decor than for its cuisine. It’s a pretty dismal-looking stretch, but it’s deep in Hackney basement-conversion territory.  Behind the scenes: Owner Brett Redman will be a familiar face to locals who’ll remember him from popular Victoria Park caff, The Pavilion. Redman is executive chef at The Richmond and at his other place Elliot’s Café in Borough Market. The Aussie chef is joined by vivacious Texan fashion stylist Margaret Crow. Isabelle Legeron, doyenne of natural wine, has put together the (excellent) wine list.  The concept: Redman and Crow originally planned to do a gastropub (the site’s the former, The Richmond Arms, so it would have made sense). In the event, the duo developed such an oyster-obsession that they changed tack, hence their neighbourhood bistro-meets-"raw bar" (I’d call it an oyster bar) concept.  They’re obviously into their vintage American restaurants too, an interest that manifests itself in retro design details such as their own "R"-branded restaurant ware in white and burgundy, menus in sugar paper shades of soft peach, lemon and blue, and old school silver gravy boats. Not that The Richmond is a fully realised restaurant flashback (that would be really fun); we’re never too far from modern day east London in this tarted up old boozer, with Negronis are on tap and bearded staff in Carhartt button downs and Vans.  What’s cooking? It’s what’s not cooking that’s the exciting thing here, including oysters (only £1 each during Happy Hour, from 5-6pm) and elegant little carpaccios and tartares. My queen scallops, half a dozen of them, came quaintly served on the half shell with a nicely judged garnish of preserved lemon and fino butter looked lovely and they also do a cute-looking crab "sandwich" on English muffin.  We visited on a Sunday when the cooking’s at its most comforting, and least challenging: for example, roast chicken for two or lamb shoulder for four with excellent dripping potatoes and addictive Indian-spiced spinach. During the week, you might find beef shin with white beans and horseradish or ‘nduja fish stew for two.  Signature dishes: Oysters, of course, from Maldon kumamotos from Essex, to Menai rocks from Wales and Portland Pearls from Cornwall; with a squeeze of lemon, The Richmond’s yuzu hot sauce or with a Bloody Mary shooter.  Best for: The Richmond’s an every-day-of-the-week place for locals but there are plenty of good reasons for a visit to its vicinity. Try a post-Broadway Market visits on a Saturday (handy for "Oyster Happy Hour" which runs from 3pm to 6pm on Saturdays) or trek up from Columbia Road Flower Market for a Sunday roast.
Restaurant and raw bar The Richmond caters to the changing face of an east London postcode that’s on the up