We're three-quarters of the way through 2019 - so it's time for another update of the best new restaurants that have opened in 2019 so far. If you're looking to try something new - this is the best of the new bunch.
December 2019
Davies and Brook
Where: Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
In a nutshell: Hugely influential NYC chef comes to iconic London hotel
Daniel Humm has taken over the main restaurant at Claridge's. With his Eleven Madison Park regularly touted as one of the very best restaurants in New York (not to mention topping the World's 50 Best list), this will be an instant hit and it's probably one of the most eagerly anticipated openings of 2019. Expect a completely redesigned room and for its bar to be an equally big draw.
November 2019
Daffodil Mulligan
Where: 70-74 City Rd, Old Street, London EC1Y 2BJ
In a nutshell: Richard Corrigan goes east
Famed Irish chef Richard Corrigan has opened his first new restaurant in over a decade with this Old Street restaurant (which took over from Nuala). The restaurant sees the chef making the most of excellent Irish ingredients in a modern bistro menu. And it's backed up by an excellent Irish pub downstairs. Yes, the Guinness is excellent too. Tom Parker Bowles loved the chicken "Dear God, I don’t think I’ve eaten a better bird".
Our Daffodil Mulligan Test Drive
Le Comptoir Robuchon
Where: 6 Clarges Street, London W1J 8AE
In a nutshell: The best mash in town
After the closure of L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, following the famed chef's death, a return to London was promised and here it is. This time, they're in Mayfair with a menu that is part Robuchon classics and part new dishes inspired by his repertoire and style. And, most importantly, the "puree" is back, aka the best mashed potato in town.
More about Le Comptoir Robuchon
Our Le Comptoir Robuchon Test Drive
The Laundry
Where: 374 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8PL
In a nutshell: Walton Lodge Laundry becomes a restaurant
This restaurant has taken over an Iconic building in Brixton, Walton Lodge, and is run by local entrepreneur Melanie Brown who also runs the New Zealand Wine Cellar in Pop Brixton. It's all about sharing food upstairs with a Modern European menu (and it's a coffee bar in the daytime too). Their salt-baked potatoes are worth crossing town for.
Sam's Riverside
Where: 1 Crisp Walk, London W6 9DN
In a nutshell: Top restaurateur in Thameside restaurant
This restaurant is from Sam Harrison, the man behind the Sam's Brasserie and Harrison's restaurants. Four years after closing them he's opened a brand new "Sam's" restaurant on the river by Hammersmith Bridge. It's attached to Riverside Studios and there's a modern European brasserie feel to the food. It's also getting attention from the local celebs.
Our Sam's Riverside Test Drive
Silo
Where: The White Building, Unit 7, Queens Yard, Hackney Wick, London E9 5EN
In a nutshell: No-waste powerhouse in Hackney
Douglas McMaster has always been at the forefront of the no-waste movement in the UK, and his decision to move Silo from its original Brighton home to London was a bold one. The entire restaurant - from the food to the light fittings - has the no-waste ethos baked through. This would be for naught if he hadn't delivered on the food, but it's an excellent operation all-round.
SO LA
Where: 64 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 4QQ
In a nutshell: Victor Garvey goes Californian
Rambla is no more - SO|LA has risen from its ashes. Victor Garvey closed his Spanish Soho restaurant and replaced it with a brand new place focusing on West Coast USA cuisine. It now has a fine-dining approach but at a much more accessible price than central London fine dining usually comes at. Expect plenty of tableside theatre and some great devilled eggs too.
October 2019
Decimo
Where: 10 Argyle St, Kings Cross, London WC1H 8EG
In a nutshell: High rise in King's Cross
We'd have been excited anyway about Bristol Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias opening a London restaurant, but when you add in the high rise glamour of this space at the top of the Standard it was always going to be a hot ticket. Fay Maschler didn't have the insta-friendly tortilla and thought the whole thing very spendy but she loved the mushroom bomba rice. Grace Dent says it's "gorgeous, sexy and glamorous as hell" while Giles Coren was very fond of their tacos - "so bright you could taste the colours, like eating a food butterfly."
Kolamba
Where: 21 Kingly Street, Soho, London W1B 5QA
In a nutshell: Sri Lankan home cooking comes to Soho
The pair behind Kolamba are Eroshan and Aushi Meewella, who grew up in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, and want to bring their memories of family meals and home cooking back to London. Grace Dent thinks it's been a success: "They cook from scratch and want to teach you 100 new things about Sri Lanka, and they are offering big, bold lessons from a small, faraway island. You’d be daft not to take them up on it."
