From garlicky rye sticks to beer butter and homemade sausages, Cara dines at a Lavinian owned spot that won hearts of Angel residents.

As the season deepens into the colder months it’s time to think about heartier dishes. And I know just a spot to try this autumn. Two More Beers a Latvian-inspired restaurant at Upper Street by Angel Station.

The diverse range of venues on this busy street always captivate me, they look so lively and distinctive, often being unique to that location only.

Most of the time, I only see them in passing — during a quick stroll toward the bars in Islington or on my way to the rather overprices charity shops. But not on this occasion, we’re finally actually visiting one of them.

As mentioned it’s a Latvian inspired restaurant, and no, it’s not all potatoes and sauerkraut.

That said, I’m all for that comforting, gut-friendly, serotonin-boosting pairing — perhaps it’s exactly what we need to keep the seasonal gloom at bay.

If you haven’t been yet the food stereotype will be broken here in a second, there is everything on the menu from fish and steaks to home made sausages and burgers including a venison waffle burger.

There is dry-aging fridge stacked with beautiful cuts of meat next to the bar displaying countless varieties of beer. As the name implies they take beer seriously, there’s something for everyone from Mexico to Japan and everything in between.

Stouts, sours, fruit and ales tap and bottled. Choosing one can take a while but knowledgeable staff are here to help.

My first recommended sample is an immediate winner, a Latvian pine fruit by Nurme. It tastes like forest with refreshing hints of grapefruit and pine resin.

It’s no classical IPA but that’s why I love it, and it cuts through umami of the sardines starter perfectly.

Butterfly cut they’re air salted and then presented hang on a miniature drying rack with a tartar sauce. They are salty, a little smoky and deeply savory, a little thing of beauty.

This is the dish to have with your beer instead of the boring nuts, crisps and other regulars. But of course we won’t ignore the meat with such a good display.

The second starter comes with a modern take on a steak tartar, served in a brioche bun, cleverly sliced it’s a pull and share experience. Or so I keep reminding my guest because he’s not too eager on sharing.

The bread is beautifully soaked in the meat juices, perhaps a little too plentiful, but with the rich meat, tangy sauce, parmesan and golden yolk, it’s still a joy to eat.

Given the size of the sharing board on the way—we set the brioche aside. I love that the platter showcases so many house favourites, from three kinds of homemade sausages to a hearty pork shank.

One of the sausages is made from venison, a very on trend meat right now with many establishments swapping for this sustainable option.

The venison is served along with rich lamb and pork sausages, all perfectly grilled and succulent. Then come the rye bread garlic sticks—crunchy, unapologetically garlicky and frankly, kind of addictive.

Rye teams up with meat and garlic perfectly. It just has that depth of flavor its pale wheat cousin can only dream of.

There’re also pig ears, thinly sliced and cooked to absolute crunch, some bits are a little challenging I’d say for the teeth. But I’m always all for unpopular cuts plus they are rich in collagen. Nicely dusted in paprika and chilli it’s a good spiced snack.

There’s a German pretzel on the board too, served with a beer butter. I’ve tried many flavoured butters before—even an yeast one—but this beer-infused version takes it to another level.

It doesn’t stop at butter though, there is also a beer tiramisu ‘Beeramisu’, a mini metal pan filled with dark beer infused sponge, layers of mascarpone filling and a striking cacao dusted top.

It’s perfectly moist with a boozy bitterness from the beer, an interesting touch and something I’d definitely order again.

One thing’s certain: if you come to Two More Beers, you won’t leave hungry or thirsty. With its hearty dishes, generous portions, and a welcoming garden made for lazy summer sessions, this place delivers whatever the season.

Two More Beers – Restaurant and Bar Angel, 59 Upper St, London N1 0NY