After five and half years, as of February 2023, Eater London will cease daily news publication. In the future, the site’s core maps will be updated on a quarterly or bi-annual basis. But for now, and for me, the site’s editor, it is time to say goodbye. When we launched in the summer of 2017, we […]
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After five and half years, as of February 2023, Eater London will cease daily news publication. In the future, the site’s core maps will be updated on a quarterly or bi-annual basis.
But for now, and for me, the site’s editor, it is time to say goodbye.
When we launched in the summer of 2017, we did so with the express aim of doing something different in London food media — being thoughtful, honest, ruthless, humourous, and thinking about the wider meaning of food and the role restaurants play in a capital city like London.
“Eater London will offer a new perspective,” I wrote on the site’s launch day in July of that year. “It’s London, so this site won’t be a carbon copy of American Eater sites, but the site will speak honestly, while always ensuring that it treats its subjects fairly.”
This is what we always tried to do; not everyone liked it, not everyone agreed with us. But lots do and lots did, through a challenging period of successive crises for an industry which is finding it increasingly difficult to sustain itself, let alone its patrons.
Through the casual dining crisis of 2018-2019, MicheLoLs, cultural appropriation, and racism scandals, through COVID-19, Brexit, and the post-COVID moment — during this exciting, challenging, and tumultuous time, Eater London has always sought to question who restaurants are there to serve. And to give the most up-to-date and thoughtful answers to the always-pressing questions: what should I eat, where should we eat it, and why should we do so?
My greatest hope is that Eater London’s legacy will be this: That by giving a platform to a new generation of writers, we refigured the way a lot of people think about restaurants in London — to look and stray beyond the inner city and to always think outside of the status quo.
I’ve relished the opportunity to run Eater in London and will always be extremely proud of the work we’ve done and the impact we’ve made. I want to thank Amanda Kludt for giving me the chance to do that; James Hansen, the smartest and most capable deputy I could ever have asked for; Laura James for her commitment to getting the site off the ground during the difficult early days; my managing editors Sonia Chopra, Carolyn Alburger, and Missy Frederick for their incredible support and guidance through the years; and everyone else at Eater who made our work better.
Lastly, and before we sign off for the final time, I want to thank the incredible group of contributors I’ve been fortunate to work with during this period — the people who have made Eater London what it is, the people who will continue to change food media in London and the U.K.
And to Amira Arasteh, Hilary Armstrong, Zahra Al Asaadi, Sam Ashton, MiMi Aye, Josh Barrie, Rida Bilgrami, James Bird, Ailis Brenan, Maazin Buhari, Stephen Buranyi, Kaltrina Bylykbashi, Lauren Cochrane, Chris Cotonou, Chloe-Rose Crabtree, Ed Cumming, Joanna Derry, Christian Dymond, Tom Ford, Ellie Foreman-Peck, Feroz Gajia, Harkaran Gill, Richard Godwin, Laura Goodman, Helen Graves, Simran Hans, Joel Hart, Virginia Hartley, Lisa Haseldine, Jonathan Hatchman, Hester van Hensbergen, Angela Hui, Tomas Jivanda, Yasmin Khan, Adrienne Katz Kennedy, Gemma Croffie, Israel Kujore, Daria Kyrilova, Alexander Larman, Leila Latif, Heedayah Lockman, Daisy Meager, Frankie McCoy, Ben McMahon, Chloe Scott Moncrieff, Diya Mukherjee, Nathalie Nelles, Marina O’Loughlin, Lucas Oakley, Suze Olbrich, Sam Orbaum, Poonperm Paitayawat, Soheb Panja, Isaac Parham, David Jay Paw, Riaz Phillips, Emma Louise Pudge, Isaac Rangaswami, Advika Reddy, Keshia Sakara, Ejatu Shaw, Ola Smit, Ed Smith, Victoria Stewart, Jill Suazo, Sejal Sukhadwala, Tomé Morrissy Swan, Vaughn Tan, Ruby Tandoh, Hugh Thomas, Jennifer Trak, Shekha Vyas, Jess Wang, Sophie Wilkinson, Kimberley Wilson, Zeren Wilson, Sean Wyer, and Daniel Young.
You can find me on Twitter and Instagram @adamcoghlan where I might tell you things like Singburi, 40 Maltby Street, Saikei, Cadet, and Quality Wines are the five best restaurants in London.
Thank you all for reading, especially those who said they didn’t.