Lyons
Where: 1 Park Road, Crouch End, N8 8TE
In a nutshell: Oysters and all manner of sustainable seafood for Crouch End
A restaurant team with tonnes of experience are behind this sustainable seafood restaurant and wine bar in the heart of Crouch End. Sustainable local seafood is the name of the game here, so everything is from the British Isles and Ireland. Chef Talia has said she's keen to run a fin to tail menu, so you'll find some more unusual cuts on the menu too.
Oren
Where: 89 Shacklewell Ln, Dalston, London E8 2EB
In a nutshell: Med food residency goes permanent
Chef/owner Oden Oren has been quietly building the fanbase for his cooking while at Louie Louie and then in a series of residencies across town. Now he's set up a permanent home in Dalston. Oren says it's food "inspired from my home (in Tel Aviv) and the Mediterranean using local and sustainable produce".
Plu
Where: 12 Blenheim Terrace, London NW8 0EB
In a nutshell: Modern French dining in St John's Wood
Headed up by Elliot Moss (previously at Le Gavroche, this is his first solo restaurant) Plu in St John's Wood is al about French Fine dining, with a single tasting menu every night using Modern French fine dining techniques. And the results look truly beautiful.
Trivet
Where: 36 Snowsfields, Bermondsey, London SE1 3SU
In a nutshell: Fat Duck alums come to town
When an almost entirely ex-Fat Duck brigade takes over the old Londrino site you can expect London's foodies to get rather excited. So far they've had a brace of restaurant folk including European chefs Josh Niland and Alan Bates flying in, to try the food. Most Instagrammed dish so far? The "Hokkaido Potato” - a baked potato millefeuille with sake and white chocolate mousse, butter and sake gelato.
Wilder
Where: 2-4 Boundary St, London E2 7DD
In a nutshell: Boundary London's basement restaurant gets a transformation
The basement at Terence Conran's Boundary has been through a few changes over the year. But while others have struggled, newcomer Wilder has gotten off to a good start. Richard McLellan has taken it over with a contemporary British menu. The Standard sent both of its reviewers to cover it. Fay Maschler said her meal here was "wilder" than "the usual classic French meal that Terence would espouse." but Jimi Famurewa was more fulsome in his praise, saying it's "underpinned by warm hospitality and unexpected, fortifying deliciousness."
September 2019
Allegra
Where: Olympic Park, 20-22 International Way, London E20 1GQ
In a nutshell: Patrick Powell heads up The Stratford
This restaurant is the new east London home of Patrick Powell (ex Chiltern Firehouse chef). It's in the big and bold The Stratford building just by the station and certainly a lot of attention has gone into the look of the place. It has an enormous terrace for both the bar and the restaurant and the smoked eel pithivier is, deservedly, the star of the show.
Arabica KX
Where: 7 Lewis Cubitt Walk, London, N1C 4DT
In a nutshell: Borough's Levantine favourite expand to King's Cross
This growing group already had a restaurant in Borough Market, stalls across London and a concession in the Selfridges Food Hall - describing what they serve as modern Middle Eastern food. This second restaurant features an almost entirely new menu and is open from the early morning for coffees and pastries through to dinner and cocktails.
The Betterment
Where: 39-44 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London W1K 2HP
In a nutshell: Jason Atherton shacks up in a hotel
It's been a while since Jason Atherton opened a new restaurant in town and this time he's going big. The Betterment is part of the new Biltmore hotel, and Atherton's looking after all the food and drink throughout. With this opening being directly opposite his old boss Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat, there will be more than a few folk watching this face-off. Early reviews have been mixed - Marina O'Loughlin was definitely not a fan, but Grace Dent said "Jason Atherton may not have opened the best restaurant in the West End of London this year, but he has opened a more delicious one than Gordon Ramsay."
Bubala
Where: 65 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6BD
In a nutshell: Vegetarian-only Middle Eastern food
Marc Summers, previously General Manager of Berber & Q teamed up with Head Chef Helen Graham (The Palomar, Barbary, Good Egg) for a series of supperclubs and now they have their first permanent spot with a fully vegetarian menu of Middle Eastern dishes. Marina O'Loughlin was full of praise for them - "Bubala is absolutely brimming with that good stuff; it just happens to be vegetarian."
