Appalachia, Shoreditch Review: American Comfort Food Comes to London

Looking for an honest Appalachia Shoreditch review? Here’s what to expect from Shoreditch’s intimate American restaurant—from the crab omelette and collard greens to the open kitchen, downstairs cocktail bar and whether it’s worth booking.

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As an American living in London, my standards for American food abroad are admittedly high.

So when I heard a tiny new Shoreditch restaurant was taking on the flavours of Appalachia (with everything from cornbread and collard greens to crab omelettes and smoked pork chops, no less), I was curious.

Shall we?

Opened in June, 2026 Appalachia takes inspiration from the food of the Appalachian region, with Southern and Mid-Atlantic influences running seamlessly through the menu.

But what struck me first was that none of it felt like American comfort food had simply been picked up and dropped into East London.

There was all the flavour and richness I associate with eating back home, but with almost European-sized portions—which, conveniently, means you can actually make your way through quite a bit of the menu without needing to be rolled out afterwards.

We started with a bourbon-based cocktail with chocolate notes and the aptly named Hillbilly Loaf with cultured apple butter, followed by cheddar and jalapeño cornbread madeleines, which might be one of my favourite twists on cornbread I’ve had in London.

Then came the tongue and head skewer, beef tartare tostada, smoked pork chop and the dish I’m still thinking about: the Old Bay omelette.

The lime chilli on the tartare packed enough heat that, despite my supposedly impressive spice tolerance, I can’t say I’d come back for it. Everything else quickly brought me back around.

Particularly the omelette.

It had crab, chilli and ginger with a seaweed butter sauce, and I can quite confidently say I’ve never had anything like it.

In fact, it’s a contender for one of the best omelettes I’ve ever had.

Then out came the smoked pork chops and spiced collard greens, which I will admit took me completely off guard.

My grandmother used to make them in Savannah, and for a few bites they somehow managed to make Shoreditch feel 3,000 miles away.

Later, I headed downstairs to Lowcountry, Appalachia’s intimate cocktail and whiskey bar (which is worth building into the evening for a drink before or after dinner) and learned that co-founder Ryan Sheehan was born in Savannah too, so full circle perhaps?

Part of the fun of eating at Appalachia is also watching everyone work. The kitchen is completely open, and at one point I realised I was paying almost as much attention to the chefs as I was to my food.

There was something very The Bear about it (only considerably calmer), with everyone moving around one another almost like an orchestra.

But despite how precise everything feels behind the counter, the restaurant itself isn’t precious about it.

There was plenty of lovely small talk from the team throughout the night, and dessert followed much the same philosophy.

Chocolate mousse garnished with seasonal cherries. Simple!

Just make a reservation first. Appalachia is tiny, which is lovely once you’re sitting at the counter and slightly less useful if your plan was to wander into Shoreditch and wing it.

But as an American, I can confidently say standards were met.

Happy Londoning,

Candace x

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Practical Bits:

Address: 71 Nile Street, London N1 7RD Appalachia

Nearest Tube: Old Street

Price: ££

Perfect for: Date nights, serious food lovers, homesick Americans and anyone who likes an open kitchen.

Good to know: The menu changes regularly, so dishes may differ from the ones I had when I visited. I’d also save time for their cocktail and whiskey bar Lowcountry for a nightcap or before dinner.