Test Drive

• Test Driving the new Joe's Bar and menu at Joe Allen - theatreland's great bargain treat

  

  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. 

• Test Driving Mimi Mei Fair - 1920s Shanghai comes to Mayfair

  

  Step back in time to 1930s Shanghai at this opulent Chinese restaurant in Mayfair. We popped along to try it out.

• Test Driving The Londoner - Leicester Square's new luxe hangout

  

  The arrival of luxe new hotel The Londoner on Leicester Square aims to transform the area's lacklustre reputation. We went to check it out.

• Test Driving Mamma Pastrama - Jay Morjaria makes a damned good sandwich

  

  Million Pound Menu winning chef Jay Morjaria has opened a pastrami sandwich restaurant in Carnaby. We head down to check out the sandwiches.

• Test Driving The Seafood Bar - huge seafood platters in Soho

  

  The Seafood Bar has made the trip from Amsterdam to open in Soho. We went to try their huge seafood platters... 

• Test Driving Trattoria Brutto - Russell Norman's ode to Florence is a winner

  

  Russell Norman, the man who brought us Polpo, is back with a brand new place in Farringdon that's influenced by the restaurants of Florence. We went down for an early look.  

• Test Driving Sessions Arts Club - this vision of a restaurant sees Florence Knight back in the kitchen on top form

  

  Florence Knight returns to the London restaurant scene with this smash hit of a restaurant where both the food and surroundings are a vision.

• Test Driving Sunday in Brooklyn - NYC's pancake brunch hits Notting Hill

   

  They're already becoming well known for their huge pancakes, but what's the rest of brunch at Sunday in Brooklyn like? We went to Notting Hill to find out. 

• Test Driving The Pem - Sally Abé's food, showcased in St James

  

  Sally Abé found fame at The Harwood Arms and has now taken over all the food at The Conrad St James. The Pem is the main restaurant there - we went along to see how she's settling in.

• Test Driving Aspen & Meursault - a Battersea wine bar that wants you to love natural wine as much as they do

  

  This new Battersea wine bar is hoping to shake up the way Londoners think about natural wine. We went along to be inspired. 

• Test Driving José Pizarro at the Royal Academy - tapas and art are a winning combination

   

  José Pizarro brings tapas to the RA - we head along to see if that's as great a match as we think it is. 

• Test Driving Sachi - the final part of the Pantechnicon project is unveiled

  

  Belgravia's beautiful new Japanese restaurant serves up sushi and more with a Nordic influence. We went to check it out.

• Test Driving Slice by Pizza Pilgrims - Finsbury Park gets a new pizza by the slice joint

  

  The Pizza Pilgrims team now have a diffusion line - mixing American influences with Neapolitan flavours. We went to Finsbury Park to grab a slice and a cocktail.

• Test Driving Pizzeria Mozza - top LA chef Nancy Silverton lands in London

  

  Nancy Silverton is a big name on the American food scene, and now she's brought her Pizzeria Mozza to London. We went along for a look... 

• Test Driving Sucre & Abajo - the hot new Latin American bar and restaurant in Soho

  

  London's restaurant scene just got a whole lot brighter with the arrival of this gorgeous new restaurant and bar from a Latin American powerhouse team. We went along to marvel at it all.