Feels Like June is part of Canary Wharf’s evolution from a once lifeless business district into a genuine dining destination. Housed inside TRIBE Hotel in Wood Wharf, it brings a slice of laid-back Californian farm-to-table cooking to London’s most corporate postcode.
From the moment you arrive, it’s clear that Feels Like June is more than just a restaurant. It has become something of a community hub, where families, tourists and office workers come together to enjoy one of life’s simplest pleasures: good food.
With the sun shining over London, it felt only natural to dine al fresco while we had the chance, so we opted for a table on the terrace. Half covered, half bathed in sunshine, it’s the perfect spot for a summer meal and, as clichéd as it sounds, for any day that truly Feels Like June.
It was only just after midday when we arrived, but it felt only right to sample one of the restaurant’s handcrafted cocktails. I opted for the Sakura Blossom, a softer take on the classic sour with maraschino liqueur, butterfly pea blossom and lemon, whilst my long-suffering plus one chose the Flamingo. Built around East London gin, it balances sweet strawberry and toasted marshmallow with a gentle bittersweet finish, making it dangerously easy to drink despite its punchy 21.6% ABV.
After probably enjoying our brunch cocktails a little too much, we were ravenous. We needed succulent, we needed fresh, we needed salty, so we let rip on the menu.
To start, we devoured the Texan BBQ corn ribs, deliciously sweet and smoky, tearing the kernels from the cob as if we were two cavemen returning from a sabre-toothed tiger hunt. The prawn skewers and burrata soon followed. The prawns were beautifully charred and coated in a tangy chilli sauce, while the burrata was wonderfully fresh and zingy, just virtuous enough to convince us we wouldn’t need to be airlifted back to our flat afterwards.
For our mains, we settled on the jackfruit burger and the chilaquiles. The burger was packed with smoky pulled jackfruit and was surprisingly hearty, while the gochujang mayo brought a welcome kick of sweet heat. The pickled slaw cut through the richness with a sharp, crunchy freshness, making every bite feel balanced rather than overly indulgent.
We simply had to order the chilaquiles, a welcome reminder of our travels through Mexico earlier this year. Crisp tortilla chips were smothered in a vibrant tomatillo salsa and topped with smoked tofu, creamy avocado, pickled jalapeños, feta and a perfectly fried egg. Tangy, comforting and packed with contrasting textures, it delivered everything we remembered and loved about one of Mexico’s most beloved breakfasts, though it did leave us with a tinge of sadness that we’re no longer on that side of the globe.
With our mains, we indulged in a carafe of South African red. It was natural. It was funky. It was served lightly chilled. Most importantly, it was exactly what the food called for.
You won’t be surprised that we didn’t have room for dessert, and neither of us could find an Ubercopter to return us from whence we came. By the time we reluctantly pushed our chairs back, we were full, slightly sun-kissed and already talking about what we’d order next time.
As we wandered back through Wood Wharf in a slight food-induced daze, it struck us that Feels Like June isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. It simply serves vibrant, thoughtful food in a setting that makes you want to linger just that little bit longer. For a couple of hours, Canary Wharf felt a million miles away from the City and, on a day that genuinely felt like June, there was nowhere else we’d rather have been.
tribelondon-canarywharf.com/m/feelslikejune
G/F, 15 Water St, Canary Wharf Estate, London E14 5GX