photo credit: Charlie McKay
LDNGuide
London’s New Restaurant Openings
The new London restaurant openings you should know about.
Keeping track of London’s new restaurant openings is enough to give any normal person a headache. But we’re not normal. And nor are you. You love finding the latest spot that you simply have to tell your friends about before anyone else does. So do we. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to all the new openings that have caught our eye. Just remember, this isn’t an endorsement, as we haven’t been to all of these places. It’s for you to go and find out what’s what for yourself, so fare forward voyagers.
We’ll be regularly updating this post, and we’ll be adding a note whenever we review a spot, or add it to our guide to the best new restaurants in London, The Hit List.
NOVEMBER 2022
Maria G's Fulham
Maria G’s opened its first spot in July, serving a changing menu of Italian-inspired dishes. The menu at the new Fulham riverside location leans more seafood-heavy, with things like baked crab rice and squid ink linguini.
Bacchanalia
If Naomi Campbell isn’t at the opening party, we don’t want to know. Totally kidding, but seriously, Naomi Campbell was at the opening party of this OTT spot in Mayfair. The menu has everything from grilled Greek sausage to tagliolini truffle, and the walls are covered in marble-like unicorns and Roman-inspired statues. P.S. the cheapest thing on the menu is the bread basket which is £7.50.
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Hicce Hart
This new pub in King’s Cross, from the same people behind Hicce, is serving dishes like cheese gougères, smoked mackerel rillette, and pig’s head terrine. They’re also part of the pub’s £12 lunch deal which includes a drink.
The Proof
Do you live in Dalston? Do you like cupcakes? Have you ever watched the profiterole challenge on Bake Off and thought choux pastry was your calling? If you answered yes to any of the above, then we would like to introduce you to The Proof. A bakery, coffee shop, and—ding ding ding—dessert bar, you can swing by for cake by the slice, coffee, or savoury options like sausage rolls. Plus, there’s a build-your-own profiterole bar where you can get crafty with a variety of sauces, fillings, and toppings. Hello sugar rush.
Officina 00 Fitzrovia
Some very wise people with excellent taste and truly fantastic hair once said that Officina 00 in Shoreditch "feels like it was dropped from the sky, fully-formed, and full of regulars, by some kind of higher intelligence, one that has a great deal of respect for linguine." It was us, obviously. Now Officina 00 has brought its creative handmade pastas and cold brew espresso martinis to Fitzrovia. You can expect the same laid-back industrial setting, alongside the must-order supersized ravioli bergese.
Miznon Notting Hill
This Israeli mini-chain started in Tel Aviv and has gone via Paris, New York, Melbourne, and Soho’s Broadwick Street, and has now landed in Notting Hill. Open seven days a week, the new Miznon location will still be repping fluffy pitas, including some fish and chip and cottage pie numbers. There’s also the new addition of a wine list curated by natural wine supplier, Oranj.
Deep Cuts
Mare Street has got itself a brand new aperitivo bar serving small plates like gambas al ajillo, chorizo au vin, and yakitori. The food will be cooked on a Kunro grill imported from Japan, and you can also expect plenty of wine, vermouth, and given the name, plenty of b-side music references over dinner.
A new affordable handmade pasta restaurant is opening in Piccadilly, with help from one of the chefs behind Bancone and Noci. Notto will serve pastas that start at £8, including classics like pappardelle ragu and squid ink spaghetti, as well snacks, starters, and a £7 negroni.
Saltie Girl is a seafood restaurant, “that feels like a seaside cocktail party, with a menu that is a lot more interesting than your standard fried clams and boiled scrod spot”. At least, that’s how we describe the original spot in Boston. Now the glitzy lobster roll maker has opened in Mayfair and it looks like the kind of restaurant Ariel would hang out in once she became an under-the-sea influencer.
The owners of Escocesa—a charming tapas spot on Stoke Newington High Street—have opened another restaurant in Soho, in the shape of Maresco. The food will continue to focus on Scottish seafood with a Spanish flavour, split between a lively counter on the ground floor and a more sit-down dining room in the basement.
Lusin
An Armenian restaurant with branches in the UAE, Lusin serves cherry kebab, stuffed lamb, and plenty more traditional dishes. The first UK outpost is in Mayfair, meaning you can also expect an impressive dining room.