The Iberian peninsula might be where it’s at right now, but the city’s French restaurants continue to bring a lot to the table (literally). Good bread and good wine, roll-the-sleeves-up cheeses and OTT desserts are so ubiquitous that it’s easy to forget where they came from — and where still does them best. The list […]
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An array of natural wines and country French dishes at Planque, in Haggerston. | Anton Rodriguez
The Iberian peninsula might be where it’s at right now, but the city’s French restaurants continue to bring a lot to the table (literally). Good bread and good wine, roll-the-sleeves-up cheeses and OTT desserts are so ubiquitous that it’s easy to forget where they came from — and where still does them best. The list below is a mix of ancient and modern, but even the newcomers show a heartening disregard for food fashion, only remixing the classics very gently (if at all). If it ain’t broke…
JANUARY 2023 Sichuan Fry and Dumpling ShackAddress: 2 Westgate Street, London Fields E8 3RNKey people: John and Yee Li.What to expect: A first full restaurant for one of London’s most queued-for street food hits, with Sichuan fried chicken on the ground floor and crisp, soupy shengjianbao in the basement.Opened: 5 January 2023 AkubAddress: 27 Uxbridge Street, […]
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A spread of dishes at Akub, the new Palestinian restaurant in Notting Hill. | Akub
JANUARY 2023
Sichuan Fry and Dumpling Shack Address: 2 Westgate Street, London Fields E8 3RN Key people: John and Yee Li. What to expect: A first full restaurant for one of London’s most queued-for street food hits, with Sichuan fried chicken on the ground floor and crisp, soupy shengjianbao in the basement. Opened: 5 January 2023
Akub Address: 27 Uxbridge Street, Notting Hill W8 7TQ Key people: Fadi Kattan. What to expect: A modern Palestinian restaurant dedicated to the full breadth of its cuisine. Opened: 16 January 2023
Big Mamma Kensington Address: 92 Kensington High Street, Kensington W8 4SH Key people: Big Mamma, the group behind wildly extra Italian quartet Gloria, Circolo Popolare, Ave Mario, and Napoli Gang. What to expect: More wildly extra Italian stuff. Opened: 20 January 2023
DECEMBER 2022
Ikoyi Address: 180 The Strand, Temple, WC2R 1EA Key people: Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale. What to expect: A larger space than the St James’s location, a new logo, and an evolved aesthetic. Opened: 12 December 2022
Lulu’s Address: 291 Railton Road, Herne Hill SE24 0JP Key people: The team behind neighbouring restaurant Llewelyn’s. What to expect: A candlelit deli and wine bar, with sandwiches and staples daytime and some elegant bistro dishes by night. Opened: 6 December 2022
NOVEMBER 2022
Bouchon Racine Address: 66 Cowcross Street, Farringdon EC1M 6BP Key people: Henry Harris and Dave Strauss. What to expect: A très French bouchon above a very English pub, with classics from Harris’s time at celebrated restaurant Racine. Opened: 28 November 2022
Studio Frantzén Address: Harrods, 87 — 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge SW1X 7XL Key people: Björn Frantzén, of the three-Michelin-starred Stockholm restaurant that bears his surname. What to expect: A shrine to international gastrotourism. Opened: 28 November 2022
Bacchanalia Address: Connaught House, 1-3 Mount Street, Mayfair W1K 3NB Key people: Mayfair magnate and tan salon revenue stream Richard Caring. What to expect: Ridiculous Italian-Greek food and art for people entirely unconcerned about eating it. Opened: 24 November2022
Studio Frantzén Address: Harrods, 87 — 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge SW1X 7XL Key people: Björn Frantzén, of the three-Michelin-starred Stockholm restaurant that bears his surname. What to expect: A shrine to international gastrotourism. Opened: 8 November 2022
Saltie Girl London Address: 115 North Audley Street, Mayfair W1K 6WW Key people: Kathy Sidell and chef Kyle McClelland of the Saltie Girl brand in Boston, USA What to expect: A bright seafood restaurant with pedigree from Boston. Saltie Girl will offer everything from whole grilled fish, buttery lobster rolls, oysters, and a large range of tinned fish. Opened: 7 November 2022
Straker’s Address: 91 Golborne Rd, W10 5PR Key people: Chef and TikTok star Thomas Straker. What to expect: A mix of snacks, small and larger plates, and family style food. Opened: 1 November 2022
OCTOBER 2022
Cycene at Blue Mountain School Address: 9 Chance Street, E2 7JBE Key people: Christie Brown, James Brown, and executive chef Theo Clench What to expect: A broadly modern European 10-course tasting menu in a swanky homestyle environment off Redchurch Street in Shoreditch Opened: 26 October 2022
St John. Marylebone Address: 98 Marylebone Lane, Marylebone W1U 2JE Key people: Fergus Henderson, Trevor Gulliver, and Jonathan Woolway What to expect: The first new restaurant from the St. John team in seven years. Expect wine focus and drinking food, such as thrilling sounding deep-fried chunks of Welsh rarebit and fried mullet with green sauce. Opened: 19 October 2022
Kuro Eatery Address: 5 Hillgate Street, Notting Hill W8 7SP Key people: The Kuro Coffee team and headed up by ex-Rovi chef Andriannos Poulis. What to expect: Minimalist vibes, Mediterranean influences, shokupan, and more. Opened: 17 October 2022
Casa do Frango Address: 31 — 33 Heddon Street, Mayfair W1B 4BN Key people: Backers MJMK. What to expect: Piri-piri chicken and chips for Mayfair. Opened: 14 October 2022
Elis Address: Town Hall Hotel, 8 Patriot Square, E2 9NF Key people: Chef Rafael Cagali. What to expect: A more casual restaurant than his previous two-Michelin-starred restaurant Da Terra with dishes that cross over Cagali’s Brazilian and Italian heritage. Opened: 12 October 2022
Din Tai Fung Address: Centre Point, Tottenham Court Road WC1A 1DB Key people: The Din Tai Fung U.K. team. What to expect: Pleated xiao long bao galore in a massive dining room. Opened: 1 October 2022
Mr Ji Address: 63-65 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1 7PP Key people: TĀ TĀ EATERY’s Ana Gonçalves and Zijun Meng, and restaurateur Samuel Haim. What to expect: Experimental Taiwanese food, sophisticated cocktails and a low intervention wine list. Opened: October 2022