Church Road
Where: 94 Church Road, Barnes, London SW13 0DQ
In a nutshell: Modern British neighbourhood spot for Barnes
Rebecca Mascarenhas and Phil Howard's Sonny's got a new name, look and team with this complete overhaul. It's all about British seasonal produce and it impressed Tony Turnbull at the Times who said it had "a sense of a restaurant that knows just the kind of food people want to eat and the way they want to eat it."
Forza Wine
Where: 133a Rye Ln, Peckham, London SE15 4ST
In a nutshell: Forza Win heads to the rooftops
Forza Win opened their second restaurant, Forza Wine, right at the top of the Market building in Peckham, serving Italian small plates, flatbreads and wine, of course. It's a lovely looking restaurant up there, and the restaurant impressed The Evening Standard's Jimi Famurewa who said it "honestly feels like a giddy, wholly welcome burst of delayed summer sunshine." We'll take that.
Julie's
Where: 135 Portland Rd, Holland Park, London W11 4LW
In a nutshell: Legendary Holland Park restaurant returns
A celeb magnet well before it closed in 2015, expect this Holland Park restaurant to quickly get those celebs back through the door, now that it's finally reopened. The complete refurb looks great and it's paired with a menu by ex-Goring chef Shay Cooper, so the food looks like being just as impressive as the company. Fay Maschler is already a fan: "the standout assembly is lemon curd, lemon sorbet, coconut and fennel crumble, in its simple sensuality one of the best desserts I’ve encountered in a very long time."
Loyal Tavern
Where: 171-173 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3UW
In a nutshell: Tom Cenci in Bermondsey
Duck & Waffle's former executive chef Tom Cenci has gone to Bermondsey to launch Loyal Tavern, taking over from Village East (but run by the same group). On the menu are an impressive array of seasonal dishes, and some quite phenomenal cheese-filled potatoes. You'll find all this plus late-night cheese toasties, if you're hungry after the restaurants shut. Kathryn Flett in The Telegraph was impressed - "I adored my buttermilk-poached cod, ’nduja and white bean stew – a perfect early-autumn plate."
Norma
Where: 8 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2LS
In a nutshell: Ben Tish does Sicilian in Fitzrovia
Ex Salt Yard chef Ben Tish was already responsible for the food at The Stafford, but this restaurant has them teaming up in a completely different location, with a focus on Sicilian cooking. The partnership is performing nicely with a rave review from Fay Maschler who says "I keep going back" - so it must be good, plus another cracking one from Giles Coren who said the menu "is incredibly thrilling and unfamiliar."
Seabird
Where: 14th Floor, 40 Blackfriars Rd, South Bank, London SE1 8PB
In a nutshell: High rise seafood
The latest high-rise restaurant to hit London has opened up at the Hoxton hotel in Southwark - a brightly hued, airy restaurant on the top floor. The look of the place is impressive - it has a really gorgeous terrace as well as a great oyster bar. The menu is courtesy of the same people behind Brooklyn's Maison Premiere and they deliver inventive seafood small plates - and one of the biggest seafood towers we've seen. A great space, buzzy vibes and a good menu make this an instant hit. And look out for the octopus roll on Instagram.
Seven Dials Market
Where: Thomas Neal's Warehouse, London WC2H 9QW
In a nutshell: Food court plus cheese conveyor belt
Over the years, KERB, after starting at King's Cross, have gone on to conquer all parts of London with their street food markets. And now they've gone indoors for their next venture, a covered market at Seven Dials. Thre are some excellent traders in here from Claw to Yum Bun - but the star of the show is undoubtedly Pick & Cheese. That's the cheese conveyor belt restaurant from the Cheese bar and is a must-visit.
Sons + Daughters
Where: Unit 119a Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ
In a nutshell: Pidgin do Sarnies
This elevated sandwich spot by the folks behind Pidgin already has a doozy of a review from ES Magazine's Jimi Famurewa who called the sandwiches "structurally precise monsters that... prompt inexpressible joy and tend to be physical acts of antisocial concentration."
Vardo
Where: 9 Duke of York Square, London SW3 4LY
In a nutshell: Caravan goes west
The latest restaurant from the Caravan team sees them launch a wholly new concept in Chelsea. It shares certain elements of Caravan in a globetrotting menu and serves up a mean brunch. All this seems to be going down very well with the Chelsea crowd and it doesn't hurt that they're in an amazing architecture prize-winning building. The windows surrounding the building descend completely into the ground to very impressive effect, making it fully alfresco - if the weather holds.
