A Hot Dinners exclusive
There have been rumblings for some time that top chef Nuno Mendes was fully returning to the London restaurant scene. Since leaving his previous Shoreditch restaurant, Maos, he's been popping up from time to time (like doing brunch at The Scolt Head) but we've been eagerly waiting for a new restaurant.
For fans, like us, who have followed his career since the ear…
Read more: Lisboeta is Nuno Mendes' new Lisbon-inspired Charlotte Street restaurant
Chelsea has a new neighbourhood dining spot. Newly opened at The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, on Sloane Street is The LaLee.…
Read more: First look - we check out The LaLee at The Cadogan
After closing their Shoreditch restaurant during lockdown, the folks behind the Jones Family Project have bounced back again and are about to open in Covent Garden.
The Jones Family Affair takes over the large space that used to be home to Les Deux Salons on William IV Street. If you've been to either their Eccleston Yards space or the old Shoreditch spot you'll know that Jones Family restaurants…
Read more: The Jones Family Affair brings Ginger Pig steaks and more to Covent Garden
They already have truffle burgers as their Christmas special, but Shake Shack also have something else pretty special planned for December. Mark Rosati of Shake Shack and Karan Gokani of Hoppers are teaming up for a special Hoppers/Shake Shack burger - but it'll only be available for two days.
The burger is the Lankan Shack. As Karan explains: "We’ve tried to take the elements of a traditio…
Read more: Shake Shack and Hoppers team up for the one-off Lankan burger
22/11/21 - updated with Yard Sale opening date
There's even more pizza on the way as two of London's favourites expand with a couple of new openings.
First off, we have Pizza Pilgrims, who are heading west to Queensway. Their new place there is an 85-seater restaurant and you can have Neapolitan pizzas that include:
Read more: Pizza Pilgrims and Yard Sale add more pizzerias - in Queensway and Crofton Park
22/11/21 - updated with the opening date
After previewing the restaurant in a residency at Brown's, chef Daisuke Hayashi is getting ready to open Roketsu in Marylebone.
Hayashi came to London after training at the Kikunoi Ryotei restaurant in Kyoto and as a protege of seven-Michelin-starred chef Yoshihiro Murata. He has since been Executive Head chef at Tokimeit…
Read more: Daisuke Hayashi is opening Roketsu Kaiseki restaurant in Marylebone
Updated 22/11/21 with menu details and images
Back in 2019, longstanding Mayfair restaurant The Square closed rather abruptly (right in the middle of a lunch service) but we're getting closer to a new restaurant taking over the building. Opening in The Square's place will be SeaSons seafood restaurant.
SeaSons already has a few fishmonger/bistros dotted across town (Fitzrovia, Notting…
Read more: SeaSons will be taking over from The Square in Mayfair
Tucked down Kingly Street, this all day Carnaby spot comes into its own in the evening with interesting small plates and a great wine list. …
Read more: Test Driving Bar Crispin - illuminating wine and small plates in Carnaby
We head to Hackney to try Max Rocha's Cafe Cecilia, a real hidden gem that's definitely worth crossing town for. …
Read more: Test Driving Cafe Cecilia - Max Rocha's winning Hackney restaurant
He's well known in Australia where having earned his stripes at top Sydney restaurant ARIA he went on to launch many of his own restaurants. Now chef Roy Ner is hoping to win over a London audience with his food.
The Israeli-born chef is opening Middle Eastern spot Jeru on Mayfair's Berkeley Street this winter. Jeru will open its restaurant first, but over the coming months an all day bakery and…
Read more: Jeru is top Aussie chef Roy Ner's new Mayfair restaurant, bar and bakery
Just opened and taking the place of the departed Adam Handling restaurant, the Belmond-owned Cadogan hotel in Chelsea has opened its new restaurant The LaLee.
Based around one of the hotel's most famed residents, Lillie Langtry (whose townhouse became part of what's now The Cadogan), it's pitched as a neighbourhood grand café with a "love of entertaining" at the heart of it - and…
Read more: The Cadogan in Chelsea launches new restaurant, The LaLee
She closed Tredwells earlier this year, but now Chantelle Nicholson is gearing up for her next opening - Apricity.
That name stands for "regeneration, warmth, generosity and light" and that's due to be reflected in the new restaurant which will continue the ethos of her recent Hackney pop-up "All's Well". That means it'll be a socially conscious restaurant first and foremost with sustainabi…
Read more: Apricity will be Chantelle Nicholson's sustainable Mayfair restaurant
Updated 18/11/21 with bakery opening date
A new Mediterranean restaurant (and bakery) is coming to the Strand, landing at the 180 Strand building (which is also where the latest Soho House is).
Toklas' chef, Martyn Lyons, has impressive credentials, having worked with Ollie Dabbous and at Spring and Moro and we're told the menu will have specifically Italian, French and Spani…
Read more: Toklas brings the Med to the Strand (plus a new bakery too)
18/11/21 - Updated with news of the Croydon opening
It's been a long time, but, US burger chain Wendy's is back on these shores - and opening in London too. They originally opened in Reading but their first London restaurant was Stratford Shopping Centre (note, not Westfield, the other one) - the opening salvo of their re-entry to London. It's been almost 20 years since they were last…
Read more: Wendy's return to the UK - Stratford and Croydon are the first London restaurants
Four years after it burst on to the London scene, transforming the perception of the City as a night time destination in one bound, The Ned is heading to New York.
As part of general expansion plans, they've taken over the NoMad hotel in to turn it into their winning combo of hotel, restaurants and members' club. The announcement was presaged by a notice put out five days ago by the NoMad announc…
Read more: The Ned heads to New York, taking over the NoMad hotel