SEPTEMBER 2022
Mexa Address: Arcade Food Hall, Centre Point, Tottenham Court Road WC1A 1DB Key people: Michelle Salazar de la Rocha and Sam Napier of Sonora. What to expect: A less ferociously regional menu, with birria, Sinaloan mariscos, and suadero tacos. Opened: 16 September 2022
Forza Win Address: 31 Camberwell Church Street, Camberwell SE5 8TR Key people: Bash Redford and Michael Lavery. What to expect: A return for the boisterous Peckham Italian, now resident in SE5. Opened: September 2022
Koyn Address: 38 Grosvenor Street at 1 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair W1K 4QX Key people: Samyukta and Dinesh Nair What to expect: The favoured Mayfair mix of raw fish, citrus, expensive add-ons, and over-the-top design, from this loosely billed (in every sense) “izakaya.” Opened: 21 September 2022
Speedboat Bar Address: 30 Rupert Street, Soho W1D 6DL Key people: Chef and grower Luke Farrell, alongside JKS Restaurants. What to expect: Another movie set experience from Farrell, whose devotion to reproducing Thai food culture will here centre on Bangkok. Projected opening: 29 September 2022
Good Things Deli Address: 56 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 0NB Key people: The Good Egg team. What to expect: Bagels and deli classics including the trout lox and schmear, salads, babkas, and drinks. Projected opening: 29 September 2022
AUGUST 2022
Holloway Model Bakery Address: 66 George’s Road, Holloway N7 8HX Key people: Michelle Eshkeri, founder of Margot Bakery in East Finchley. What to expect: A bakery focussed on sweet, leavened breads particularly in the Jewish tradition — best expressed by its formidable sourdough babka. Opened: 31 August 2022
Sessions Address: 77 Upper Street, Islington N1 0NU Key people: Hasan Semay, Zoe Adjonyoh, Norman’s Cafe. What to expect: A food hall with some early big signings — wait and see if it can sustain them. Opened: August 2022
JULY 2022
Cadet Address: 57 Newington Green Road, Newington Green N1 4QU Key people: Tom Beattie, Francis Roberts, George Jephson, and Jamie Smart. What to expect: A relaxed wine bar and restaurant from two of the most respected pourers and importers in the city, who will be joined by Jephson’s charcuterie and Smart’s confident cooking. Opened: Thursday 28 July 2022
Tatale Address: 66 Great Suffolk Street, Southwark SE1 0BL Key people: Akwasi Brenya-Mensa. What to expect: A self-consciously pan-African restaurant, designed to provoke conversation and cross-pollination between different cultural disciplines. Opened: 14 July 2022
The Baring Address: 55 Baring Street, Islington N1 3DS Key people: Chef Rob Tecwyn and general manager Adam Symonds What to expect: British / modern European gastropub fare. Tecwyn has worked as head chef at Dabbous and The Henrietta Hotel, and senior sous at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill; Symonds ran the dining room at the Bull and Last for five years, and has also worked at Orasay and Six Portland Road. Opened: 12 July 2022
Lina Stores Address: 13 – 15 Marylebone Lane, Marylebone W1U 2NE Key people: Backer White Rabbit Projects, alongside the storied brand. What to expect: More green-hued designs and fresh pasta. Opened: 12 July 2022
Bubala Address: 15 Poland Street, Soho W1F 8QE Key people: Helen Graham and Marc Summers. What to expect: A follow-up from the vegetarian, loosely Sephardic restaurant in Spitalfields, bringing over its hero dishes and adding a Japanese grill. Opened: 11 July 2022
JUNE 2022
Café Leon Dore Address: 32 Broadwick Street, Soho W1F 8JB Key people: Founder Teddy Santis What to expect: Coffee and fashion, with a Greek bent and some truly decent iced drinks. Opened: June 2022
Roti King Battersea Address: Battersea Power Station, Circus West Village, Battersea SW11 8AH Key people: Roti King and Gopal’s Corner founder Sugen Gopal. What to expect: A new, crucially bookable location for the cult-favourite Malay restaurant and its flaky roti canai. Opened: May2022
Honey & Co. Address: 54 Lamb’s Conduit Street, Bloomsbury WC1N 3LW Key people: Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich. What to expect: A new lease of life for one of London’s most-loved restaurants, keeping all the spirit of the original with some more space and a new wine list from near-neighbours Noble Rot. Opened: 6 June 2022
MAY 2022
Cavita Address: 56 Wigmore Street, Marylebone W1U 2RZ Key people: Chef Adriana Cavita. What to expect: A debut restaurant for the former Pujol chef, focussed on Oaxacan. andcoastal Yucatan food. Opened: 27 May 2022
Black Bear Burger Address: 17 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4QD Key people: Liz and Stew Down. What to expect: A follow-up for the Brixton burger restaurant. Opened: 27 May 2022
Berenjak Address: 1 Bedale Street, Borough Market, London Bridge SE1 9AL Key people: Chef Kian Samyani, backed by JKS Restaurants. What to expect: A second site for the Tehrani grill, going strong on koobideh, joojeh, and a new range of Iranian desserts. Opened: 25 May 2022
Bar Daskal Address:Borough Yards Key people: Harts Brothers, they behind Barrafina, Parillan, and Tacos Pastor. What to expect: As well as the first Barrafina restaurant south of the river, and a second less-DIY Parillan, an intriguing new sherry and cold tapas bar from seasoned pros at the same same but different restaurant development on the edge of Borough Market. Bar Daskal is named after the Harts brothers’s grandfather and is being described as the “prequel” venue in the group. Opened: 20 May 2022
Barrafina and Parillan Address:Borough Yards Key people: Harts Brothers, they behind Barrafina, Parillan, and Tacos Pastor. What to expect: A first Barrafina restaurant south of the river, and a second less-DIY Parillan from Harts Group, which will also open Bar Daskal at the development. Opened: May 2022
APRIL 2022
Plaza Khao Gaeng Address: 103 — 105 New Oxford Street, WC2H 8LH Key people: JKS Restaurants, the group behind Gymkhana, Trishna, Hoppers, Bao, Lyle’s, and many of the capital’s most successful restaurants and Luke Farrell, a grower of Southeast Asian plants and herbs in Dorset. What to expect: A hyper regional southern Thai curry, rice, and stir fry restaurant. Opened: 22 April 2022