Straker's
TikTok-famous for his recipe videos and love for flavoured butter, Thomas Straker is opening a restaurant in Notting Hill. The menu is filled with delicious-sounding things like a scallop flatbread, girolles tagliolini, fresh doughnuts, and probably lots and lots of butter.
Our favourite cafes are the ones that serve wine and small plates come 6pm. Which is exactly what this new neighbourhood spot in Tottenham is promising. Coronation chicken sandwiches for lunch, and a cheeky pinot noir and some nibbles for dinner.
OCTOBER 2022
A new, quite serious-looking restaurant has opened in Shoreditch. Cycene is dinner-only, 16-seater restaurant that aims to ‘emulate the feeling of eating in a private home’. Assuming you or your friends live in a tasteful east London townhouse and eat crab and kombu tartlets on the reg, that is.
The Barley Mow
In case you haven’t noticed, posh pubs are very much back, and the latest one is the Barley Mow in Mayfair. It's a classic bar downstairs, dining room upstairs situation, and it looks to be the kind of place that characters and/or cast of Peaky Blinders would find themselves in. Food-wise there’s a haggis scotch egg, a beef pie served with mash and deep-fried oyster, and a flaming baked Alaska.
Proudly inauthentic ramen spot Supa Ya Ramen has opened its second location, taking up a popular space in Peckham. The new restaurant on Rye Lane will have some familiar favourites that celebrate British produce, like roast chicken and buttered chilli corn ramen, as well as a new cocktail menu featuring a pickled fennel martini.
St. John Marylebone
If you’ve seen anyone running through the streets shouting about flying pigs and pheasant pie, please don’t be alarmed. That’s a perfectly natural reaction to the new St. John. A classic establishment with legendary status, St. John has opened in Marylebone Village and is offering the same nose-to-tail dining experience, with a bigger focus on small plates and wine. Open from 8am-11pm daily, you’ll also be able to swing by for coffee and the famed St. John Bakery doughnuts, before the bone marrow toast gets going at lunchtime. Get booking, it’ll be oh-so popular.
Notting Hill has got a brand new neighbourhood bistro with an ex-Kitchen Table chef and the same wine supplier as Noble Rot. It’s open from lunch until late, and Porthilly oysters, potato rösti with crab, and peach custard tart puddings will be making an appearance.
Sparrow
Three floors of handmade pasta and fresh seafood potential has landed in London, by way of California. A Los Angeles import serving an eclectic mix of Italian and Mediterranean classics with a twist, Sparrow has a ground floor brasserie, a parlour dining room, a terrace, and—calling all Don Draper wannabes—a cigar lounge on the top floor. Find it all on Mayfair’s Avery Row.
Mr Ji has said “thank you, next” to Old Compton Street and moved to Camden. The Asian-inspired restaurant has brought its unique cubic take on prawn toast and delightfully moist poached soy chicken to north London, along with the sweet curry fried chicken hearts. Given the popularity of the Soho location, we’d recommend making a booking but some tables will be reserved for walk-ins.
King's House
Just when we were starting to grow concerned that Chelsea’s multimillionaires might not have enough places to eat steak tartare and sip garnished martinis, King’s House has opened on the King’s Road. It’s an expansive space complete with red banquette seating, a vaulted ceiling, and a huge back garden. On the seasonal menu you’ll find fresh daily fish, Basque-inspired small plates, and big roasts come Sunday.
Casa Do Frango Heddon Street
Piri-piri chicken has an excellent track record with our great nation and once again, spicy poultry comes out on top. Casa Do Frango has opened a huge flagship restaurant in London’s epicentre of boujie, Mayfair. The Portuguese mini-chain already has locations in Shoreditch and Southwark, and you can expect all of Casa Do Frango’s signatures—iberico pork croquettes, African rice, the famed piri-piri chicken—to make an appearance at its new Heddon Street spot.
Kuro Eatery
One of Notting Hill’s most beloved little coffee spots has entered the restaurant realm by morphing into an all-day neighbourhood spot. Expect housemade granola, shokupan, and fish cotolette by day, and shaphettoni with clams alongside low-intervention wines come evening. We’ve got our eye on the cumin and coriander langoustines and the sweet treat mash-up we’ve all been waiting for, the ‘tiramichoux’.
The chef behind Da Terra—a fancy two Michelin modern European restaurant with blind tasting menus—has opened a more casual restaurant and jazz bar in the same building. At Elis, the food is influenced by the chef’s Italian and Brazilian heritage, meaning you can expect things like fresh pasta and crudo, as well as a hefty wine selection.