August 2019
BaoziInn Borough Market
Where: 34-36 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TU
In a nutshell: Dumplings and more in Borough
The fourth London opening for the group who also have restaurants in Soho, Chinatown and trade at Market Halls Victoria (as well as the new food court out at Intu Lakeside) - this is their flagship restaurant. They're best known for their dumplings, some very brightly coloured indeed, and this new site brings more roasted meats to the table too. Fans of BaoziInn's other restaurants will be very happy to know that standards remain high at their new Borough flagship - and service comes, not only with a smile but tonnes of genuine hospitality.
Officina 00
Where: 34-36 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TU
In a nutshell: Pasta workshop and restaurant for Old Street
Here in London, they've worked for Kiln and Soho House, but the duo behind this new Italian hail from Naples originally. Here you can expect them to play with the classic idea of an Italian restaurant. Marina O Loughlin was a fan - "their short menu is packed with delicious discoveries"
July 2019
Flor
Where: 1 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
In a nutshell: Lyle's comes to Borough
With Lyle's being one of only two UK restaurants in the World's 50 Best, there was great anticipation for their next opening, Flor in Borough. Those expectations have been met and then some. Offering something more of a small plates version of Lyle's, this combines wine bar, bakery and restaurant into what is immediately one of Borough's best places to eat - ideal for dinner or just dropping in for a quick bite and a glass. Giles Coren was an early admirer - with the much-Instagrammed prawns being "So, so good." and in ES Magazine, Jimi Famurewa praised its "lightly challenging, immensely skilled approach".
My Neighbours the Dumplings
Where: 178 - 180 Victoria Park Rd, London E9 7HD
In a nutshell: Dumplings in Victoria Park
The original Clapton restaurant has been a big success - so much so that My Neighbours The Dumplings opened a second restaurant in Victoria Park. Once again, it's all about the dumplings - and they're very, very good. It can get very busy but Grace Dent loved it "Go early, beat the rush, order the har gow," she urged her readers. "That’s how good neighbours become good friends."
More about My Neighbours the Dumplings
The KPH
Where: 139 Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, London W10 6HJ
In a nutshell: Classic pub returns
The KPH (Kensington Park Hotel) has been pretty legendary in Ladbroke Grove for a while, with a big music following - it was the site of Tom Jones' first London gig. Now it's been revived with Henry Harris and ex-St John chef Ruairidh Summers in charge of the food. As with the other Harcourt pubs it's a great mix of a proper pub renovation as well as a decent dining area.
Nandine
Where: 45 Camberwell Church St, Camberwell, London SE5 8TR
In a nutshell: Popular Kurdish spot expands to Camberwell.
People really love Nandine - and we mean REALLY love it. There's something about the food and the hospitality that goes down a treat with Londoners. Jay Rayner loved the popular mezze dish in his review for The Observer which he declares: "an extremely diverting plateful for just £5.50." In ES Magazine Jimi Famurewa says: "I’m struggling to conceive of anyone stepping through its doors without falling in love."
Nutshell
Where: 30 St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4EJ
In a nutshell: Iranian food with a modern twist in Covent Garden
Nutshell is from husband and wife team Mohammad Paknejad and Marwa Alkhalaf, formerly chef at The Greenhouse. With the help of head chef Jeremy Borrow (formerly Head Chef at The Palomar), they are exploring all forms of Iranian cuisine, bringing traditional recipes with a modern twist. It impressed Grace Dent who instructed us to "Pull up a chair; there’s a lot to love in here."
Wun's
Where: 23 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4DZ
In a nutshell: Late night Cantonese restaurant and bar
The duo behind Bun House and Pleasant Lady have turned their original site into a bar and restaurant inspired by the late-night scene of 1960s Hong Kong. The sugar skin Iberico char siu is the star of the show and was loved by Jay Rayner who said "I need this in my life." And Giles Coren is also a fan - "Oh man, it was fine. Superfine. I am going back there in ten minutes to have it again, I think."
June 2019
Arros QD
Where: 64 Eastcastle Street, London W1W 8NQ
In a nutshell: Quique Dacosta hits London
When the chef behind a new restaurant in London has both three Michelin stars and a spot in the World's 50 Best Restaurants longlist (his own place is at No 81 this year) - you know it's going to be worth checking out. Giles Coren went twice for his review and said of the Paella Valenciana he had on his second visit; "I imagine being here with friends, maybe with a seafood paella as well and big glasses of strong Spanish wine. I’d be very happy." DaCosta's fellow Spanish chef Jose Pizarro was another early-doors diner calling it a 'great addition to the London dining scene."
