Test Drive

• Test Driving Topa - a buzzing Basque residency inside a Holloway Road deli

  

  The arrival of a new Basque-inspired residency by a top chef at Holloway Road deli Provisions meant it was time for a return visit.

• Trying out Jugad - a healthy, modern take on Indian food in Camden Market

   

  Jugad sees healthy food company Foodhak opening a modern Indian restaurant in Camden Market, bringing in top names for the menu and cocktails. We went down for a look.  

• Test Driving Fonda - home cooked Mexican food (if your home cook also happens to be a Michelin-starred chef)

  

  On top of having one of the World's 50 Best restaurants with Kol, chef Santiago Lastra has branched out with a new more informal offering in Fonda. We nipped over to Heddon Street to check it out.

• Test Driving Wildflowers - a fantastic Med-inspired restaurant paired with a great-value wine bar

  

  Wildflowers is a beautifully designed space in Belgravia that's part-wine bar and part-restaurant, led by an ex-Elystan Street head chef. We approached it via a hidden courtyard to see what it was all about.

• Test Driving the Mr Lyan and Bébé Bob team-up - cocktails, caviar, doughnuts and schnuggets

  

  There's a new menu at Bébé Bob where they've brought in Mr Lyan on cocktail duty alongside some very fancy bar snacks. We took a seat at the counter to test them out.

• Test Driving Café François - a new Borough Market spot that's perfect for popping by or lingering in

  

  The arrival of this new French cafe in the heart of Borough now gives the area a perfect place to pop in for a drink and a dish, or to enjoy a longer more leisurely lunch or dinner.

• Test Driving Oh Gee - award-winning Korean fried chicken in Shoreditch

  

  Taking over the Hoxton Grill space at the Hoxton in Shoreditch until the end of the year is Korean fried chicken pop-up Oh Gee. We went to try out their award-winning KFC.

• Test Driving Sesta - Pidgin's replacement is an extremely accomplished neighbourhood affair

  

  A former Pidgin chef and GM have teamed up to take the old Pidgin space in a new direction. We went down to see what Sesta is all about.

• Test Driving Sol's - a cool new wine bar for Bayswater

  

  The arrival of Sol's in Bayswater is the latest interesting opening for the area. We went down to see what this deli by day, wine bar by night had to offer. 

• Test Driving Mary's - Jason Atherton's Pollen Street grill revamp

  

  Part of Jason Atherton's very busy 2024 has been replacing Pollen Street Social with Mary's, a much more laid-back grill restaurant. We went down to check out all the changes. 

• Test Driving Leydi - Selin Kiazim's new modern Turkish restaurant in the City

  

  Selin Kiazim (previously behind Oklava) returns to the London restaurant scene with a large Turkish restaurant right in the heart of the City. We went down for a first look at Leydi.

• Test Driving Lolo - José Pizarro continues his takeover of Bermondsey Street with this all-day diner

  

  Next door to José and down the road from Pizarro is where you'll find José Pizarro's latest Bermondsey restaurant, Lolo. We went to see what this new all day spot has to offer. 

• Test Driving Kolamba East - the Sri Lanka restaurant comes to the City

  

  Five years after opening in Soho, Kolamba have gone east for their second restaurant, bringing Sri Lankan food to the City. We went down to try Kolamba East.  

• Test Driving Stem + Stem - a triple threat in the City of wine bar, restaurant and florist

  

  With an experienced team behind it, this florist, wine bar and restaurant in the heart of the City is offering something fresh and new to Londoners. We went to check out Stem + Stem by Mansion House. 

• Test of time - Lyle's in Shoreditch turns 10 and still has the wow factor

  

  Lyle's in Shoreditch is celebrating its 10th birthday, which gave us the perfect excuse for a return visit to see how this brilliant British restaurant was faring.