Consider this your Willy Wonka golden ticket and visit Mosacia at The Chocolate Factory, you won't be disappointed.

5th October 2014

As feature in our October Palmers Green & Southgate LIFE magazine

As Susan and I approached ‘The Chocolate Factory' on an industrial estate in the cultural quarter of Wood Green I was unsure of what to expect. Situated on the ground floor of a business centre we were directed to the end of an otherwise unassuming office corridor but once through the door you are immediately struck by the atmosphere. There is an open plan kitchen to the right, the ceiling is adorned with lights and the walls with candles and contemporary artwork giving the restaurant a lovely ambiance. It was a far cry from the traditional local restaurants I was used to.

We were seated close to the stage area and greeted by friendly and unpretentious staff. They have a large selection of reasonably priced wines ranging from £16 per bottle up to £32. The bar offers cocktails and champagne but on this occasion we stuck to the house white to accompany our starters of Charred Peruvian Asparagus with Parmesan Salad for me and Grilled Brixham Sardines with Salsa Verde for Susan along with delicious freshly baked bread. The menu is British, Bistro / Gastropub style food, simple and classic with around six selections per course.

For our mains our waiter recommended "the best thing on the menu, 21-hour roast pork belly" and I wasn't disappointed. The crackling was crispy, the meat was tender and tasty served with mustard mash and red cabbage. Susan enjoyed salmon on a bed of salad accompanied by a lovely homemade dressing. Both plates were returned empty. Other options included Lamb, Ribeye, Cod & Chorizo and for vegetarians a Risotto or Tagliatelle.

Now we had time to sit back, relax and enjoy the live music. The evening's entertainment was arranged by Lester Clayton, and included three unsigned, up and coming artists: Lauren Thalia, a 14-year old who was discovered on Britain's Got Talent, Annie Afrilu and Palmers Green's own Lester Clayton. The event was sponsored by leading music equipment manufacturer 'Sennheiser' and had various record labels, producers and branding teams down, including representatives from Sony and Ralph Lauren. Mosaica hold regular event nights including jazz, comedy and acoustic nights. Check out their website for more details.

After some more wine and dancing we sat down to order our desserts. Susan ordered the cheese board and I ordered the chocolate mousse with amaretti biscuits which again was homemade and lovely. The selection also included Eton Mess , Baked Vanilla Cheesecake or Sticky Toffee pudding. We finished our drinks in the internal courtyard chatting to the musicians and other diners on what had been an excellent night out.

The restaurant has a trendy, quirky feel to it. The staff work well together and compliment the warm atmosphere. The clientele on the evening varied from groups of young adults, couples enjoying a date night to the more mature diner; none of whom looked out of place. Expect to pay between £25-35 per head, which I considered excellent value for money. I have since discovered that Mosaica is owned by singer songwriter Labrinth, and has seen celebrity diners including Adele, Wretch 32 and various footballers and other celebrities from TV, film and music.

Consider this your Willy Wonka golden ticket and visit Mosacia at The Chocolate Factory, you won't be disappointed.