Test Drives

Test Driving Orrery by Pierre Minotti, well on its way to earning that Michelin star

Information: 16 April 2026

Orrery in Marylebone has relaunched under new chef Pierre Minotti, who intends to win it a new Michelin star. We went down to see just how much has changed and how his Michelin hopes are faring.

Test Driving Teal by Sally Abé, heralding a sophisticated new era for this Hackney restaurant

Information: 14 April 2026

After years in other people's kitchens, chef Sally Abé has finally opened her own restaurant, in Hackney. We went to see how she's settling into her new Wilton Way home.

Test Driving Maza Mayfair, a Greek party vibe without the plate smashing

Information: 10 April 2026

The latest addition to Mayfair's restaurant alley, Bruton Place, is a Greek restaurant offering true hospitality. We visited Maza Mayfair to see why they're already a hit.

Test Driving Holy Carrot Bistro, going vegetarian with their new Spitalfields restaurant

Information: 08 April 2026

After opening a hit vegan restaurant in Notting Hill, Holy Carrot have turned vegetarian for their new Spitalfields bistro. We went down to see what's new.

Test Driving Berenjak Mayfair, the Persian restaurant has really upped the glam factor

Information: 02 April 2026

For their third London restaurant, Berenjak have opened a very glamorous restaurant in Mayfair. We went down to check it their latest location and to see what's new on their Persian-inspired menu.

Test Driving Impala, Meedu Saad's restaurant is a love letter to food from North Africa to North London

Information: 31 March 2026

Defying classification, but very London-coded, the much-anticipated solo venture by chef Meedu Saad, Impala, more than lives up to expectations.

Test Driving Burro, where Trullo chef Conor Gadd has created a warm, inviting Covent Garden Italian

Information: 26 March 2026

The chef behind Trullo has opened his own solo Italian restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden. We went down to the surprisingly peaceful courtyard to see what Conor Gadd is cooking up at Burro.

Test Driving Taq, the Notting Hill taqueria that has reinvented itself with help from Jackson Boxer

Information: 24 March 2026

The Notting Hill restaurant known as Taqueria for 20 years has been given a 21st-century makeover (with the help of Dove's Jackson Boxer) and is now Taq. We went in to see what the revamped taqueria has to offer.

Test Driving Sale e Pepe Mare, this hotel's decision to bring in a classic restaurant was a bright idea

Information: 19 March 2026

The Langham London brought in classic Knightsbridge restaurant Sale E Pepe to open a seafood branch in their hotel. It was a good idea.

Test Driving Cometa, a sparklingly fresh Mexican take on seafood

Information: 17 March 2026

Following years of interesting residencies from Mexican guest chefs Carousel has turned its wine bar into a permanent Mexican restaurant. We went to see what Cometa had to offer.

Test Driving Simpson's in the Strand, a classic London restaurant brought back to life

Information: 12 March 2026

Jeremy King's magnum opus has been the reopening of the iconic London restaurant Simpson's in the Strand. We went for a preview visit to see how he's transformed the space.

Test Driving Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, the high-rise 12-seater restaurant clearly deserves its Michelin star

Information: 10 March 2026

After the restaurant got a very big push on his Netflix series, we decided it was time to take a proper look at High, Gordon Ramsay's high-rise Michelin-starred restaurant at 22 Bishopsgate.

Test Driving Sushi Amamoto - one of the world's top sushi chefs arrives in London

Information: 05 March 2026

What was once the Michelin-starred Taku has been taken to the next level by the arrival of one of the world's best sushi chefs. We went to see just what you can expect from Sushi Amamoto.

Test Driving Tiella, the trattoria in an old Hackney pub which is big on Italian hospitality

Information: 03 March 2026

Taking over a former boozer on Columbia Road, Dara Klein's modern trattoria Tiella has been packing them in since day one. We went along to see what all the fuss was about.

Test Driving Wild Izakaya, the new sushi spot bringing Tokyo energy and glamour to the City

Information: 26 February 2026

The team behind Goodman have opened a Tokyo-style izakaya right opposite their other restaurant on Old Jewry. We went down to check out the City's newest high energy sushi offering.

Test Driving Osteria Vibrato - the Italian Laughing Heart sequel that's an instant Soho hit

Information: 24 February 2026

The man behind The Laughing Heart has opened a classic Italian osteria in the middle of Soho. We went down to check out Osteria Vibrato.

Test Driving Bambi, a new look and chef has made this London Fields restaurant/club hybrid a triple threat

Information: 19 February 2026

It's always been a bit of a party spot, but a major makeover and a new chef have raised London Fields spot Bambi to the next level. We took a table by the DJs to check it out.

Test Driving Hoppers Shoreditch, reinventing itself with a new South Indian twist to the menu

Information: 17 February 2026

Hoppers has just opened its fourth restaurant, this time in Shoreditch. And although they've been all about Sri Lankan food until now, this latest opening adds some brand new South Indian dishes to the menu. We went down to try all of them.

Bar Crawl: we check out Cato, a bar of two halves in Covent Garden

Information: 12 February 2026

Newly opened in Covent Garden, Cato is a cocktail bar of two halves, with a seasoned bartender behind the drinks. We went in for an early look.

Test Driving DakaDaka, an introduction to Georgian dumplings, wine and more in Mayfair

Information: 10 February 2026

A talented team are behind buzzy new restaurant DakaDaka which hopes to introduce Londoners to the food and wine delights of Georgia. We went for own culinary tour, without having to leave Mayfair.

Test Drives

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