Gastroblog
We may be right in the middle of a lockdown at the time of writing (without it actually being called it a lockdown) but Pizza Pilgrims have still managed to launch a brand new restaurant.
This one's a bit of a departure for them, as it's a completely new venture called Slice which is going to be popping up on the South Bank (taking over the space from Yo Sushi) from now until the end…
Read more: Pizza Pilgrims launch Slice on the South Bank with big NY-style pizzas on offer
It's been a very different year, all things told, with the forced closure and the big switch to delivery and collection being one of the biggest sea-changes to hit the London food scene since we can remember. Here's what you were mainly reading about on Hot Dinners in 2020. …
2020 continue to be a kick-in-the-teeth year with the news that respected food writer and broadcaster Charles Campion has died.
The death of the writer, restaurant critic and MasterChef regular was announced on Christmas Eve by his friend and fellow broadcaster Dan Saladino who said he'd "never forget our adventures in the land of boudin noir and the programmes we made together. Farewell friend."…
Read more: Food writer and broadcaster Charles Campion has died
Popular veg-led Middle Eastern restaurant Bubala has launched this delivery only restaurant - we ordered it to try at home.…
Read more: Test Driving Bubie - the new delivery-only restaurant from Bubala
Independent cafe Cut The Mustard has been a Tooting success story since 2014 and just before we all entered Tier 3, they managed to launch a second cafe. It's also in Tooting - this time a corner space on Franciscan Road. And the good news is they're doing takeaway.
Part bakery, part cafe, their sourdough is at the heart of the bakery - with porridge, wholewheat and rosemary and polenta options a…
Been caught out by the last delivery dates before Christmas? With most of the big wine retailers now no longer able to deliver wine before the holidays, you'll have to be a little more cunning when it comes to getting in supplies.
So step forward Ottolenghi who today are launching the Ottolenghi Belgravia's Pop-Up Wine Shop. Taking over their deli on Motcomb Street it's the brainchild of Pierre M…
Read more: Ottolenghi opens a festive pop up wine shop in Belgravia
This restaurant is taking over the space from the original Taka. It comes from the same people but will have a very different approach - all centred around a 20-course omakase-style tasting menu. …
Read more: Maru, a 20-course Omakase restaurant will be replacing the original Taka
They've become a favourite in Borough since opening there (with a popular alfresco opening too) and now Elliot's has soft-launched a second venue in Hackney.
It's very early days for this one, with the new Elliot's open as delivery and takeaway only, serving up their woodfired pizzas and with a menu that looks like this:
- Garlic butter calzone
- Ricotta gnocchi, pumpkin & nutmeg but…
Read more: Elliot's has opened a second restaurant, this time in Hackney
It's all go at The Department Store in Brixton. The beautiful old space which already has a members club and is home to Canova Hall is now unveiling a new section of the Edwardian department store space, the Department Store Studios.
Coming from family company architects Squire & Partners whose offices are in the building, the latest part of the old store to get a makeover will house shared w…
Read more: Bellefields restaurant to bring a taste of the Med to Brixton
Republic is a brand new restaurant that fell under our radar until now - but was recently highlighted in a BBC news story.
The restaurant comes from two Kricket alumni, chef Kuldeep Mattegunta and Mustaq Tappewale. The two have spent a decade in the restaurant industry and met at Kricket, where Mattegunta was head chef and Tappewale was GM. Kuldeep Mattegunta has some top level ex…
Read more: Rebublic comes to Chiswick, headed up by an ex-Kricket head chef
As the focus on more neighbourhood openings continues, there's the arrival of a heavyweight in Islington as Neal's Yard has opened a pop-up shop in advance of a permanent shop in 2021.
The pop-up is open now and plans to remain open until the end of the year - as it really is the season of cheese at the moment. So if you're in Islington, you'll be able to pop down for a selection of their best ch…
Read more: Neal's Yard has opened a cheese pop-up in Islington (with a permanent shop to come)
As we highlighted in the first part of the 2020 Hot Dinners Awards, restaurants pivoting to delivery has been a big thing in the past year. Now, with the advent of Tier 3 we have yet another new entry to the scene.
Welcome, then to Veeraswamy - the UK's oldest surviving Indian restaurant - which has just started offering delivery for the first time. The Michelin-starred restaurant has put togethe…
Read more: Michelin-starred Veeraswamy is the latest London restaurant to switch to delivery
News reaches us of another prominent restaurant closure (via The Caterer). This time it's Simon Rogan's Roganic - which make it the second time this restaurant has closed in London. Roganic first opened in 2011 as a long-term pop-up, after which Simon Rogan launched Fera in Claridge's (in 2014).
The next incarnation of Roganic opened in early 2018 in Marylebone, with Grace Dent saying at th…
Read more: Simon Rogan's Roganic closes in London - possible relocation on the cards
The new Nobu Hotel and restaurant in Marylebone's Portman Square replaces one of London's biggest celeb haunts - Nobu Berkeley Street. We head along to see how they're doing in their chic new digs. …
Here at Hot Dinners we mainly focus on the hottest restaurants in town, as well as new openings. But the London restaurant scene is ever-changing and that means some restaurants fall to the wayside. With that in mind, we're keeping track of the notable restaurants that London has lost over the past year.…
Read more: Keeping track of the restaurants that are closing in London
