The Chicken Society has gone vegan, vegan-friendly that is, with the arrival of a much anticipated meat-free burger.

Since opening in place of The Dignity Pub in Regents Park Road at the end of last year, the restaurant has sought to win over the hearts and stomachs of those in Finchley Central and beyond and, considering their outstanding offering, I surmise that they have done so successfully.

What they have done in return, however, is listen to the feedback given and responded by updating the menu with a BBQ chicken burger, okra fries, pulled chicken nachos, a much needed vegan burger and a few little extras.

I began my visit over the weekend with some okra fries (£5) with lime yoghurt. I was apprehensive, I must be honest. Often referred to as lady fingers due to its tapering shape, the seeds release a sticky liquid when cooked and so have a reputation for being somewhat slimy.

The Chicken Society have miraculously overcome this, superseding all previous experiences of mine. Breaded and deep fried, they were more sticky than slimy and I enjoyed the unusual blend of textures.

To drink my guest had the Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (£8.50 for 250ml), while I went for the blood orange Paloma cocktail (£6.50). It is now an absolute favourite mine, with blood orange liqueur and blanco tequila, lengthened with lime and Ting.

For my main I had the vegan burger (£6.50) and it was one of the best I’ve had, with kale pakoras, almonds, red pepper and coronation squash with smashed avocado. The burger crunched through to softness, and the squash and avocado dripped out making it the kind of experience you seek in a good, big burger.

My friend was tempted by their new BBQ chicken burger, made up of boneless buttermilk fried chicken, pulled chicken, smoked cheddar and BBQ sauce, but on my suggestion went for the duck (£7 for quarter, £12 for half).

It is sweet and aromatic, marinated with paprika, five spice, garlic and cayenne. Upon my previous visit it was a winning dish for me, and she wholeheartedly agreed.

For our side dishes we added sweet potato fries (£4.50) and the Vietnamese style salad (4.50) which gave a fresh edge to the meal, with standout flavours.

With little space left we decided to share their house baked brownie of the day with a dollop of ice cream (£5). We kept it simple with vanilla ice cream, but could have had stracciatella, pistachio or raspberry ripple. The brownie oozed with succulence and was sumptuously soft and warm, a perfect finish to a spectacularly indulgent meal.

In what was meant to be a one-off over the last weekend, visitors were offered a free ride home on the Chicken Society Wing Mobile rickshaw or, if they lived a little too far, could be taken to a train station. This coming weekend is your last chance to ride the rickshaw, as it will make an unplanned return Friday and Saturday night.

The service is superb and the prices spectacularly good value.

*****

Details: chickensociety.co.uk