Update 28/10.21
It's been a little while since the last Paul Rudd at Darjeeling Express sighting. However, just to keep things ticking over, Dan Levy was on the Jimmy Kimmel show and the photo came up again.
Look below for a VERY nice mention of Darjeeling Express and Asma Khan (from the 10:23 mark). And yes, you might have to "pull some Ant-man strings" or the like to get yourself a table at the…
Read more: Paul Rudd is obsessed with the food at Darjeeling Express. It's official.
Bibi sees ex L'Enclume and Moor Hall chef Chet Sharma deliver a modern Indian menu in Mayfair. We head down to try it out.…
Read more: Test Driving Bibi - Chet Sharma's Mayfair Indian restaurant delivers a knockout menu
It's been big in Brixton - now Ferdinand "Budgie” Montoya is bringing Sarap into central London. Sarap Filipino Bistro will be the latest place to take over at 10 Heddon Street, a site that has previously held both Manteca and Fallow on extended stays before they became permanent restaurants.
Budgie's new Mayfair restaurant is being described as an "evolution" over the more casual…
28/10/21 - updated with new images
Is this city big enough for two restaurants devoted to the avocado? The Avocado Show has been a huge hit back in Amsterdam since opening there four years ago (and they even had a pop-up here). Now they're hoping to work their brand of magic on Londoners, opening their first UK restaurant just off Oxford Circus.
Their big thing is that everything they serve is ma…
Read more: Amsterdam's The Avocado Show heads to London's Oxford Circus
News has broken that furniture maze Ikea will be coming to Oxford Street. So that's good news for those of you that fancy getting on a bus home with a huge box of flat-packed Billy bookcases.
They're taking over the landmark Top Shop site on Oxford Circus and will make a big difference to Londoners who don't fancy having to trek out to the ones at Tottenham or Brent Cross or anywhere else that is…
Read more: Ikea is coming to Oxford Street - meatballs included
We're in the depths of awards season at the moment and the latest to be unveiled are the AA Rosettes, one of two notable motor companies producing restaurant awards right now. The most prestigious of the AA awards are the three and four rosettes - and that's what was given out today, steering towards the high-end side of UK dining. It's the 65th year these awards have been handed out - so they're…
Read more: The AA announces new rosettes for SOLA, KOL, Myrtle and more...
27/10/21 - Updated with the opening date
Back in Italy, it's got a cult following with queues around the block at each restaurant opening. Now the Miscusi pasta chain is coming to London.
Their first UK opening will be in The Yards in Covent Garden where Arome bakery and Dishoom are. As you might expect, it's all about fresh pasta - you can either pick your own pasta and sauce combos or opt for t…
Read more: Italian sustainable pasta chain Miscusi picks Covent Garden for its first UK opening
With the introduction of a new bar AND a new chef, it was time to make a return visit to Joe Allen in Covent Garden. …
Read more: Test Driving the new Joe's Bar and menu at Joe Allen - theatreland's great bargain treat
It's not every day that someone manages to open a new late night spot in London almost entirely under the radar. But this weekend, Inca London threw open its doors on Argyll Street for the first time.
Billed as "London’s newest Latin American show restaurant", although we don't know of many others, they've picked the perfect time to open in the run-up to the festive period.
From what we can deduc…
Read more: Inca London is a new late night restaurant and club on Argyll Street
Flor, the Borough restaurant from the team behind Lyle's is going through some big changes. The team there are opening a new bakery in Bermondsey's Spa Terminus - but at the same time they're switching the focus at the original Flor in Borough Market, turning it into a wine shop and bakery.
First up, the Bermondsey bakery. That will be led by Flor's head of bread and pastry, Helen Eva…
Read more: Flor transforms into a bakery and doubles up at Bermondsey
25/10 - Updated with the opening date.
They've been big in Soho and now David Carter and Chris Leach's Manteca is moving to Shoreditch. They're taking over an old Pizza Express site on Curtain Road (very close to Carter's own Smokestak).
Manteca has Chris Leach at the helm and originally started life as a residency at 10 Heddon Street (where Fallow is now) before moving onto a second place…
Read more: Manteca's new home is in Shoreditch, bringing along their Italian/British menu
They've only just launched in Spitalfields in July, but huge udon chain Marugame Udon were never going to stop there. Already, they're gearing up to launch their second London restaurant, this time at the O2.
A taste of what's on offer includes:
Read more: Marugame Udon comes to the O2, their second London restaurant in a couple of months
The Hawksmoor empire is expanding as they get ready to open their seventh restaurant, this time in Canary Wharf. Their latest place will actually be floating in the water. Expect steaks, cocktails, lots of outside seating and one of their biggest bars to date.…
Read more: Hawksmoor Wood Wharf is their Canary Wharf restaurant - floating on the river
22/10/21 - Updated with interior pics
As sure a sign that the City is coming back to life as any is the news that Bob Bob Ricard City is reopening. The restaurant formerly known as Bob Bob Cité has been closed since the first lockdown, but it's throwing open its doors once more this autumn. There'll be plenty to entice old and new customers through the door with the interiors and menu both gettin…
Read more: Bob Bob Ricard City is reopening with a new look, chef and menu
A Hot Dinners exclusive
Newly opened in Marylebone is Tataki - a steak and sushi bar from the folk who are also behind 500 Pizzeria in Brixton. There's precious little in the way of information on it, so thanks to Hot Dinners reader Miles who brought it to our attention.
What we can tell you is that the focus is very much on sushi with all the usual options like salmon tataki, yellowfin sashimi a…