ZhangLiang Malatang
Popular in China—with over 500 stores across the country—this Sichuan chain has opened its first UK outpost on Shaftesbury Avenue. It’s a casual serve-yourself spot where you can pick from toppings like fish balls or crab legs for your malatang soup, before sitting in their shiny dining room.
The Audley
A refurbished pub, The Audley is a spacious spot on Mount Street. You’ll find a menu of classic pub food like fish and chips, beef and ale pie, and London rarebit in a comfortable, plush room.
Mount St. Restaurant
Within the same building as The Audley, Mount Street Restaurant is a spot on the floor above the pub where you’ll find more of a sit-down meal situation. The menu also feels very Mayfair, with oysters, caviar, and a lobster pie for two.
Two ex-Pophams chefs have opened a new restaurant and wine bar in Haggerston with a seasonal menu of things like whipped chicken liver parfait, barbecued mackerel, coco de paimpol agnolotti, and plenty of natural wines. The chic space also operates as a wine shop.
Restaurant St. Barts
If the words ‘small-scale farmers’ and ‘seasonal produce’ get you all hot under the collar, we have a feeling you’re going to like this new Smithfield restaurant. With honey fresh from Hackney, lobster drafted in from Cornwall, and Yorkshire’s finest cured pork belly, it’s a strictly seasonal British affair. The evening tasting menu starts at—casually checks overdraft—£120 per person and there’s also the option of an £80 wine pairing.
Din Tai Fung Centre Point
Din Tai Fung is on its way to world dumpling domination. With restaurants in Singapore, New York, LA, Australia, Covent Garden, and the location of many Christmas nightmares, Selfridges, it’s now added a huge, sprawling spot inside Centre Point to its xiao long bao empire. One for anyone who is in desperate need of some emotional support fluffy pork buns and a big bowl of braised beef noodle soup.
Temper Shoreditch
If you’ve ever attempted to navigate Great Eastern Street at 10pm on a Friday, you’ll already know that the words ‘temper’ and ‘Shoreditch’ go hand in hand. But now, Temper is making the connection official with the barbecue mini-chain’s fourth location. Temper really stans fire, so expect steaks, grilled prawns, and smoked goat tacos.
The Theatre Cafe Diner
London has blessed us with a new diner to take your hyped out-of-towners—and enthusiastic Shrek fans—to. An all-singing and tap-dancing new venture from the people behind Covent Garden’s Theatre Cafe, you can expect diner classics like burgers, BLTs, BBQ ribs, and curly fries all dutifully named after theatre production puns. CC: your mate with kids who’s visiting—there’s also a mural of Frozen’s Elsa on the wall.
SEPTEMBER 2022
A new artsy spot on Soho’s Great Windmill Street, Bantof’s menu revolves around sharing plates. You’ll find things like beef carpaccio, halibut fricassee, and black truffle pizza. And as well as the food side of things, there’ll be a rotation of art exhibitions.
Speedboat Bar
If you liked Plaza Khao Gaeng as much as we did, then you’ll probably be excited to hear about Speedboat Bar. The Thai restaurant in Soho is from the same chef, Luke Farrell, and will focus on wok cooking. Expect stir fries rich with wok hei, curries, and their signature Tom Yam Mama soup.
Stoke Newington Church Street regulars will be more than familiar with The Good Egg and now the Middle Eastern-ish brunch spot is opening up a standalone bagel shop. Good Things will be down the road from its older sibling in N16, filling its Montréal-style bagels with matzo-fried fish, squash with feta and zhough, and a sweet caramelised banana, date syrup, and cream cheese number.
A giant Miami-style restaurant has opened in… Victoria. What The Palm House is lacking in UV rays it makes up for in options. The summery space has plenty of cocktails on the Cuban-inspired menu, as well as tacos, ceviche, and arepas.
BKC—an acronym for biryani, kebab, and chai—has everything you’ll need for an Awadhi feast. This new Marble Arch restaurant has biryani by the kilo, kebab platters, and Indian small plates.
Kung Fu Noodle
We’ve already seen some queues lining up outside this noodle specialist on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue. You’ll find everything from braised beef brisket noodles to a hot and sour cold skin number, and various other hand-pulled noodle options. So if you’re thinking of getting involved in some Lanzhou beef noodle soup, be prepared to wait in line.