Arcade Food Hall Address: 103 — 105 New Oxford Street, WC2H 8LH Key people: JKS Restaurants, the group behind Gymkhana, Trishna, Hoppers, Bao, Lyle’s, and many of the capital’s most successful restaurants. What to expect: An entirely new suite of restaurants and kitchens for the site formerly known as Arcade Food Theatre. Opened: 22 April 2022
Apricity Address: 68 Duke Street, Mayfair, W1K 6JU Key people: Chef Chantelle Nicholson, formerly of Tredwell’s and All’s Well. What to expect: A restaurant focused on sustainability — both from the point of view of food waste and conscious sourcing and the mental health and wellbeing of its employees. Opened: 12 April 2022
MARCH 2022
Lisboeta Address: 30 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia WC1B 4AF Key people: Chef-restaurateur Nuno Mendes What to expect: Modern Portuguese food from one of London’s historically most visionary and pioneering chefs. “As Nuno returns to London he brings with him his own discoveries and secrets from Lisbon’s wonderful food and wine scene, that have both inspired him on his journey and reflect the rhythm of Lisbon today,” the restaurant’s official spokesperson said. Opened: 21 March 2022
Chestnut Bakery Address:24 Floral Street, Covent Garden WC2E 9DP Key people: The popular Belgravia bakery. What to expect: A second takeover of a former Dominique Ansel site for the Instagram-ready bakery, here with two floors of space. Opened: 21 March 2022
Facing Heaven Address: 1a Bayford Street, London Fields E8 3SE Key people: Chef Julian Dennis What to expect: A grown-up version of the raucous vegan Sichuan food from the chef behind Mao Chow, the popular restaurant on Mare Street in Hackney. Opened: 11 March 2022
Goddard and Gibbs Address: 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ Key people: Chef Tom Moore, most recently a senior sous chef at Ormer in Mayfair; anew coffee bar in the lobby and a rooftop bar will be joined by a downstairs cocktail bar from celebrated mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan). What to expect: A modern, all-day brasserie style seafood restaurant connected to the new One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel (on the former site of the Ace hotel.) Opened: 3 March 2022
FEBRUARY 2022
Lahpet Covent Garden Address: 21 Slingsby Place, Covent Garden WC2E 9AB Key people: Dan Anton and Zaw Mahesh. What to expect: Expansion for the Burmese group, with a mixture of confirmed favourites from its Shoreditch location and new dishes, too. Opened: 17 February 2022
17 Little Portland Street Address: 17 Little Portland Street, Fitzrovia W1W 8BP Key people: Chef John Javier. What to expect: A member’s club, big-name DJs, and “Middle Eastern” cooking. Opened: 7 February 2022
Blacklock Address: Henrietta Street, Covent Garden WC2E 8QH Key people: Gordon Ker’s group. What to expect: Incredible steak, brilliant Sunday roasts, accompanied by the crispiest dripping-fried chips. Opened: 7 February 2022
JANUARY 2022
The Aubrey Address: 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA Key people: Maximal Concepts from Hong Kong What to expect: “An eccentric izakaya restaurant with menus that showcase traditional Japanese cooking techniques with a focus on sustainable, locally sourced produce.” The fancy Knightsbridge Japanese restaurant and bar replaces Bar Boulud, which closed in June 2021. Opened: 28 January 2022
The Ledbury Address: 127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill W11 2AQ Key people: Brett Graham. What to expect: A revamp and redesign for the legendary, formerly two-Michelin-starred restaurant. This will definitely extend to the dining room and building, but Graham’s tasting menu will endure. Opened: Late January 2022
Din Tai Fung Address: 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB Key people: The Din Tai Fung Group. What to expect: A second London restaurant for the xiao long bao specialists, with some robot waiters and “exclusive” dishes per the brand tie-up template. Opened: Late January 2022
DECEMBER 2021
Off the Hook Address: 27 Gauging Square, Wapping E1W 2AE Key people: Sean Henderson, of esteemed supplier Henderson’s Seafood. What to expect: A neighbourhood seafood restaurant and fish butchery. Opened: December 2021
Flor Bakery Address: Unit 6, Spa Road, Bermondsey SE16 4RP Key people: Helen Evans and James Lowe, of Flor in Borough Market and Lyle’s in Shoreditch. What to expect: A production bakery for austere, deeply caramelised pastries, open to the public on Saturdays. Opened: 11 December 2021
Roketsu Address: 12 New Quebec Street, Marylebone W1H 7RP Key people: Daisuke Hayashi, of two decades’ training at one of the world’s foremost kaiseki restaurants, Kikunoi Honten in Kyoto. What to expect: Kaiseki mastery from one of its most expert practitioners. Opened: 7 December 2021
Jeru Address: 11 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DS Key people: Head chef and owner Roy Ner What to expect: Israeli-born Ner earned plaudits for his cooking at Sydney restaurant Aria and will aim to bring a brand of high-end Middle-Eastern cuisine to Mayfair. A bakery will follow in 2022. Opened: 2 December 2021
NOVEMBER 2021
Zahter Address: 30 – 32 Foubert’s Place, Carnaby W1F 7PS Key people: Istanbul chef Esra Muslu What to expect: Modern cooking from the famous Turkish city over three floors. Opened: 25 November 2021
The George Address: 55 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia W1W 7LQ Key people: Renowned group JKS and chef James Knappett. What to expect: A classic British pub menu in a refurbished and restored jewel of Fitzrovia, with a more formal upstairs restaurant to follow in February 2022. Opened: 25 November 2021
Sarap Address: 10 Heddon Street, Mayfair W1B 4BX Key people: Founder Ferdinand “Budgie” Montoya What to expect: Modern Filipino cooking, based on Montoya’s refraction of tradition through his personal experiences as a chef. Opened: 23 November 2021
Manteca Address: 49-51 Curtain Road, Shoreditch EC2A 3PT Key people: Chris Leach and David Carter What to expect: New dishes in the pasta and charcuterie repertoire, including a striking stuffed pig snout. Opened: 16 November 2021
Mowgli Address: 5 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia W1T 1RE Key people: Founder Nisha Katona. What to expect: A wide-ranging menu of Indian “street food” which has proved popular across several U.K. cities. Opened: 8 November 2021