Circolo Popolare
Where: Rathbone Square, London W1T 1JN
In a nutshell: Big Mamma does Sicilian in Fitzrovia
This is the second opening from the Big Mamma Group here in London, following their other big hit, Gloria. The place is a freaking dream to look at - if you can't afford a summer holiday this year, just pop in here and pretend you're on the Med - and the food and cocktails more than live up to that promise. All this should mean getting a table here is hellishly difficult but the sheer size of this new opening might work in your favour.
Our Circolo Popolare Test Drive
Gold
Where: 95 Portobello Road, London W11 2QB
In a nutshell: Four floors of cooking over fire plus late night bars in Notting Hill
If the throng of celebs through the door at this new Notting Hill spot is any indication of a restaurant being hot, then Tatler reliably informs us that diners so far have included "Lady Amelia Windsor, Jourdan Dunn and Olympia Campbell, and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have been in on a double date." As for the food, their reviewer loved the "an eclectic mix of modern European dishes, full of playful twists and surprises." Restaurant Magazine called the fresh pasta there "something else."
Grand Duchess
Where: Sheldon Square, W2, London W2 6DL
In a nutshell: Waterside restaurant from London Shell Company
For a few years, the London Shell Company has been running very popular canal trips from Paddington in their floating restaurant. This new addition is still on a canal boat, but it's permanently moored. Featuring a menu that's mainly seafood - taking in delights like beer-battered lobster along the way - this also sees a focus on Cornish food.
Pophams Hackney
Where: 197 Richmond Rd, London E8 3NJ
In a nutshell: Insta-friendly bakery expands to Hackney
ES Magazine's Jimi Famurewa was first in the doors to the new Pophams branch where the taleggio cappalletti dish delivered "nuanced contrasts of sweetness and salt, crunch and chew, all high-fiving in immensely pleasing ways." Instagrammer Felicity Spector concurred calling the same dish "genius". Blogger Samphire & Salsify says "it's a little bit fabulous. If you like carbs, go."
Siren
Where: Goring Hotel, 15 Beeston Pl, Westminster, London SW1W 0JW
In a nutshell: Nathan Outlaw does seafood at an iconic London hotel
Two key reviewers have clashed in their opinion of Nathan Outlaw's new restaurant at The Goring. Fay Maschler in the Standard wasn't a fan, calling a dish of battered turbot, "an insult to chippies everywhere." But while Maschler wasn't keen on the new dining room's design, over at the Sunday Times Marina O'Loughlin was more supportive, calling it "more Markle than Middleton." She reserves the most praise for a cuttlefish black pudding which she likens to "some crazy Iberian/classic French/full English mash-up that makes your eyes roll back in your head with pleasure."
Wild Honey St James
Where: 8 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5NG
In a nutshell: Wild Honey MK II
Fans of the original Wild Honey have already been flocking to its new incarnation on Pall Mall, eager to reacquaint themselves with Anthony Demetre's cooking. Square Meal enjoyed their meal there, saying "Wild Honey might have lost the cosy charm of its Mayfair premises but its cooking still hits the sweet spot."
More about Wild Honey St James
May 2019
Bao Borough
Where: 13 Stoney Street, Borough Market, London, SE1 9AD
In a nutshell: Bao buns with added karaoke
Any opening by Bao is a reason to get excited, but when they add karaoke to the mix, that goes up another whole level. As well as karaoke, there's a hatch if you want bao-to-go (as well as bubble tea) and new dishes, of course. They include the chicken nugget bao and the prawn shia song bao (which is actually a fried bao).
Bob Bob Cité
Where: Level 8, 122 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4AB
In a nutshell: Presser Pour Champagne dans le City
It's been a long time coming (five years and £25 mil) but the sequel to Bob Bob Ricard is here. They've taken over a floor in the Leadenhall building (aka the Cheesegrater) for a restaurant that's really quite like no other - it's very fancy. Add in a modern French menu from Eric Chavot and more of those tempting press-for-champagne buttons and they're onto another winner. Grace Dent said that "in the privacy of a Bob Bob Cité booth, with such good service and the real world so very far below, there’s a level of escapism that is wholly seductive" while Giles Coren says "Bob Bob Cité will be as good a place as any to sit and watch the world end".
Coqfighter
Where: Fried Chicken in Soho
In a nutshell: This fried chicken purveyor has been winning many fans in pop-ups and in its Boxpark locations, but this saw it launching its first proper restaurant in Soho. The restaurant cements its reputation for excellent fried chicken while also adding some great new dishes to the menu.