Operation: Falafel
A Dubai import, this casual Camden spot is all about falafel. Falafel bowls, falafel pittas, sumac and tahini stuffed falafel—you get the idea. Open everyday of the week, pop in for a lunchtime fix or an after work meal revolving around…falafel.
Sons And Daughters Borough
Their original King’s Cross location is known for serving hefty sandwiches filled with everything from mortadella to egg salad. And this latest Borough Market shop is going to be making more of the same, as well as Climpson & Sons coffee and soft serve for dessert.
Koyn
The team behind Jamavar and MiMi Mayfair have opened a new Japanese spot in Mayfair. You can expect sushi, robata-grilled meats, and a volcano-inspired dining room from this Grosvenor Street izakaya.
One of London’s best taquerías has a new home inside Arcade Food Hall. Sonora Taquería has left its east London hut in Netil Market to set up in central London. As well their prodigious tortillas, there will also be seafood slant with ceviche and agua chile on the menu, alongside a new prawn and cheese taco.
Milk Beach Soho
You’ve got approximately three weeks before the weather turns decidedly emo, so if you want to make use of this new Soho spot’s large outdoor courtyard, we suggest you move quickly. The second location of Queen’s Park favourite Milk Beach, this all-day Australian restaurant also has a suitably sunny menu. There are grilled prawns with fermented chilli butter, macadamia hummus, and for those inevitable chilly days, a koji-marinated ‘schnitty’.
First there was Forza Win then came Forza Wine and now we would like to introduce Forza Win once more. We’re going to stop speaking in riddles and just say that Camberwell has got itself a new Italian and London, there is a deep-fried mozzarella toastie with anchovy mayo on the menu. The original Forza Win in Peckham closed a few years back but the new Camberwell location looks like it’s kept the same upbeat limoncello-encouraged feel alongside £10 pasta dishes.
Evernight
We shed a sentimental natural wine-infused tear when The Laughing Heart closed. Now, one of the chefs who trained there has opened an izakaya in Nine Elms. You can expect dishes like pork and hispi gyoza, a bavette tartare with nori, and there are rumours of a £5.50 karaage chicken deal from 6.30-8pm.
Mriya Neo Bistro
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Mriya, a Ukrainian bistro, has opened in Earl's Court. It’s headed by chef Yurii Kovryzhenko and his wife Olga Tsybytovska, both of whom are Ukrainian natives and hope to tell the story of their country’s culture through food. Expect borsch, kyiv, and plenty of fermented bits and bobs on the menu.
AUGUST 2022
Sunda Kitchen is permanently closed
photo credit: Tom Bowles
Sunda Kitchen
This new spot in Covent Garden is inspired by South East Asia, and is from the same people behind The Begging Bowl and Happiness Forgets. You can expect everything from mango sushi rolls, to Vietnamese jelly fish salads, and Malaysian red chicken curry. We’re also very into the sound of the lychee daiquiri slushy.
Cottons Shoreditch
Cottons' Shoreditch spot on Curtain Road has relocated to Hoxton Square. You’ll find more of the same Caribbean-inspired dishes including jerk chicken, salt fish fritters, and vegan curried mutton. Open all day, you can pop in for a salt fish and callaloo fricassee-filled brunch, or a BBQ pork rib-heavy dinner.
Block Soho
A new chop house is opening in Soho in the shape of Block. It will be open for breakfast, serving an array of fry-ups and caviar-topped benedict. Come lunch and dinner it’s all about the meat. Various cuts of beef, lamb chops, and pork baby back ribs are all on the sizeable menu. In fact, there’s seafood too.
The Viaduct
What was once Cargo is now a “360 concept”. Yes, the Shoreditch nightclub has been replaced by The Viaduct, a restaurant, cocktail bar, and taproom extravaganza. The Arch (the restaurant) will have an all-day menu of British food; The Tap (the taproom) will, we assume, have lots of beers; and Cosmos (the cocktail bar) will have drinks and sharing platters, and host masterclasses.
