First glance: the Culpeper's new restaurant

The Culpeper in Spitalfields has just opened its new first floor kitchen.

Since the well-loved Princess Alice was renovated last June, only the ground floor of the four-storey building has been used, but now under the direction of head chef Sandy Jarvis, the first floor restaurant is open for business. Londoners may know Jarvis from his stint as head chef of Terroirs wine bar near Charing Cross.

The Culpeper boasts homegrown fruit, veg and herbs, which come from the garden on the roof and promises a seasonal menu using as many of its own ingredients as possible. Expect simple dishes cooked well, with plenty of sharing plates. Dishes we've seen include wild sea bass, brown shrimps, cucumber and dill (£16) and veal chop, sage, lemon and caper butter (£50 for two).

Despite being near Spitalfields and close to Shoreditch, the restaurant takes bookings (!) and will open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday.

Head chef Sandy also oversees the food available downstairs, which includes a selection of sandwiches. But our tip is to go for the snacks, including the delicious “porkcorn”: popcorn coated with lashings of pork fat and crackling.

The Culpeper is hoping to make the most of its four floors and intends to open more rooms soon, but in the meantime, try the broad selection of beers and natural wines downstairs, sun on the rooftop garden upstairs (once the weather finally begins to resemble summer) and – on the evidence of the photos in the above gallery at least – the mouthwatering food on the first floor.

The Culpeper, 40 Commercial Street, E1 6LP, Mon - Thurs 11am - 12am, Fri - Sat 11am - 2am, Sun 11am - 11pm. theculpeper.com