I’m a creature of habit. When I find something I like I’ll go back to it again and again. A new addition; the truly-out-of-this-world-delicious club sandwich at Clapton’s Verden…

Opened earlier this year by Ed Wyand and Tom Bell (Ed and head chef Tom Fraser were previously at Scott’s in Mayfair), Verden is a wine bar and restaurant with some seriously good food on offer. I know this because I’ve eaten there before.?On this occasion though, I was invited to try the club sandwich and, though the rest of the menu was super tempting, it was the club sandwich le husband and I both decided to go for.

The club sandwich – when done well, that holy grail of room service the world over, piled up with a different combination of yummy goodness with chip essentiality. The Verden version boasts such extreme juiciness, which I’ve never tasted the like of before; on sourdough bread (my fave!) with Comté cheese, crisped pancetta, celeriac remoulade and the very special Lardo di Colonnata (back fat from Tuscan pigs). So, so good.

Extremely helpful staff, very toddler tolerant, whizzing up some bread & chips for Gus super quick, offering up plastic cups for apple juice and a good supply of high chairs. Freshly squeezed orange juice – this is fast becoming a bug-bear of mine; hate when you ask for fresh orange and you get a nod but are then delivered something clearly not freshly squeezed.)

We devoured our sandwiches and chips embarrassingly quickly and paused to digest before expresso and mint tea. The perfect fuel for an afternoon at Winterville… For the wine-lovers among you, the wine menu is highly-rated with 26 wines by the glass and a great selection of speciality meats and cheeses. Just up by Clapton Pond for the east Londoners close by… Definitely worth making the trip for, I can see this becoming a Saturday lunch regular.

verdene5.com, 181 Clarence Road, London, E5 8EE

Stylonylon was a guest of Verden – thank you!