Sessions
A new food market has opened on Islington’s Upper Street, with four stalls, all serving different cuisines. From Korean fried chicken, to British breakfast buns, and halloumi and seared Turkish sausages, you can walk in or book a table online. FYI they stay open until 12am from Monday to Saturday.
photo credit: @lateef.photography
Burger & Beyond
We’re very into the palm-sized burgers at the original Camden location of Burger & Beyond. So you’ll be glad to know you can now find their burgers filled with charred but juicy smash patties in Borough Yards. There’ll be more of their great cheeseburgers, bone marrow gravy fries, and Rice Krispie fried chicken.
The Meat & Wine Co Mayfair
After the Westfield branch of this Aussie African-inspired steak restaurant closed, there was a big rib-eye-shaped hole in our hearts. But now, they’ve opened a fine dining restaurant in Mayfair where they’re serving pricey steaks, beef ribs, and oysters.
Feels Like June
Canary Wharf is exactly like California because, well, it’s not. But this new all-day restaurant is trying to bring a taste of SoCal to the ultimate London business district with house-made nut milks, avocado-loaded breakfast burritos, and hearty salads. There’s also a soul and funk soundtrack, an outdoor terrace, and in the interest of those alfresco after work drinks, rhubarb cosmopolitans.
JULY 2022
Peggy Jean
Tragically not the name of a Stones song—we’ve checked—but Peggy Jean, whoever she may be, now has a boat named after her. A new ‘floating paradise’ in Richmond from the same people who brought us Bondi Green, Daisy Green, and Timmy Green, you can expect on-board clay ovens for freshly baked pizzas, lots of pink parasols, and enough booze to soothe the fact that no one’s ever named a boat after you.
A husband and wife chef team, a 10-seater wood counter, and artisanal Japanese ceramics. Yes, we’re officially very intrigued by this new intimate Mayfair spot where the pre-paid omakase menu will set you back an oh-so casual £150. There currently isn’t a lunch offering but there are two sittings per night, one at 6.30pm and the second at 8pm.
Notting Hill has a new neighbourhood wine bar and London, it’s serving a garlic and sesame brioche with salted honey butter. Outside of aspirational bread, there are also small plates like smoked onion with crispy chicken skin and larger dishes like monkfish with ancho chilli. As you’d expect, there’s an extensive wine list but also a hidden music area down in the basement.
North-east London is an area that nonchalantly opens wine bars like another packet of crisps at the pub and Cadet is the latest one. Located in Newington Green, it sounds like the business. Founders Tom Beattie and Francis Roberts hail from Bright and Westerns Laundry respectively, so you get the feeling they know what they’re doing. Expect pâté en croûte, small plates in the evening, and another wine bar you didn’t realise you need.
Barrafina Borough Yards
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The latest location of the classy Spanish tapas spot is in the Borough Yards development in Borough Market. The mini-chain can only be aiming to make pan con tomate more readily available than peri-peri. You’ll find some more eastern Spanish flavours on this menu, like chicken Catalana or greixonera de brossat (a traditional Mallorcan cheesecake).
The Quarter Kitchen
A chef whose resumé includes Koya, Dom’s Subs, and more Places We Are Low-Key Obsessed With has opened a new Mexican kiosk in the garden of St. John’s church in Hackney. Open from 8am until 4pm daily, you can expect burritos, egg ranchero tacos, and cold brew all for under a tenner. There are a few suntrap tables but it’s walk-in only.
Calling all anime and bubble tea lovers, we have a feeling you’re going to be into Uzumaki. This Japanese spot on Great Russell Street has really doubled down on its theme with Uzumaki-inspired ramen, anime doodles on the menu and walls, and bijuu bubble teas based on the nine-tailed beasts from Naruto. FYI they also have halal options.
“With each one of our pitta we are dividing the world into two hemispheres: tahini and sour cream.” What’s that? Has Dr. Evil opened a pitta joint? No, it’s Eyal Shan—the man behind Miznon. First launched in Tel Aviv and with locations all over the world (including New York, Paris, and Melbourne) it’s no surprise that Miznon’s world domination has come to London—and Soho no less. Expect falafel, roast cauliflower, and a special fish and chips pitta.
Valderrama's
After launching a hit fried chicken takeaway offshoot during lockdown, James Cochran has opened Valderrama’s, a football-inspired bar on Upper Street which is slinging buttermilk chicken thighs, gravy mayo, and more. There are plenty of drinks, including frozen margaritas, and Arsenal memorabilia on the walls. It’s N1, what do you expect?
