London Restaurants - Soho, Fitzrovia, Covent Garden
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
It already has a branch north of Oxford Street in Marylebone, and now the popular wine bar has come into the heart of Soho. Expect a similar approach as their other two locations with a bar, dining room and wine shop across two levels.
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
Chris Corbin and Jeremy King (The Wolseley, Zedel) are behind this huge restaurant, designed by the late David Collins. It's in a super position for pre and post theatre and the cafe at the front is handy as well.
Critic reviews - total score 6 out of 10
This is the first West End gastropub from Tom and Ed Martin, the brothers behind the Botanist and loads more throughout London. On St Martin's Lane, this has 60 covers spread over two floors, with the ground floor being a traditional pub whilst the first floor is an informal dining area, serving seasonal British produce.
Critic reviews - total score 5.5 out of 10
NYC's Serge Becker has teamed up with Will Ricker (Great Eastern Dining Room) to create a downstairs restaurant and bar, a road side taqueria, and all-day contemporary Mexican café.
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
Martin Morales' restaurant, of course, focuses on ceviche - freshly caught sustainable fish cold-cooked in Tiger’s Milk marinade made from lime juice and Peruvian aji chilli. You'll be able to sit on the Ceviche Bar and watch the Cevichero Chef prepare them freshly in front of you, while sipping on Peru’s national drink, the Pisco Sour, from Ceviche’s Pisco Bar, the first of its kind in Britain.
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
The first follow up to MEATliquor is more of a convenience food affair. Here they serve up their classic burgers and hot dogs, alcoholic milk shakes, soft serve developed with Ice Cream Union, and the option for take out if you can't grab a table.
Critic reviews - total score 6 out of 10
Vivek Singh is the latest big name chef to come to the heart of Soho with his new restaurant in Kingly Street, which is in a similar style to Cinnamon Kitchen.
Critic reviews - total score 6.5 out of 10
Just near Covent Garden, this bistro offers a "small but ever changing wine list" and a menu that changes every day to match the list.
Critic reviews - total score 6 out of 10
Ex Arbutus and Wild Honey chef Andrea Mantovani's North Italian restaurant was a bit of a sleeper hit at first until word got out about how great the food was Descend to the basement restaurant for dishes like pappardelle with slow-cooked hare or hand-chopped raw veal with Parmesan as well as a 10 seater bar specialising in Vermouth.
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
The people behind the Riding House Cafe have previously opened Village East and the Garrison in Bermondsey. This central London spot is all-day brasserie with an American feel, featuring small plates to share as well as more traditional mains.
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
Staffed by folk who previously worked at Hix in Clerkenwell, expect a small menu featuring the group's favourite dishes from around the world, created with seasonal British ingredients. Plus there's "bring your own vynyl" approach which lets you play your own tunes on the turntable.
Critic reviews - total score 6 out of 10
Critic reviews - total score 6.5 out of 10
Cay Tre in Shoreditch/ Hoxton is felt by many, including Mark Hix, to be the very best Vietnamese restaurant in town. Also owners of the successful Viet Grill, they've been expanding lately - first with the recent Keu, and now with a flagship restaurant right in the centre of Soho. Expect a restaurant with a bright look, to challenge the vogue that contemporary Asian restaurants must be dark and moody, and more of a small-plates approach than the original Cay Tre offered.
Critic reviews - total score 7.5 out of 10
Located in the old Watney-Combe brewery, complete with original vaulted brick ceiling, the new Hawskmoor restaurant looks as though it's been down this narrow Covent Garden street forever. There's also a private dining room for up to 14 people and a bar where you can pop in for 'a casual burger and beer'.
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
From the same stable as Salt Yard and Dehesa, this serves tapas-style dishes in a refurbished pub setting. Their teeny Iberico pork and foie gras burgers are worthy of the trip here alone.
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
With everything Norman (and partner Richard Beatty) opens turning to gold, da Polpo is one of the hottest tickets in town. It's a little bigger than Spuntino or Polpetto with room for 70 diners and there's a meatball section on the menu.
Critic reviews - total score 6.5 out of 10
Beloved by London expats down in Lewes where it first opened, Bill's Produce Store is a deli/grocers where you can also sit and eat. Bought up by Caprice Holdings' Richard Caring, this massive Covent Garden branch in the area between Long Acre and St Martin's Lane also offers takeaway food.
Critic reviews - total score 7.5 out of 10
Fans of counter dining have long known that one of the best lunches in town was to be had up dining up at the bar in Sheekeys, if you could get a table. Happily the move sideways into an neighbouring building has allowed Sheekeys to create a brand new Oyster bar while seemlessly giving it the Sheekey magic touch.
Critic reviews - total score 8.5 out of 10
Jacob Kenedy's Soho Italian wins universal praise for its cuisine, a well-chosen wine list and for one of the most beautiful counters in town - a top counter dining spot.
Critic reviews - total score 5 out of 10
Critic reviews - total score 7.5 out of 10
Alexis Gauthier brings his own take on French cuisine in the marvellous setting of this Georgian townhouse. Having gone vegan, much of the menu here is plant-focused, with the aim to bring the entire menu over to vegan in the coming years.
Critic reviews - total score 6 out of 10
This is the Japanese part of the aqua complex at Regent Street, featuring a sushi bar and sumibiyaki charcoal grill. The chef in charge is Shibuya Kenichi.