Test Drive

• Test Driving Townsend - modern British in Whitechapel with a menu to linger over

  

  Townsend has been creating quite a name for itself both in the Whitechapel Gallery and with its delivery service. We went to try out the modern British restaurant. 

• Test Driving Akoko - William JM Chilila has a winner in Fitzrovia

  

  William JM Chilila explores West African cuisine with his new restaurant. We headed to Fitzrovia to try it.

• Test Driving Bermondsey Larder - new location, same great Dairy

  

  Saved at the eleventh hour, The Dairy has moved from Clapham into its new Bermondsey home. We went down to take a look.  

• A return visit to SOLA in Soho - the Californian restaurant evolves

  

  We make a return trip to Victor Garvey's Soho restaurant SOLA to see how things have changed since its original launch. 

• Test Driving Maison Francois - an instant hit in St James

  

  This modernist French brasserie serves up all the classics and has a very useful downstairs bar too. 

• Test Driving The Windmill in Mayfair - so much more than (excellent) pies

  

  This Mayfair pub, best known for its pies, has been taken over by the team behind the Guinea Grill. We went down to see what changes they'd made.

• Test Driving Noble Rot Soho - honouring the past whilst building a glorious future

  

  Noble Rot have unveiled their new restaurant in Soho, taking over what used to be The Gay Hussar. Will it live up to the louche charm of the original? We went along for a preview dinner.

• Test Driving JAE by Jay Morjaria at Untitled - Korean drinking food to die for

  

  We head to Dalston to check out Jay Morjaria's permanent residency, JAE, at Untitled bar - where the Korean drinking food makes you want to order everything on the menu.

• Test Driving the Burger & Beyond At Home kits - burgers, poutine & more

  

  The Burger & Beyond At Home DIY kits aim to give you perfect restaurant-quality burgers in the comfort of your own home. We gave them a go.

• Test Driving Fallow - this sustainable menu packs a punch

  

  Settling in for a longer stretch on Heddon Street, this sustainable restaurant residency has an ex-Dinner by Heston team creating fireworks in the kitchen.

• Test Driving Sollip - something quite unique in Bermondsey

  

  Sollip in Bermondsey takes some of the European cooking techniques that the owners have great experience in and mixes in their Korean background to offer something quite unique to Londoners. We went down to try it out. 

• Test Driving Rondo - Hoxton Holborn's new seasonal spot

  

  The Hoxton hotel in Holborn has a new restaurant which brings together an ex-St John chef and one of the people behind Quality Chop House. We head down for a look. 

• Test Driving the Ned's Sunday Feast as it reopens for the new normal

  

  The Ned's epic Sunday Feast buffet is back in action, post lockdown. We went to see how a Covid-era buffet works in practice. 

• Test Driving Bong Bong by Dishpatch - the Manila Kanteen (and more) comes home

  

  Bong Bong's have teamed up with meal-kit delivery service Dishpatch for a delivery version of their Kamayan Feast. We tried it out.  

• Test Driving Six by Nico - the tasting menu goes casual

  

  Scottish chef Nico Simeone has brought his ever-changing six-course tasting menu restaurant Six by Nico to London. We head down to try it out.