Pan-African restaurant Tatale has opened its doors inside The Africa Centre in Southwark. With terracotta-coloured walls and plenty of foliage, it’s giving Big Summer Energy. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu includes small plates like buttermilk fried chicken wings, red red black eyed bean stew, and chichinga chicken.
The Baring
££££
55 Baring St, LondonLocated in Islington, just off Regent’s Canal, this new pub has a weekly changing lunch menu from Tuesdays to Fridays—that includes things like a smoked eel and pig cheek terrine starter—as well as a roast on Sundays.
Unfortunately eating a pain au chocolat for breakfast for two weeks straight doesn’t qualify you for World Pastry Champion. Fortunately an actual World Pastry Champion, Angelo Musa, has opened a patisserie inside Knightsbridge’s Harrods. Expect vanilla sponge cakes, cremeux and mousse, and a chocolate, passion fruit, and coconut dessert that won the pastry equivalent of the world cup.
Miro
You could try to save up for a mortgage, or..or… you could spend that money on a £5000 bottle of champagne at this new spot in Mayfair. A real toughie. This OTT restaurant on Old Burlington Street has a menu of things like glazed watermelon sashimi, ‘fish and chips’ that’s actually potato galette covered in caviar, and a roast bone marrow brûlée. It’s got a DJ, it’s got neon lights, and it’s open until 1am from Tuesdays to Saturdays.
Sudu
Sudu, a Malaysian-inspired kopitiam (a coffee shop serving traditional Malay dishes), has opened in Queen’s Park. And it’s serving things like sweet and sour garlic chicken wings, grilled mackerel, and nasi goreng sayur.
Isibani
You can expect to spend some serious cash at this new West African spot in Knightsbridge. Serving jerk chicken tacos and BBQ lobster tail, the dining room is split over two floors and a roof terrace. Oh, and it's open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
More space, same irresistible dips. Bubala’s second location is on Poland Street, right in Soho’s mix, and is an excellent summer addition to London’s restaurant scene. Expect the same all-vegetarian deliciousness: warm breads, silky dips, invigorating pickles, charred vegetables, and those confit potato latkes.
Hong Kong Restaurant
Few things are more romantic than the sunlight hitting the ruby red skin of a Peking duck. This is one way to spot Hong Kong Restaurant, a quietly opened Cantonese on Islington’s Upper Street, with those delicious beacons in the window. There’s a daily dim sum menu and a selection of Sichuan dishes as well.
A Parisian-inspired wine bar is an extremely well-timed opening in peak summer. Especially as Bottle + Rye is located in the cool shade of Brixton Market. This new all-day spot from the folks behind Darby’s and The Dairy (RIP) promises plenty of natural wines plus a selection of bits-and-bobs, French-style plates: tomato tarts, boudin noir, and the like.
Zephyr
Taking a new direction from their existing Peruvian spots, the Pachamama group has opened a Greek-inspired restaurant and bar on Portobello Road. The menu—split into soil, sea, and sand for all the hungry geographers out there—features tirokafteri, carpaccio, and more.
The Eight
With queues snaking around outside and glistening plates of roast duck inside, this new Hong Kong-style tea restaurant on Shaftesbury Avenue has already got the juices flowing. Expect a buzzing room and a hefty menu, including a pork chop and pineapple bun, and a swirling volcano egg on rice.
JUNE 2022
Located slap bang in the middle of Notting Hill’s Pembridge Road, this new spot is serving a bunch of Malaysian classics. You’ll find nasi lemak, beef rendang, and roti canai, as well as fried kuew teow and other hawker stall favourites.
Juliet's Cafe
One of our favourite brunch places in the city, Juliet’s is opening a second cafe. It’s not too far from the original Tooting spot, inside Clapham’s Studio Voltaire. You can expect more excellent breakfast and brunch dishes, those top-tier scrambled eggs on sourdough, and that pistachio cake slice. Heads up, it’s only open from Wednesdays to Sundays.
Inspired by southern Italy, this new restaurant on Warwick Lane has a seasonal menu with things like beef ragu pappardelle, grilled lamb with garlic and goats’ curd, and fior di latte gelato with olive oil. Plus, a lengthy Italian wine list and a lovely summer terrace.