Ngopi Address: 78 Dalston Lane, Dalston E8 3AH Key people: Birama Gladini and Elmira Hamdi. What to expect: A wide-ranging menu of Indonesian coffees and food, with some interesting non-coffee drinks, like pink banana or taro lattes; melon milk; and almond milk with lychee syrup. Opened: 8 November 2021
Santo Remedio Shoreditch Address: 55 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch EC2A 3HP Key people: Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes What to expect: A return to Shoreditch for this modern Mexican restaurant, focussed on tacos and larger sharing dishes like barbacoa. Opened: 4November 2021
OCTOBER 2021
The Barbary Next Door Address: 16A Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden WC2H 9DP Key people: The Barbary team What to expect: A change-up from Jacob the Angel, keeping the bakery element and introducing a wine bar and restaurant menu. Opened: 30 October 2021
The Plimsoll Address: 52 St Thomas’s Road, Finsbury Park N4 2QWP Key people: The Four Legs team What to expect: A permanent home for the previous inhabitants of the Compton Arms in Islington — and one of London’s best cheeseburgers. Opened: 19 October 2021
Rita’s Address: 49 Lexington Street, Soho W1F 9AP Key people: Missy Flynn and Gabe Pryce What to expect: The next iteration of Rita’s, the much-loved, irreverent, and peripatetic restaurant and wine bar from Flynn and Pryce. Opened: 19 October 2021
Toklas Address: 1 Surrey Street, Temple WC2R 2ND Key people:Frieze co-founders Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover What to expect: An “expansive garden terrace,” with a menu centred around delicate grill cookery. Opened: 19 October 2021
Vasco and Piero’s Address: 10-11 D’Arblay Street, Soho W1F 8DS Key people: Paul Matteucci What to expect: A new lease (of life) for the cherished, Umbrian-influenced restaurant which was forced from its original premises during the COVID-19 pandemic. Opened: 19 October 2021
Balady Leather Lane Address: 39-41 Leather Lane, Holborn EC1N 7TJ Key people: The Sabbo brothers, behind Balady and Balady Alaesh in Temple Fortune. What to expect: Some of the outright best falafel, sabich, and chips in the city. Opened: 11 October 2021
Gunpowder Address: 20 Greek Street, Soho W1D 4DU Key people: Harneet Baweja and Devina Seth What to expect: A third modern Indian restaurant for the buzzy group. Opened: 8 October 2021
Jolene Address: 16 Essex Road, The Angel N1 8LN Key people: Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim and David Gingell of Jolene, Westerns Laundry, et al What to expect: A satellite bakery from the Newington Green hit. Opened: 2 October 2021
SEPTEMBER 2021
Brutto Address: 36 — 37 Greenhill Rents, Cowcross Street, Farringdon EC1M 6BN Key people: Russell Norman, formerly of Polpo What to expect: A loosely Tuscan restaurant from the small plates pioneer, intending to function as a canteen by day and a dolled up restaurant by night. Opened: 30September 2021
Manthan Address: 49 Maddox Street, Mayfair W1S 2PQ Key people: Rohit Ghai, of Kutir What to expect: A big-ticket iteration of the food of Madhya Pradesh, split between sharing plates and tasting menus. Opened: 29 September 2021
Planque Address: 323 Acton Mews, Haggerston E8 4DN Key people: Chef Seb Myers (formerly Snackbar and P. Franco), club manager Sarah Papadimitriou (formerly Laughing Heart and Mãos) and Jonathan Alphandery, wine collector and Planque owner. What to expect: “A wine drinker’s clubhouse,” with a focus on natural and low-intervention styles with a 40-cover modern French-leaning restaurant. Opened: 29 September 2021
Nusr-Et Steakhouse Address: The Park Tower Knightsbridge, 101 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RN Key people: Nusret Gökçe aka Salt Bae What to expect: Theatrically-served food, Instagrammable experiences and expensive cuts of meat. Opened: 22September 2021
Ekstedt at the Yard Address: Great Scotland Yard Hotel, 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, Westminster SW1A 2HN Key people: Niklas Ekstedt of Michelin-starred Ekstedt in Stockholm, Sweden. What to expect: Faintly anachronistic old-Nordic cooking over fire. Opened: 17 September 2021
Ramo Ramen Address: 28 Brewer Street, Soho W1F 0SR Key people: Omar Shah and Florence Mae Maglanoc of Maginhawa Group What to expect: A continuation of the winning Filipino-Japanese ramen hailing from Kentish Town. Opened: 15 September 2021
Koya Ko Address: 12 Broadway Market Mews, Hackney E8 4TS Key people: Koya co-founders Shuko Oda and John Devitt. What to expect: A noodle bar geared towards takeaway and outdoor dining, with a standing counter. Opened: 13 September 2021
Bibi Address: 42 North Audley Street, Mayfair W1K 6ZR Key people: Chet Sharma, development chef at JKS Restaurants, which is backing the opening What to expect: A fine-dining restaurant with its top button undone, based on grill cookery and small plates. Opened: 9 September 2021
Cave Cuvée Address: 250 Bethnal Green Road Key people: Brodie Meah and Max Venning What to expect: A low-intervention wine shop and deli, with a “hidden” wine cave inspired by those venues in Paris. Opened: 3 September 2021
The Sea, The Sea Address: 337 Acton Mews, Haggerston E8 4EF Key people: Alex Hunter, Leo Carreira What to expect: Inventively luxurious seafood cookery from Carreira come September, and a top-class fishmonger. Opened: 1 September 2021
AUGUST 2021
The Seafood Bar Address: 77 Dean Street, Soho W1D 3SH Key people: The de Visscher family. What to expect: A London debut for a Dutch seafood chain that specialises in towering seafood platters and plenty of wine. Opened: 28August 2021
Cafe Cecilia Address: Canal Place, 32 Andrews Road, Hackney E8 4HL Key people: Max Rocha, formerly of the River Cafe What to expect: Simple, unfussy cooking from the Anna Tobias / 40 Maltby Street / Rochelle Canteen playbook, with a Continental vibe. Opened: 19 August 2021
Furanxo Exmouth Market Address: 63 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell EC1R 4SA Key people: Manuel de los Santos and Xavier Albarez What to expect: A treasure trove of Spanish cured meats, raw milk cheeses, natural wines, tinned fish, and crisps. Opened: 17August 2021
