Announcing the closure on Instagram, Saltine cited adverse trading conditions saying that “the climate for small restaurants is a tough one – tougher than Covid”.
The restaurant was launched by Mat Appleton and Jess Blackstone in 2023 following the success of their Fink’s café group.
The duo teamed up with head chef Phil Wood, previously of Spring and, most recently, St John Marylebone, to offer a menu of seasonal dishes led by provenance and sustainability, using whole animals from select farmers.
Open all day, Saltine offers a lighter lunch menu alongside a full restaurant menu in the evening as well as a coffee, grab-and-go lunch and a small pastry selection available throughout the day.
Example dishes include pickle pear with pecans and gorgonzola; grilled rabbit with burnt chilli sauce and morcilla and; hake with coco beans and anchovy.
Appleton and Blackstone’s recently opened their largest Fink’s to date earlier this year brining their total number of north London cafés to five.
Saltine will close its doors on 21 December.