Last year was yet another bumper year for London restaurants - can 2016 match? We've gathered together some of the top restaurants that you'll want to keep an eye out for in 2016
This is the long awaited permanent home of Lucky Chip, purveyors of some of the fines burgers in town. While we're obviously VERY much looking forward to the burger here, the buzz is building on everything around it from the effort spent on the wine list to the promised 80s music playlist. Not to mention that 54 day aged rib-eye steak. Promises to up the game as far as our expectations of a burger joint go.
Where? Dalston
When? January
This is the first major London opening from Thomas Sellers since the runaway success that was Restaurant Story. The menu's still under wraps, but we can expect classic and contemporary influences in the dishes - and Daniel Phippard (previously at Kensington Place) will be in the kitchen.
Where? South Kensington
When? February
It's been a long time since the tiny Pitt Cue Co opened just off Carnaby Street, one of the first restaurants to really successfully make the leap from street food to a permanent restaurant. This promises much of the same for city folk and has the added benefit of being somwhere you can actually book a table.
Where? The City
When? February
While not all Parisian restaurants make it to London unscathed, the potential for this latest crossover is very good indeed. The chef/owner has London experience and his Paris place is loved by London's restaurant folk with a menu that really does sound lovely.
Where? Covent Garden
When? February
The Hackney favourite Pidgin spreads its wings in 2016 with that rare thing - an original concept. It's a mixture of the style of food offered by Pidgin (locally sourced ingredients, very seasonal) and the whole thing will be served by trolleys roaming the room. It all sounds great fun and you can just leave that cocktail trolley with us.
Where? Central London TBC
When? Early 2016
Without question one of this country's finest chefs, the news that Clare Smyth was moving on from Gordon Ramsay's Royal Hospital Road to do her own thing has made her upcoming restaurant one of the most anticipated of 2016.
Where? TBC
When? Autumn 2016
This will be the first solo restaurant by Monica Galetti, now best known for her judging on MasterChef The Professionals, but previously very well respected as Sous Chef of Michel Roux Jr's Le Gavroche.
Where? Fitzrovia
When? Autumn 2016
Since the original Viajante closed, Nuno Mendes has - via Chiltern Firehouse and Taberna do Mercado - become one of the biggest chefs in London. So it's great to see that he'll be bringing that back to the original Viajante concept. It's a crowdfunded venture - so still to be confirmed at the time of writing - but we have big hopes for this in 2016.
Where? Metropolitan Wharf
When? Autumn 2016
Andy Oliver's restaurant is going to be big - particularly after the rapturous reception it received while at residency in Climpson's Arch and the record time in which it reached its crowdfunding total. Expect a similar menu to the residency with what should immediately become London's best Thai restaurant.
Where? East London
When? Early 2016.
The original Notting Hill restaurant was one of the biggest openings of its day, so news that Damien Hirst is reviving the idea at his Vauxhall art gallery means it'll be one of the most watched openings of the year. Will it have as big an impact as the original? We'll remain doubtful until we know something more about the space and food. But either way - definitely one to watch.
Where? Vauxhall
When? 2016 TBC
And some more to keep an eye on
It's still very early days for many promised London restaurants but a few more that sound interesting from the very little we know are:
- Henry Harris apparently preparing to open in Notting Hill
- Jason Atherton is always one to watch - so whatever his "innovative izakaya" Sosharu becomes, it's bound to be big.
- And will StreetXO or the promised Nobu Hotel actually make it over this year? We'll have to wait and see.
As ever, keep watching our ever-changing Coming Soon page for the latest dates and news.
