This week, the latest Hoppers opens, adding South Indian dishes to the menu, Bambi returns bigger than ever, Dom Taylor opens a permanent Good Front Room and more...
Hoppers
Shoreditch - Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ
The latest Hoppers will still have its signature dishes, but it's also trying something new. Karan Gokani and the team have been researching South Indian dishes and will be adding a number of those new options to the menu. So you'll find a Crab Kari Omelette, a South-Indian-inspired biryani, Benne Dosas with paneer ghee roast or lamb and more. The latest Hoppers takes over the site that was, until recently, Lyle's.
Opening date: 4 February 2025
Bambi 2.0
London Fields - 1 Westgate St, London E8 3RL
Since the New Year, Bambi has been closed for a big revamp. When it emerges this week, it will be twice the size (including a new mezzanine) and have a new chef. That's Jamie Thorneycroft, who used to head up the kitchens at Lagom. Planned for the menu are chalkstream trout tostadas, butterflied whole bream, lamb rump and more. They'll now have DJs every night and are also promising mini raves at the weekend.
Opening date: 3 February 2025
Good Front Room
Dalston - 1 Thomas Tower, Dalston Square, Greater London, E8 3GU
Dom Taylor's Good Front Room was a big hit during its long residency at The Langham hotel in central London. Now it's back in a new permanent Dalston home. As before, the chef will be showcasing modern interpretations of Caribbean cuisine. So you'll find dishes like rum & raisin pork belly strips, short rib brown stew, whole jerk chicken for two and a seafood boil. The cocktail list adds a new rum punch, and this new location should be just as popular as the original.
Opening date: 5 February 2026
Osteria Vibrato
Soho - 6 Greek St, London W1D 4DE
Three years after The Laughing Heart closed, Charlie Mellor is back with a new opening in Soho. He's teamed up with Gaia Enria, previously chef at Burro e Salvia, for a new Italian restaurant and wine bar. The menu (which isn't translated, so brush up on your Italian) features dishes inspired by various Italian regions, and there should be a very strong wine list here too.
Opening date: 7 February 2026
This week's events
3 February (Fitzrovia) - Kitchen Table and Aulis are teaming up for one night only for the next of Kitchen Table’s Stages of Nature cocktail series. Each of the restaurants' bartenders will prepare two cocktails, paired with a snack by James Knappett (£95).
8 February (Clerkenwell) - Sessions Arts Club is starting a new Sunday residency series kicked off by cook and food writer Jago Rackham, with a menu that includes beef & prune pie and langoustine & mackerel pie.
Here's what opened last week:
Cafe Kowloon (London Fields) - A Hong-Kong-inspired restaurant hidden away at the back of Wonton Charlie's
The Newman (Fitzrovia) - A new boutique hotel with a brasserie and impressive-looking lower ground bar.
Connie's (Peckham) - A "Britalian" pizzeria from an 081 Pizza founder.
Sartoria (City of London) - The latest Sartoria opens just across the road from Liverpool Street.
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