Darby's
Where: 3 Viaduct Gardens Road, Embassy Gardens, London, SW11 7AY
In a nutshell: The Dairy team take on Vauxhall
This is the latest restaurant from the people behind The Dairy - Robin and Sarah Gill, as well as Dairy alumnus Dean Parker in the kitchen. They're the first in the brand new Embassy Gardens (opposite the US embassy) with a restaurant and bar that's dedicated to Robin's dad. There's a mix of bar and restaurant here (they're aiming for the feel of a club without the fee), with a few New York Irish influences in the menu. Grace Dent left impressed - "A plate of dayboat monkfish fillet, again in seaweed butter, is heroically good."
Gezellig
Where: Holborn Town Hall, 193-197 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BD
In a nutshell: A top team in Holborn
After a successful residency at Carousel, Gezellig opened a beautiful new space in Holborn. There's a formidable team behind it, with experience at The Square, Elystan Street, Pied à Terre, L’Autre Pied and The Ledbury between them. With excellent bar snacks, an enviable bar space and some innovative food on show, this is a good addition to Holborn.
Myrtle
Where: 1A Langton St, London SW10 0JL
In a nutshell: Irish-influenced food in Chelsea
This is the first solo restaurant from Anna Haugh, who's previously worked with Gordon Ramsay and at Bob Bob Ricard. Here, she's bigging up her Irish heritage with a menu that has many callbacks to the mother country - Clonakilty black pudding makes an appearance - and it's all inspired by legendary Irish chef Myrtle Allen. Fay Maschler gave it a reserved thumbs-up, singling out the buttermilk pannacotta for the most praise "a superb assembly, light and wibbly and painterly".
Parrillan
Where: Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, London N1C 4AB
In a nutshell: Barrafina goes outside
This is the first time that Barrafina has tried a completely different proposition - an alfresco DIY grill restaurant. It's outside their King's Cross outpost and combines some of the small plates they're best known for with tableside grills to let you cook prawns, meats, veg and more. If the British summer behaves, this will do very well. In the Standard, Jimi Famurewa called it "audacious, exceptionally enjoyable".
Tayer + Elementary
Where: 152 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BJ
In a nutshell: Cocktails and Katsu sandos
Billed as a cocktail bar with great food, Tayer and Elementary certainly delivers on both of those. It comes from Alex Kratena, who won World's Best Bar four years in a row, and he's teamed up with top mixologist Monica Berg and katsu sandwich supremos Ta Ta Eatery for the food. Divided into two, there's a casual bar in front, with a more experimental Tayer bar in the back. Both are well worth your time, as is the excellent food by Ta Ta. Jimi Famurewa ins the Standard is a fan - "the cooking at Tayēr + Elementary is heartening, awe-inspiring."
More about Tayer and Elementary
Our Tayer and Elementary Test Drive
April 2019
Emilia
7 Haunch of Venison Yard, London W1K 5ES
In a nutshell: The Quality Chop House people take on Bonham's
Emilia is the new restaurant from the Woodhead Restaurant Group, the people who brought London the current, celebrated version of the Quality Chop House, Clipstone and Portland. This time they've taken over the restaurant at auction house Bonhams. Fay Maschler said "The kitchen, led by Stuart Andrew from Clipstone, is one worthy of two young restaurateurs at the top of their game." And Jay Rayner agreed - "Chef Stuart Andrew’s concise menu is an object lesson in the value of doing just a few things exceptionally well."
Endo at Rotunda
White City House Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FR.
In a nutshell: High-end sushi in White City
This sushi restaurant in White City comes from Endo Kazutoshi, former sushi master at Zuma. It's a small high-end sushi restaurant with an already great reputation - so expect a place at the table here to be like gold dust. In his review, Giles Coren (who broke with tradition and visited before the opening - so he could get a table) said it was "what was probably the most perfect meal I have eaten in a restaurant in more than 20 years as a critic." So high praise indeed.
Find out more about Endo at Rotunda
Lucknow 49
49 Maddox St, London W1S 2PQ
In a nutshell: DUM Biryani moved into Mayfair
With the success of DUM Biryani in Soho behind him, Dhruv Mitta's next restaurant is in Mayfair. There are still those great biryanis on the menu, but they're joined by traditional Lucknavi kebabs and more new dishes. In the Standard, Jimi Famurewa said it "doesn’t stint on flavour and care while Jay Rayner added that it "will only occasionally knock your socks off, but will still show you a nice time along the way, and you won’t be disappointed."
