Test Drives

Test Driving Wagyu Yakiniku USHIO, an omakase experience devoted to wagyu

Information: 25 August 2026

A new omakase restaurant has arrived in Fitzrovia, but this one is highlighting cuts of Wagyu instead of sushi. We went in to try out Wagyu Yakiniku USHIO.

Travel notes - we check into The White Hart Inn on Mersea Island

Information: 20 August 2026

With Mersea Island a little over an hour and a half from London, this tidal island is absolutely perfect for a quick seaside getaway. And the recently opened White Hart Inn proved to be a great place to both eat and stay. We drove to Essex to check in for a night.

Test Driving Mardy's, a modern twist on a British sandwich shop in Mayfair

Information: 18 August 2026

A new entry to London's competitive sandwich space is Mardy's which is bringing top quality sarnies to Mayfair. We popped along one lunchtime to give it a go.

Test Driving Bar Blondie, this vibey Queen's Park pivot pulls in the crowd with an excellent wine list

Information: 13 August 2026

What was once Milk Beach is now Bar Blondie. Milk Beach's Elliot Milne has brought in top sommelier Alexandra Price to team up on this European-influenced wine bar and restaurant - we went down for a look.

Bar Crawl - Sane is Islington's new sake and wine bar, from a hugely talented sommelier

Information: 11 August 2026

London's boom of interesting sommelier-led wine bars continues with the opening of SANE in Islington. We went down to experience Maxime's vision for the place.

Trying out the Indulgent Churrasco Experience at Fogo de Chão Bishopsgate

Information: 06 August 2026

It's all change (as far as the name goes) for Fogo de Chão, which used to be Fazenda. What hasn't changed is the fantastic parade of Brazilian grilled meats and seafood dishes.

Test Driving Kismet, where upstairs at The Globe Tavern is transformed into a must-visit Turkish/Cypriot meyhane

Information: 02 August 2026

The latest residency at The Globe Tavern in Borough Market, Kismet has really made the place its own. This London version of a Greek-Cypriot meyhane has quickly become a hot ticket. We went along to see how a Turkish-style mehhane feels so at home above a London pub.

Test Driving Hon's BBQ, where Texas and East Asia meet for a restaurant like no other

Information: 30 July 2026

Hon's BBQ brings a mix of authentic Texas BBQ mixed in with West Asian influences to Hackney Wick. We went in to see how that shapes up in person.

Bar Crawl - Ebi is a serious new wine bar from a stellar sommelier

Information: 30 July 2026

A former Fat Duck sommelier has opened his own wine bar in London. We went down to Clerkenwell to check out Raku Oda's Ebi.

Trying out Silva, we make a return visit to this Mayfair restaurant with a hot new chef in charge

Information: 28 July 2026

Ex-Lita chef Charlie Dilworth has taken over the kitchen at Mayfair restaurant Silva making this Bruton Place gem well worth a visit.

Test Driving Kinz in Notting Hill, a Lebanese restaurant in a real stunner of a building

Information: 23 July 2026

Kinz is a Lebanese restaurant in Notting Hill that's opened as part of a stunning reinvention of an old bank. We went down to take it all in.

Test Driving Tavern, a modern Shoreditch spot with foot-long pork scratchings and perfect dessert bites

Information: 21 July 2026

The team behind Michelin-starred Restaurant St Barts have turned their old Shoredith restaurant Nest into British bistro Tavern. We went to see how the makeover had changed things.

Test Driving Johnny Boy's, where LA diner food makes a big impression in Stoke Newington

Information: 16 July 2026

Johnny Boy's sees the chef behind Facing Heaven in Hackney opening an LA-inspired diner in Stoke Newington. We went in to try a taste of SoCal food in London.

Bar crawl - Brutes is like an indie take on Duke's, in Mayfair

Information: 14 July 2026

Mayfair is firmly getting its mojo back and the arrival of cool new cocktail bar Brutes is a great example of that.

Test Driving Rosina, Adam Byatt's neighbourhood Italian brings Trullo vibes to Wandsworth

Information: 09 July 2026

Adam Byatt is trying something new in Wandsworth, opening an Italian restaurant for the first time. We went into Rosina to see just how that's going. Spoiler - it's going very well...

Test Driving RH London, the Mayfair mansion that serves you dinner with a slice of lifestyle envy

Information: 07 July 2026

We went back to Mayfair's hottest opening, this time to put the restaurant through its paces.

Trying out the Sunday roast (and more) inside Silicon Roundabout's new gastropub, Old Street Tavern

Information: 04 July 2026

It's one of Old Street's newest pubs, which is turning out great roasts and pizzas in an absolutely massive space. We went down to try Old Street Tavern.

Trying out the midday theatre menu deal at 64 Old Compton Street

Information: 02 July 2026

In the heart of Soho, a much-loved Italian restaurant has an excellent midday deal on - we went in to try it out.

Checking into Adare Manor in Ireland for next level luxury and a visit to their brand new sushi restaurant Ōku

Information: 02 July 2026

It's the next-level luxury hotel in Ireland that not many Londoners may have heard of, but Adare Manor should be on every London foodie's radar.

Test Driving the new Lady of the Grapes in London Bridge, a wine bar with both style and substance

Information: 30 June 2026

The stretch between Borough and Southwark now has a compelling new bar and restaurant offering, courtesy of Lady of the Grapes. We went down for a few glasses of wine and to peruse the French bistro menu.

Test Drives

Also see...