La Rampa Address: 7-8 Market Place, Oxford Circus W1W 8AG Key people: MJMK, the group behind piri piri chicken slingers Casa do Frango and upscale Mexican restaurant Kol What to expect: Cuban-ish food from Tātā Eatery and a whole load of rum cocktails. Opened: 16August 2021
Pizzeria Mozza Address: The Treehouse Hotel, 14 – 15 Langham Place, Fitzrovia W1B 2QS Key people: Nancy Silverton What to expect: A long-expected U.K. debut for the legendary Californian chef and baker. Opened: 12 August 2021
Sessions Arts Club Address: 24 Clerkenwell Green, Clerkenwell EC1R 0NA Key people: Florence Knight and Jonny Gent What to expect: A pastel-hued European restaurant in a cracked, faded, glamorous dining room. Opened: 11 August 2021
Park Row Address: 77 Brewer Street, Soho W1F 9ZN Key people: Wonderland Restaurant Group, run by James Bulmer, formerly of Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck in Bray. What to expect: A DC Universe [yes] themed [yup] multiverse [indeed] restaurant. Opened: 10 August 2021
Bocca Bocca Address: 781 Leytonstone High Street, Bushwood E11 4QS Key people: Chef Biago, formerly of Pizza Pilgrims, and restaurateur Gianluca Colini What to expect: Chewy Neapolitan-style pizza in E11 Opened: 6 August 2021
JULY 2021
The Dusty Knuckle Haringey Address: 429 Green Lanes, Haringey N4 1HA Key people: The team behind the original Dusty Knuckle in Dalston What to expect: Loaded sandwiches, morning buns, potato sourdough, and pizza nights. Opened: 31 July 2021
Sucre Address: 47 Great Marlborough Street, Soho W1F 7JP Key people: Fernando Trocca, of Sucre Buenos Aires, and bartender Tato Giavanonni What to expect: An Argentinian-ish melding of live fire cooking and modish ingredients, including a scallop tiradito; an ox cheek quesadilla; and Iberico pork matambre. Opened: 27 July 2021
Bellefields Address: 19 Bellefields Road, Ferndale, Brixton SW9 9UH Key people: The Department Store studios and chef James Mathieson What to expect: A pan-Mediterranean restaurant and bar with a courtyard for outdoor dining. Opened: 26 July 2021
Marugame Udon Address: 1 — 3 Widegate Street, Spitalfields E1 7ES Key people: One of the world’s largest udon noodle and tempura specialists. What to expect: Sanuki udon boiled off to order, in myriad variations. Opened: 26 July 2021
Jolene Address: 67 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch E2 7DJ Key people: Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim and David Gingell of Jolene, Westerns Laundry, et al What to expect: A satellite bakery from the Newington Green hit. Opened: 24 July 2021
The Pem Address: Conrad London Hotel, 22-28 Broadway, St. James’s SW1H 0BH Key people: Sally Abé, Laetizia Keating, and Emma Underwood What to expect: Abé’s version of contemporary British cooking in an art-deco space. Opened: 20 July 2021
Sunday in Brooklyn Address: 98 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill W2 5RU Key people: The team behind the NYC brunch fave. What to expect: Some very famous praline pancakes and more breezy all-day fare. Opened: 19 July 2021
Bao Noodle Shop Address: 1 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch E2 7DJ Key people: Erchen Chang, Shing Tat Chung, and Wai Ting Chung What to expect: A new iteration for London’s slickest restaurant group, with a license for music and cinema promising … Music and cinema alongside Taiwanese beef noodle soup. Opened: 8 July 2021
Ave Mario Address: 15 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden WC2E 8QG Key people: Big Mamma Group, of maximalist Italian restaurants Gloria and Circolo Popolare What to expect: A “church” vibe, but the kind of church that has sixty centimetre ice cream cakes. Opened: 2 July 2021
Ottolenghi Marylebone Address: 63 Marylebone Lane, Marylebone W1U 2RA Key people: Yotam Ottolenghi What to expect: A light, bright deli-restaurant serving colourful dishes speckled with the flavours of pomegranate, sumac, za’atar, and more. Openied: 1 July 2021
JUNE 2021
Rudy’s Address: 80 — 82 Wardour Street, Soho W1F 0TF Key people: Mission Mars What to expect: Pizza that’s captivated Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool with fierce devotion to Neapolitan traditions. Opened: 28June 2021
Bodega Rita’s Address: 91 Cowcross Street, Farringdon EC1M 6BH Key people: Missy Flynn and Gabe Pryce What to expect: The next iteration of Rita’s, the much-loved, irreverent, and peripatetic cafe, sandwich shop, deli, and wine bar from Flynn and Pryce. Opened: 22 June 2021
Hector’s Address: 47 Ardleigh Road, De Beauvoir N1 4HS Key people: Jimmy Stephenson, Anna Shaffer What to expect: A wine shop and cave, but to begin with a cafe and bocadillería, with some heavy continental vibes. Opened: 18 June 2021
El Pastor Soho Address: 66 — 70 Brewer St, Soho, W1F 9UP Key people: Harts Group, the team behind Barrafina and the El Pastor mini-chain What to expect: A large taqueria, mezcal bar, and club, which nods not just to Mexico City but the 1990s, and a nostalgic brand of partying too. Opened: 1 June 2021
Santa Maria Address: 11 Bond Street, Ealing W5 5AP Key people: Pasquale Chionchio and Angelo Ambrosio What to expect: A relocation for the flagship pizzeria from Santa Maria. Opened: June 2021
MAY 2021
Eataly Address: 135 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street EC2M 3YD Key people: Entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti What to expect: An Italian food “marketplace” comprising three restaurants, produce counters, and a bakery over 42,000 square feet. Opened: May 2021
Nomad London Address: 28 Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7AW Key people: Ashley Abodeely and Leo Robitschek What to expect: Two restaurants, one, Nomad Restaurant, more smart, and two, Side Hustle, a pub-like environment focussed on Mexican sharing food. Opened: 25 May 2021
Bar des Prés Address: 16 Albemarle Street, Mayfair W1S 4HW Key people: Cyril Lignac What to expect: “Playful” French dishes with Asian inflections, running the continent’s gamut from satay steak to miso scallops. Prime Mayfair fodder, this. Opened: 22 May 2021
Humble Chicken Address: 54 Frith Street, Soho W1D 4SL Key people: Angelo Sato of Omoide What to expect: A yakitori-influenced restaurant, framed as “comb to tail” to avoid direct comparisons to yakitori-yas. Opened: 20 May 2021
