London Restaurants - West London
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
This Notting Hill restaurant is run by chef/patron Rabah Ourrad, an Algerian rapper in Paris who used his time there to hone his culinary skills. He worked at Sketch, the Ledbury and Momo before starting Wormwood with his brother Akli. The menu here "spans the Mediterranean, but stands alone in its conformist refusal" so expect mezze/tapas with a French cooking flair.
Critic reviews - total score 6 out of 10
This old favourite is now under the ownership of Ossie Gray, who used to be the General Manager of River Cafe. They're "cooking the food we love based on our experience of regional French & Italian with some other Mediterranean influences as well."
Critic reviews - total score 6.5 out of 10
This is the restaurant housed in the Serpentine Sackler Gallery. Housed under the fancy new part attached to the grade II listed building, this has German chef Oliver Lange in charge who aims to mix Japanese food with European.
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
This is the follow up to the diminutive Sushi of Shiori. The larger restaurant allows chef Takashi Takag to run a Kaiseki dining experience in an authentic Japanese setting.
Critic reviews - total score 6.5 out of 10
Bush Hall Dining Rooms is described as "a true neighborhood restaurant". The 70 cover spot is an all day diner, open seven days a week. Family-style dishes will be available at breakfast and for Sunday lunch when they'll serve up roasts with all the trimmings for the head of the table to carve themselves.
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
This was the first restaurant to be opened by The Gladwin brothers, who are each a farmer, a chef and a restaurateur. Serving up British food, much of it from their own family farm, it's all about locally grown, sustainable produce.
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Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
Soho House's Notting Hill outfit consists of an Electric House members club, a fancy Electric Cinema (London’s oldest cinema) and the Electric Diner. The Diner's all day menu features steaks, sandwiches, all-day breakfasts and much more comfort food.
Critic reviews - total score 6.5 out of 10
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
Claude Bosi and his brother already have a pub in Wimbledon (the Fox and Grapes) and now they've opened their second in Fulham. This time, they'll be aiming for "modern British pub food" but Fulhamites can expect a stamp of quality as Bosi has enlisted Marcus McGuinness, the former Head Chef of Hibiscus (Bosi's two Michelin starred restaurant in Mayfair), to take over the revamped pub.
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
He's had a big hit with the Mall Tavern and now Jesse Dunford Wood has expanded further to Kensal Green.
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
The team behind the Harwood arms are head chef Sally Abé, Mike Robinson from the Pot Kiln pub in Berkshire and Edwin Vaux from the Vaux brewery. Together their impressive credentials have formed a perfect whole - a gastropub that actually serves what the name suggests, excellent food in a low-key pub setting.
Critic reviews - total score 6 out of 10
Following on from the success of Kitchen W8 - the last joint venture between restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas and chef Philip Howard - the pair have joined forces for a second venture. They've relaunched Sonny’s Restaurant in Barnes as Sonny's Kitchen.
Critic reviews - total score 7.5 out of 10
This modern Greek restaurant enlisted two of Greece's top chefs to create the menu Athinagoras Kostakos, executive head chef at Bill, Coo Mykonos and George Venieris, executive head chef at the roof garden restaurant at the Electra Palace Hotel in Athens. They say, "We reinterpret old time classic recipes with a modern twist."
Critic reviews - total score 7.5 out of 10
Greg Malouf takes over the Michelin starred cafe in Richmond.
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
When the hugely popular pub The Engineer was taken over in Primrose Hill and destined to transform into a chain pub, the locals were up in arms. Primrose Hill's loss has been Hammersmith's gain as the team behind the Engineer has relocated to King Street. Expect well sourced British food, as well as larder products on the bar and a large range of biodynamic wines and real ales.
Critic reviews - total score 4 out of 10
It looks like the trend for American country cooking is set to continue in London as chefs Michael Kirk and Jennifer Ryan - both US natives - are cooking up "simple, seasonal American low country cuisine which encompasses cuisine from the southern wilds of the US from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast". Highlights include a pinot noir marinated burger.
Critic reviews - total score 6.5 out of 10
This Georgian restaurant is centred around wine, which will include choices from Georgia, as well as small, interesting producers from around the world. The food is influenced by both Mediterranean and Middle Eastern tastes.
Critic reviews - total score 7 out of 10
The famed Aussie chef moved to London a while back and has since been looking for a place to open here. He's settled on a property in Westbourne Grove, looking to run a casual all-day dining space. Expect a similar set-up to his restaurant in Sydney, but with a stronger focus on Asian cuisine.
Critic reviews - total score 6.5 out of 10
For seasonal British food done brilliantly you can't go wrong with Hereford Road where the former head chef of St. John Bread and Wine, Tom Pemberton, is in charge of the kitchen.
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
Andy Varma was behind the now-closed Vama in Chelsea and has returned to launch this Indian restaurant with an emphasis on sharing plates. The menu is specifically focusing on recipes originating from Lucknow and Hyderabad.
Critic reviews - total score 6 out of 10
Nick Gibson, owner of Islington gastropub the Draper's Arms, has a loyal North London following and is aiming to replicate his local gastropub success over in Chiswick. The dining room seats 70 with space for 16 more in the bar and a good-sized garden. Head chef is David Philpot, whose previous experience includes Dean Street Townhouse and Le Caprice, New York.
Critic reviews - total score 8 out of 10
Critic reviews - total score 7.5 out of 10
Opening in Shoreditch in late 2009, the original Pizza East brought a new audience to Soho House and much admiration from the critics. This second branch has opened in Ladbroke Grove - while bizarrely keeping the original "Pizza East" name. Expect the favourite pizzas from the original plus a few new ones (with a few portobello mushrooms sprinkled into the mix) as well as some new char-grilled dishes.