As autumn approaches, the London food scene always starts to get a little bit busier. This month sees another new restaurant from Jason Atherton, the return of chef Selin Kiazim, a Pidgin replacement, a brand new Barbary and lots more.
Sael
St James - 1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4QQ
The busy Jason Atherton continues with his second new restaurant opening in as many months. This time, he's taken over the space that once held Aquavit in St James. This is being billed as a British brasserie and has Dale Bainbridge, most recently Head Chef at Pollen Street Social, in the kitchen. There's an emphasis on the wood-fired grill here, but we're particularly interested in dishes like the hundred-layer heritage snail and ox cheek lasagne.
It's also an all-day affair, so you can have an Atherton breakfast here with the Sael ‘Big Daddy’ being the main event, which apparently puts a full English into a bun.
Opening: 16 September
Leydi
City of London - 15 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EF
This Old Bailey restaurant is part of the new Hyde hotel launching at Old Bailey and it sees former Oklava chef Selin Kiazim back in the kitchen (also bringing her head chef from that restaurant). Described as a modern Turkish restaurant showcasing British ingredients, you can expect a few of the chef's signature dishes, including the stone oven-baked lahmacuns. Alongside those are dishes like Welsh lamb kebap with dripping pide while the breakfast menu will include böreks as well as tahinlis, a caramelised tahini spiral. There's nothing quite like it in the City, so this should gain an audience.
Opening: 4 September
Wildflowers
Belgravia - Unit 2, 57 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE
This restaurant, part of a new(ish) development in the area called Newson's Yard, comes from Aaron Potter, best known as the former head chef at Elystan Street (he also kicked off Maria G's). He's been previewing the menu in a number of pop-ups but the restaurant itself is now ready to open, for which he's teamed up with interior stylist Laura Hart (so it's going to look impressive). The food will be Mediterranean with global influences with dishes on the menu including langoustine and scallop crudo with chilli, fennel and Honest Toil olive oil. It's also part wine bar upstairs, so this is going to become a very handy Pimlico drinking spot.
Opening: 27 September
The Barbary
Notting Hill - 112 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RU
The first time The Barbary expanded, it was to the building next door, but this time they've gone a lot further. It's the first proper new Barbary since the original and a much grander venture. This time, there's traditional booth seating as well as the counter dining that they're known for. The menu will continue the theme of the original, dishes inspired by countries on the Barbary Coast. New dishes include duck confit cigars, monkfish tempura and coffee rub chicken while their amazing hashcake will also be making an appearance. This location also has a big cellar, so expect them to go big on the wine offering.
Opening: 12 September
Sesta
Hackney - 52 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG
In August, we had the surprise news that Pidgin was closing after nine years. However, the announcement also came with the addendum that their head chef Drew Snaith, together with ex-Pidgin GM Hannah Kowalski, would be relaunching the restaurant in double quick time as Sesta. There won't be a weekly changing menu but instead one that focuses on "British and European classics" which translates to dishes like mutton bacon ribs with fermented garlic and Thai chilli honey and coriander mustard. Wines remain natural and hopefully this new iteration will find as many fans as Pidgin did.
Opening: 11 September
Hovarda
Canary Wharf - Water Level, 5 Water Street, London E14 5GX
August saw the opening of Marceline in Wood Wharf, but that was only taking over the top floor of its floating building. This month sees the opening of the downstairs part, which will be the Canary Wharf outpost of Hovarda. As with the original restaurant in Soho, Hovarda will be taking their inspiration from the Greek and Turkish food cultures. The menu is still to be revealed at the time of writing. but expect dishes like their red prawn orzo with a bisque sauce, as well as plenty of late-night entertainment.
Opening: Mid-late September (date TBC)
Soul Mama
Stratford - The Gantry, 40 Celebration Ave, Stratford, London E20 1DB
Originally due to open in Islington, YolanDa Brown's Soul Mama is now getting ready to open the doors in Stratford in The Gantry hotel. Other than the move, much remains the same. The food will be based around Afro-Caribbean cooking, led by chef Aleandro Brown (previously The Connaught, The Ritz London and more). Dishes on the menu here will include one pot creamy coconut chicken curry with rice & peas and Ghanaian-style kelewele plantain. That will be paired with lots of live music, with jazz, soul, gospel and reggae from acclaimed performers planned (it all kicks off with a show from Mica Paris).
Opening: 5 September
Amelie, Sachi and Luum
Belgravia - 19 Motcomb, London SW1X 8LB
It opened just four years ago but the Pantechnicon building has already had a major revamp and is about to open in its new guise. This sees their Japanese restaurant Sachi move from the basement to the rooftop (and the floor below) while there's a brand new Provencal restaurant called Amelie opening on the ground floor (and on the terrace outside). Finally, the basement is becoming Luum, a Latin-American-influenced cocktail bar.
Opening: 26 September
More about Amelie, Sachi and Luum
Also look out for...
- Lima (Shoreditch) - The Peruvian restaurant goes east for its third opening.
- Kitty Hawk (St James) - Taking over what was Bisushima for a bird's eye view of Trafalgar Square
- Mignonette (Richmond) - A classic neighbourhood French brasserie
- Junk (Soho) - More smash burgers, this time via France.
- Lina Stores (Shoreditch) - The Italian restaurant/deli's latest outpost
- Cafe Francois (Borough Yards) - A Cafe from the people behind Maison Francois
- BAO (City of London) - The Taiwanese steamed bun restaurant comes to Bloomberg Arcade.
- Home Kitchen (Primrose Hill) - Replacing Odettes, a groundbreaking restaurant staffed by the homless
All of London's newly opened and upcoming restaurants...
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