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen Address: Kingly Court, Kingly Street, Soho W1B 5PW Key people: Imad Alarnab What to expect: The quality falafel, lamb shoulder, and other Syrian dishes that have made Alarnab’s frequent pop-ups a hit. Opened: 19May 2021
Tofu Vegan Address: 105 Upper Street, Islington N1 1QN Key people: The team behind Xi’an Impression and Xi’an Biang Biang Noodles. What to expect: A vegan Chinese restaurant with a focus on mock meats and tofu. Opened: 17 May 2021
Raw Address: 110 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia W1W 6PQ Key people: Ivan Simeoli of Laboratorio Pizza, the former occupant of the site What to expect: A fishmonger with a seafood restaurant and cocktail bar attached. Opened: 17 May 2021
SeaSons Address: 6 — 10 Bruton Street, Mayfair W1J 6PU Key people: The SeaSons team, which operates fishmongers in Fitzrovia and Kensington. What to expect: High-quality Mediterranean fish, in what it says will be an “elegant” restaurant on the former Square site. Opened: 17 May 2021
Cin Cin Address: 21A Foley Street, Fitzrovia W1W 6DS Key people: David Toscano and Jamie Halsall What to expect: Proven Italian cooking arrives from Brighton. Pasta isn’t going out of fashion just yet! Opened: 17 May 2021
Chestnut Bakery Address: 17 — 21 Elizabeth Street, Belgravia SW1W 9RP Key people: Kevan Roberts, Charles Leroy, Enzo Petri, and Mauro Gizicki What to expect: A “community baker,” with an offering of artful filled croissants, sourdough breads, and dainty Danish pastries. Opened: 17May 2021
Molly’s Cafe Address: Museum of the Home, Geffrye Almshouses, 136 Kingsland Road E2 8EA Key people: The Anchor and Hope / Clarence Tavern group What to expect: Modern British restaurant and canteen dining, with an evening bistro. Opened: 17 May 2021
APRIL 2021 FOR OUTDOOR DINING
Top Hill Address: 46 Drayton Green Road, West Ealing W13 8RY Key people: Paul Laidlaw, What to expect: On the site of popular Hilltop Roti, a broad range of Caribbean cooking, including brown stew, jerk pork, and roti. Opened: 19April2021
Cue Point Address: The Chiswick Pavillion, Riverside Drive, Chiswick W4 2SPN Key people: Mursal Saiq and Joshua Moroney What to expect: Halal, British Afghan barbecue, served on site or as drive-thru for takeaway customers. Opened: April2021
Mike’s Address: Unit 4.1 Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham SE15 3SN Key people: Mike Davies of the Camberwell Arms What to expect: London pizza, which under Davies’ definition, constitutes “all the different approaches to pizza, and all of their idiosyncrasies. We have no more right to the title of London Pizza than anyone else in this city, but leaning into inauthenticity is exciting to me.” Opened: April2021
The Light Bar Address: 233 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch E1 6PJ Key people: Morten Jensen, Darren Collins and chef Johnnie Collins What to expect: Modern modern British cooking in an imposing east London space. Opened: 12 April 2021
Mr Ji Address: 72 Old Compton Street, Soho W1D 4UN Key people: Mr Ji founder Samuel Haim, with consultation from Tātā Eatery and Tōu’s Zijun Meng and Ana Gonçalves What to expect: A rejigging of the Taiwanese fried chicken nook, with a deep-fried chicken thigh sando; a cucumber salad with black fungus and yuba; and a riff on prawn toast that puts the prawns not on top of the toast, but… Inside the toast. Opened: 13 April 2021
MARCH 2021 FOR DELIVERY AND TAKEAWAY
Dom’s Subs Address: 22b Bevis Marks, the City, EC3A 7JB Key people: Dom Sherington and Greg Boyce What to expect: A new sandwich shop for the popular deliveries out of Lanark Coffee on Hackney Road during lockdown. Opened: 16 March 2021
FEBRUARY 2021 FOR DELIVERY AND TAKEAWAY
Mao Chow Address: Unit 8, Nags Head Market, Holloway N7 6AG Key people: Julian Denis What to expect: Vegan iterations of Chinese noodle traditions. Opened: 2 February 2021
Panadera Bakery Address: 83 Kentish Town Road, Camden NW1 8NY Key people: Florence Mae Magnaloc, Omar Shah What to expect: A Filipino-inspired bakery from the group behind Mamasons, offering mango floats, pan de sal, corned beef sandos, and more. Opened: 9 February 2021
Elliot’s Address: 120—123 Mare Street, Hackney E8 3FW Key people: Brett Redman What to expect: Wood-fired pizzas, bright small plates, and a smart natural wine list from the Borough Market favourite. Opened: February 2021
DECEMBER 2020
The Red Duck Address: 1 Ramsden Road, Balham SW12 8QX Key people: Veteran of Alan Yau’s restaurants Chi San What to expect: Cantonese cooking which nods to the particular heritage of Chinese takeaways in the U.K. Opened: December 2020
Buvette Address: 9 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, W11 2EE Key people: Jody Williams, of buzzy NYC restaurants Buvette and Via Carota What to expect: A totem to French bistro culture, offering all-day dining, a shop, and natural wines. Opened: December 2020
Pascor Address: 221 Kensington High Street, Kensington W8 6SG Key people: Tatiana Rurenko What to expect: A do-over of Melabes, introduced as a pan-Aegean restaurant serving grilled octopus; hummus; and more. Opened: December 2020
Gordon Ramsay Burger Address: Harrods, 87 — 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge SW1X 7XL Key people: Gordon Ramsay What to expect: Burgers with a lot of toppings, early 2010s style when ground beef’s purpose was to be a canvas for everything under the sun. Opened: 4 December 2020
Raw Address: 120—122 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, E1 6RL Key people: Ivan Simeoli of Laboratorio Pizza What to expect: A fishmonger with a seafood restaurant and cocktail bar attached. Opened: 4 December 2020
Cafe Bao Address: Unit 2, 4 Pancras Square, King’s Cross N1C 4AG Key people: Bao founders Erchen Chang, Shing Tat Chung, and Wai Ting Chung What to expect: An irreverent, playful menu of restaurant dishes and baked goods: pork pie baozi, salted egg ‘muffin’ bao, and a Pump Street chocolate and salted caramel bao cookie, as well as something called a pizza bao. Opened: 9 December 2020
Hiden Curry Lab Address: Unit 114, Lower Stable Street, Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross N1C 4DR Key people: Hideaki Yoshiyama What to expect: Japanese karē raisu, served either vegan or with beef, to take away over rice. Opened: 9 December 2020