Find out more about Lucknow 49
The Sea The Sea
174 Pavilion Rd, Chelsea, London SW1X 0AW.
In a nutshell: Fishmonger by day, bar by night in Chelsea.
Marina O'Loughlin admits she wasn't a fan of chef Leandro Carreira's previous restaurant, but she was hugely positivity about this Chelsea opening. Apologising for gushing she says the food here is "all so simple, so clever, so glorious to eat." Blogger Londoneater called a dish of crisp topped with scallops and a savoury nutella, "a simple but sensational exercise of layers and texture." on Instagram.
Soutine
60 St Johns Wood High Street, London NW8 7SH
In a nutshell: The Wolseley in St John's Wood
It's been a while since Corbin and King opened a London restaurant (their last was an outpost of The Wolseley in Biscester) and this sees them bringing a grand cafe to St John's Wood. Already packed after only a couple of weeks after opening and it feels like it's been there forever. In the Telegraph, Kathryn Flett says "if I could choose a restaurant in which to quietly pass away, still smiling, after a couple of glasses of wine and a good lunch with an old friend, it would probably be whichever is C&K’s latest." And Giles Coren is a bit addicted too - "I am in danger of never eating anywhere again in my life apart from Soutine."
March 2019
Master Wei
13 Cosmo Pl, London WC1N 3AP
In a nutshell: Latest from X'ian Impression chef
The original X'ian Impression in Holloway is still rated as one of the best in London, so anything by one of its founder chefs gets immediate interest. This time, they're in slightly-more-accessible Bloomsbury with a menu that features the favourites from the original as well as adding some newer dishes. Giles Coren is a convert: "I love Master Wei. I truly don’t know what Midtown thinks it has done to deserve it." And Grace Dent fell in love with their biang biang noodles calling them "an assertive culinary hug."
Find out more about Master Wei
Mortimer House Kitchen
Mortimer House, Mortimer Street, W1T 3JH
In a nutshell: Italian flair in Fitzrovia
Mortimer House Kitchen opened last year - but it's the new chef that's brought in all the plaudits. Lello Favuzzi was formerly head chef at L'Anima and has changed the menu here to a mix of Italian and Middle Eastern influences. And it's impressed Fay Maschler ("homemade tagliatelle with prawns and courgette flowers and un-mentioned but not un-noticed flecks of red chilli is a beautiful “Large Plate”") and also Marina O'Loughlin who said the soft-shell crab fritti was "gorgeous: crisp and fresh and packing real zing."
Find out more about Mortimer House Kitchen
Our Mortimer House Kitchen Test Drive
Robata
56 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4UE
In a nutshell: Japanese izakaya in Soho
This is a Japanese izakaya-style spot from entrepreneur Sonny Huang whose family has two Chinese restaurants in Birmingham. Expect a Japanese pub serving up dishes cooked over the open robata grill. William Sitwell was a fan: "out came plate after plate of food I defy anyone not to love."
February 2019
Adam Handling Chelsea
Where: Belmond Cadogan Hotel, 75 Sloane St, Chelsea, London SW1X 9SG
In a nutshell: Adam Handling takes on the food side of things at Belmond's flagship London hotel
Adam Handling's west London restaurant sees him bring his favourites (and new dishes) to the fancy Cadogan Hotel. Plus it's the only place you can get an Adam Handling Afternoon Tea. Instagrammer Felicity Spector has been in to try the "stunning desserts". Bloomberg's Richard Vines picked out a main of Highland wagyu beef and short rib for particular praise.
More about Adam Handling Chelsea
Our Adam Handling Chelsea Test Drive
Angelina
Where: 56 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AH
In a nutshell: Japanese/Italian fusion in Dalston
While the idea of a fusion restaurant can occasionally give pause, when it's done well there's definitely something to celebrate. And so is the case with Angelina, which mixes Japanese and Italian cuisine (as well as a tiny bar which bans phones). As Jay Rayner says "Angelina feels like a beautifully intentioned, low-key experiment. It’s like being invited round for dinner by your mate; the nerdy one who can really cook, and who has just gone into his Japanese phase." Richard Vines, Bloomberg's Chief Food Critic also raved about his "Very good lunch yesterday at Joshua Owens-Baigler's Angelina restaurant in Dalston."
EartH Kitchen
11-17 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 8BH
In a nutshell: Modern British at the Hackney Arts Centre
Having the former executive chef of St John running things, gave this Stoke Newington spot a head start and Jay Rayner clearly took to it saying that while the dishes wouldn't win any fans on Instagram, they were heavenly to eat, calling the crispy pig’s cheek with watercress "merely the highlight of a hugely cheering meal".
