New opening

• Mele e Pere are opening an Aperitivo Bar

  

  If you've ever wandered past the entrance to Mele e Pere on Brewer Street and wondered what the downstairs restaurant was like, you'll soon be able to find out without having to leave street level.

  The Italian restaurant is opening a new Aperitivo Bar this week at ground floor level. They're just finishing installing a whole load of taps from where they'll be serving homemade vermouth on draught, prosecco on tap and beer from Dalston microbrewery 40FT.

  The menu at

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• Señor Ceviche's new Charlotte Street branch will serve up Peruvian brunch and Pisco Punch

  A new Fitzrovia branch of Carnaby Street's Señor Ceviche will not only have all the usual favourites, but there'll be an exciting new brunch menu, and an underground pisco bar with loads of cocktails, as well as the usual Sours.

• Llewelyn's brings Jamie's Fifteen alumnus to Herne Hill

  A stellar front and back of house crew make this new Herne Hill neighbourhood restaurant worth checking out.

• Zala Levantine Grill opens in Camden Market

  

  Opening today is a new spot in Camden Market, taking up on e of the units beside Kerb. Called Zala, it comes from Tomer Niv, formerly head chef at R’amas Kitchen in Jerusalem and who's also done stints at The Fat Duck and The Ledbury.

  He's teamed up with his brother for the restaurant that will feature meze, Levantine pizzas (including Beef and Lamb Matbucha, pitas and grilled meats - all baked in a traditional Taboon oven. Expect lots

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• Ikoyi West African restaurant to open in St James's Market

  Previously showcased at Carousel, this is the latest restaurant to hit St James's Market. It's inspired by West African cuisine, adding a fine dining twist.

• Trash Tiki's Iain Griffiths & Kelsey Ramage take charge of the drinks at The Curtain

  

  It's not long now until big new Shoreditch hotel, The Curtain opens, bringing with it Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster. And now we've news that the drinks should be just as special, led by Iain Griffiths and Kelsey Ramage.

  Most recently in charge of the drinks at wastED this year, with their anti-waste Trash Tiki and both part of the Mr Lyan empire, they'll be in charge of drinks at the main restaurant, the

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• Prawn on the Lawn gets a lot bigger at its new Islington location

  

  A Hot Dinners exclusive

  Big news for lovers of Islington's Prawn on the Lawn, they're about to move into a much bigger spot - and it's just a short hop away from the original, taking over the spot where LeCoq used to be. 

  If you're not familiar with Prawn on the Lawn, it's half fishmongers and half wine bar serving up cold bar seafood dishes. So, up until now. that means plenty of prawns,

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• Adam Simmonds launching The Test Kitchen 12 month Soho pop-up

  Adam Simmonds goes pop-up before permanent.

• A new Japan Centre with a huge food court is coming to London

  

  Good news for fans of Japan Centre on Shaftesbury Avenue as they have a big new flagship store planned for Haymarket. Here's what we know about the place so far:

  They'll have a Japanese food hall with a 100 seater courtyard. This will be evoking the feel of Japanese basement food halls - we've been to a couple in Tokyo and they are amazing - with lots of specialist food rooms as a part of

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• Coupette in Bethnal Green sees ex-Savoy bartender bring a French accent to the East End

  Ex-Beaufort Bar head bartender heads east

• Something rather special - we Test Drive Dandy on Newington Green

  Stoke Newington has a rather special new neighbourhood restaurant worth crossing town for

• The Tapas Room hits Tooting from the Donostia Social Club

  Specialist Basque sherries, vermouths and more with tapas-style nibbles on the side

• The Bothy brings all day riverside dining to West India Quay

  All day riverside dining from London bar group Drake & Morgan

• Neo-Bistro comes to Mayfair from Anglo and Harwood Arms chefs

  Anglo's Mark Jarvis and The Harwood Arms' Alex Harper team up for this new relaxed bistro-style restaurant in Mayfair,

• The Clayton Arms to reopen as The Prince of Peckham

  With rum cocktails, beer and White Men Can’t Jerk to kick things off off in the kitchen, the Prince of Peckham could be a promising new life for this Peckham pub.