Myungrang Hotdog
Inside Angel Shopping Centre, this new Korean spot is serving golden fried corn dogs. With fillings like cheddar cheese sausage and melted mozzarella, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Except you won’t have to choose because they’ve also got a hot dog set menu—a collection of corndogs feat. all their must-try fillings.
photo credit: Lina Stores
Lina Stores Marylebone
Mint-green handmade pasta heaven, we meet again. The fifth location from Lina Stores has arrived and this time it’s serving carciofi fritti, affogato, and crab linguine on Marylebone’s Wigmore Street. Just like the other locations, there’s also a deli where you can pick up sauces, sweet treats, and lunch to-go.
photo credit: Zoom East
Zoom East Kitchen & Bar
We are simply powerless in the face of burnt orange seating and so it’s for this reason that we will be making a reservation at this new Sicilian restaurant toot suite. Located inside the Hyatt Place London City East hotel, it also looks like it’s got great potential for any wild boar pappardelle and panna cotta fans. FYI there’s also a private dining room called The Orangery. Snazzy.
photo credit: @lateef.photography
Pascor
Here are your Pascor buzzwords. Fire-focused. Levantine. Pickled… well, lots of pickled things. At this new Kensington spot from an ex-Palomar chef, you can expect seasonal British produce alongside modern takes on Levantine classics. Think kombu-wrapped halibut, burnt aubergine with black tahini, and samneh butter scallops.
Le Bab already has restaurants in Soho, Covent Garden, and Old Street and we still can’t read its name without picturing a chicken shish in a beret. Anyway, now there’s a location in Brixton Village. You can expect the same menu of ‘dirty babs’, loaded shawarma fries, and mezze platters.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
The Tamil Prince
What’s that? A transformed pub with a kitchen headed up by an ex-Roti King chef? Yes, we’re excited too. The Tamil Prince is combining southern Indian food—king prawn moilee, butter chicken masala, falooda—with quintessential pub drinks. Open from lunch until late Tuesday to Sunday, find them on Hemingford Road in Islington.
Shiok
Here’s one for Bake Off fans. No, Noel Fielding has not opened his own patisserie but Cherish Finden, fastidious judge from Bake Off: The Professionals, has. Shiok is a Singapore-influenced patisserie in Bishopsgate making pork floss buns, pandan-filled milk buns, bubble tea, and lots more.
Bar Daskal
The latest spot from the folks behind Barrafina is Bar Daskal. The Spanish wine bar has just opened in the Borough Yards development and will have a big focus on sherry. Food-wise there’s a lovely selection of para picar. Basically, things that are perfect for whatever's in your glass. Gildas, chorizo, jamon, and the like.
Bun House
After enjoying a few years of success in Chinatown, Bun House is expanding to Camden. The Cantonese steamed bun enthusiasts are bringing their pillowy BBQ pork and cold custard creations, as well as a few new dishes including shiitake nuggets.
Honey & Co Bloomsbury
After a decade in Fitzrovia, Honey & Co has moved around the corner to Bloomsbury. It’s very conveniently placed opposite Noble Rot—perfect for an aperitif, digestif, or both—and there will be all the Middle Eastern favourites on the menu that have made this restaurant such a London mainstay. Shakshuka in the morning, shredded lamb shoulder and hummus at lunch, and a set sharing dinner menu if you plan to eat en masse.
What was once Albion on Redchurch Street is now Boundary. The hotel and restaurant next door has taken the former all-day cafe and turned it into the kind of place that serves wild garlic and nettle risotto. There’s a shiny zinc bar that will stay open post-midnight if you’re after a proper drink.
This swanky new Italian restaurant has opened right next door to Harrods and is all about sharing plates. We’re talking truffle and pecorino ravioli, ‘nduja-topped pizzas, and pollo milanese. There’s a serious-looking private dining room as well.
A second location of the Mexican bar and restaurant has opened in Newington Green. Enticing and intriguing things include more than 250 agave spirits, a pulled pork-filled Mexican bao bun, and Corona on tap. It sounds like a pretty good Thursday night kind-of-place to us.
Bird & Tie
There’s a new Nashville hot chicken spot opposite Clapham Common. Bird & Tie will be making Nashville hot chicken sandwiches of varying spice levels, crispy fried chicken and waffles, and dirty bird fries that arrive in a huge round platter. It’s all halal too.
Firebird
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There is, unsurprisingly, lots of charcoal and open flames going on at this new Soho spot. Pick of the menu is rump steak with burnt onions, smoked bone marrow, and sorrel herb salad. As well as smoky flame-touched things, there will also be a low-intervention wine list.