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Gloria
54-56 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3QR
In a nutshell: Italian in Shoreditch via Paris
The first London restaurant from the Big Mamma Group opened with a bang with Fay Maschler's review being one of the first out of the doors. Her four-star review enjoyed the "pleasantly deranged" atmosphere and she loved their black truffle croquettes. Grace Dent was similarly enthusiastic, loving the way it was "kicking Brexit gloom up the arse." One of the really big hits of the year.
Kanishka
17-19 Maddox Street, London W1S 2QH
In a nutshell: Atul Kochhar is back with a new restaurant
This is the first new restaurant from Kochhar since his departure from Benares. The roast duck seems to be one of the main dishes getting all the attention. William Sitwell was impressed - "here I get a mini feast of tender, sometimes charred, bits of lamb, salmon, prawn and chicken, all cooked with love."
Orasay
31 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2EU
In a nutshell: Jackson Boxer and Andrew Clarke expand their empire with a Notting Hill seafood restaurant
Olive magazine was the first to review Notting Hill's hot new opening (from the people behind Brunswick House) - loving the whole meal right through " to the posh rice pudding at the end, hiding sweet and sour, Pink Panther-hued stewed rhubarb". Giles Coren also turned out to be a fan, liking the fact that it was "something young and new and lovely in funny old, crusty old, somewhat over the hill Notting Hill". And Tom Parker Bowles declared it "food that makes me happy" in the Mail on Sunday.
Peg
120 Morning Lane, London E9 6LH
In a nutshell: P Franco team's third restaurant is an all counter spot where Legs used to be
From the team behind P Franco this features William Gleave in the kitchen. Here it's all about yakitori from the grill. Jimi Famurema in ES Magazine was "blown away" by it. Tim Hayward in the FT praised "the highest degree of craft cooking by an extraordinarily creative team using top-level ingredients". Grace Dent, meanwhile, says the tofu here is some of the best she's ever tasted.
Top Cuvee
177b Blackstock Road, London N5 2LL
In a nutshell: Wine bar in Highbury
This Highbury wine bar is headed up by a Dinner by Heston in Melbourne alumnus as well as an ex-Naughty Piglets chef. They've launched this neighbourhood wine bar in Highbury with added Three Sheets cocktails. The Standard's Jimi Famurewa was impressed, calling much of the menu "Properly, blissfully good."
Xier
13-14 Thayer St, Marylebone, London W1U 3JR
In a nutshell: Two halves of a restaurant in Marylebone
Chef Carlo Scotto (previously at Babbo) has brought a restaurant of two halves to Marylebone. The ground floor is for casual dining - but it's upstairs which is getting the real attention. It only serves a 10-course tasting menu, very much a modern take on fine dining. It could have been a risk - but the quality is undeniable. It even managed to convert Grace Dent back to tasting menus - "Xier could be the best opening of 2019."
Yeni
55 Beak St, London W1F 9SH
In a nutshell: Top Turkish chef comes to Soho
Yeni saw the arrival in London of Civan Er who has had success in Istanbul with his restaurant Yeni Lokanta. The Soho restaurant has a modern approach to traditional Anatolian cuisine, with top dishes like ciq kofte tartare and their signature pan-fried 12-month-old feta. Jay Rayner wasn't impressed but the Standard's Jimi Famurewa gave it a rave - "Yeni soothed and pleased me greatly, and I cannot wait to go back."
January 2019
Da Terra
Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, London E2 9NF
In a nutshell:
After the closure of Typing Room, The Town Hall Hotel has unveiled its new restaurant - somewhat under the radar. It's a modern Latin American restaurant run by two chefs who arrive here via The Fat Duck, Fera and the Michelin-starred restaurant Amelia San Sebastian. Fay Maschler gave it an early 2019 rave - "A parade of nine dishes marching at a measured pace, starting with beetroot topped by sardine, trout roe and crème fraîche intertwined with fronds of samphire and finishing with exquisite petits fours including exhilarating pâte de fruits and little triangles of fervent lemon tart is ideal, mellifluous, in balance, like a troupe of acrobats."
Looking for more new restaurants?
For all the London restaurants opening in April - and beyond - we've got you covered. Just head over to our Upcoming London Restaurants feature for all the very latest info. And as for what's already opened? You'll need our New London Restaurants feature for that.
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