Sumi Sushi Address: 157 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill W11 2RS Key people: Sushi master Endo Kazutoshi What to expect: To begin with, a range of outstanding quality bento boxes, before the restaurant can open in full when London comes out of tier three coronavirus restrictions. Opened: 18 December 2020
Kineya Mugimaru Address: Unit 27B, The Circle, St Pancras Station, King’s Cross N1C 4QP Key people: Dong Hyun Kim, founder of Wasabi. What to expect: A quick-service, scaleable udon noodle canteen, with handmade udon served in a number of traditional styles, hot or cold. Opened: December 2020
NOVEMBER
Cafe Deco Address: 43 Store Street, Bloomsbury WC1E 7DB Key people: Anna Tobias and the 40 Maltby Street team What to expect: Elite sandwiches like coronation cauliflower fritter or ham focaccia, pissaladière, and more deli items, before the restaurnt proper opens in early December, serving Tobias’ nourishing, supremely unfussy cooking. Opened: 19 November 2020
Darjeeling Express Address: 2a Garrick Street, Covent Garden WC2E 9BH Key people: Celebrated restaurateur Asma Khan What to expect: A departure both geographical and culinary from Darjeeling Express’ previous incarnation in Soho, anchored by three tasting menus. The initial opening, under lockdown, is its deli. Opened: 18November 2020
Homestead Address: 45 Hope Street, London City Island, Poplar E14 0QL Key people: Sven Hanson-Britt, a Masterchef: The Professionals finalist What to expect: A restaurant, cafe, deli, and bar on a developer isthmus in Poplar, opening as a takeaway and deli for lockdown before becoming a fully fledged restaurant. Opened: 18November 2020
Nola Address: 224 Rye Lane, Peckham SE15 4NL Key people: Owners Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht, of lo-fi band Oh Wonder, with Rob Dunne head of coffee. What to expect: A coffee experience that unfussy and focussed on straightforwardness, in a space designed for function as much as form. Opened: 17 November 2020
The Ealing Grocer Address: 18 St. Mary’s Road, Ealing W5 5ES Key people: Andy Harris of the Vinegar Shed and Katie Millard What to expect: Initially a grocer and deli, but with a traiteur-style kitchen to come. Opened: 12 November 2020
Joan Address: 19 — 23 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch E1 6LA Key people: Niko Kontogiannatos, previously of all-day dining impresarios Caravan What to expect: A Greek and Mediterranean menu, nothing reinventing the wheel. Opened: 2 November 2020
OCTOBER
The Silver Birch Address: 142 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 1PU Key people: Kimberley Hernandez, formerly of Xu and Kym’s What to expect: “Seasonal menus,” with Hernandez cooking European-influenced bistro plates. Opened: 28 October 2020
Behind Address: 20 Sidworth Street, London Fields E8 3SD Key people: Andy Beynon What to expect: A tasting menu revolving around seafood in a hidden, open-kitchen restaurant designed to take diners “behind” the scenes of a kitchen. Opened: 23 October 2020
Kol Address: 9 Seymour Street, Marylebone W1H 5BT Key people: Santiago Lastra of Noma Mexico and Mugaritz What to expect: Mexican ingredients and inflections, guided by British produce but more aligned with the time and place philosophy of Noma than similar philosophies at Kiln, Hoppers, et alia. Opened: 20 October 2020
Bar Bolivar Address: 2 Reuters Plaza, Canary Wharf E14 5AJ Key people: The team behind piri-piri chicken slingers Casa do Frango What to expect: Cuban-inflected menu of cocktails and Venezuelan food from Pabellón, including arepas and criollo. Opened: 20 October 2020
Akoko Address: 21 Berners Street, Fitzrovia W1T 3LP Key people: Aji Akokomi,William JM Chilila What to expect: A new restaurant serving West African cuisine with two tasting menus, one of them vegan. Opened: 15 October 2020
Little Bread Pedlar Address: 34 Moreton Street, Pimlico SW1V 2PD Key people: The Little Bread Pedlar team What to expect: Some of London’s best breads and fine croissants, alongside coffee from Lower Marsh’s Coleman Coffee Roasters. Opened: 13 October 2020
The Connaught Patisserie Address: The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair W1K 2AL Key people: Nicolas Rouzaud What to expect: Chocolate and hazelnut dogs, the River Cafe’s chocolate nemesis, and fine French patisserie. Opened: 12 October 2020
Heddon Yokocho Address: 8 Heddon Street, Mayfair W1B 4BU Key people: The Japan Centre What to expect: A pan-regional Japanese ramen joint in Mayfair, with interiors inspired by yokocho — tight alleyways packed with ramen spots, izakaya, and sushi bars. Opened: 12 October 2020
Tramshed Project Address: 32 Rivington Street, Shoreditch EC2A 3LX Key people: Dominic Cools-Lartigue, Andrew Clarke, Zoe Adjonyoh, Daniel Watkins, James Cochran What to expect: Food cooked over fire, as is Clarke’s wont, with specials from Adjonyoh and Cochran propping up the bar menu at a restaurant and working space. Opened: 9 October 2020
Shaxian Delicacies Address: 21 Museum Street, Holborn WC1A 1JN Key people: Shaxian Delicacies What to expect: A franchise of the state-owned Chinese restaurant operation, which specialises in Fujianese dishes and also here offers mains leaning on Sichuanese cooking. Opened: October 2020
Pali Hill Address: 79 — 81 Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia W1W 7SJ Key people: Indian restaurant group Azure Hospitality What to expect: A menu that roams around Indian regional cooking, divided into small plates, tandoor and grill dishes, and larger plates. Opened: October 2020
SEPTEMBER
Sonora Taquería Address: Netil Market, 13 — 23 Westgate Street, London Fields E8 3RL Key people: Michelle Salazar and Sam Napier What to expect: The beef-heavy cuisine of Sonora, northern Mexico, with barbacoa and chile verde packed into the best tortillas in the city. Opened: 25 September 2020
Taka Address: 109 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4RX Key people: Japanese restaurant Taka’s second site What to expect: Replacing the seminal London restaurant Providores on Marylebone High Street, Taka will serve Japanese dishes along with sake, whisky and cocktails. Opened: 24 September 2020
Big Jo Address: 318 — 326 Hornsey Road, N7 7HE Key people: Jeremie Cometto and David Gingell of Primeur, Westerns Laundry, and Jolene What to expect: A huge new production bakery for north London’s empire builders, with the capacity to serve ten new satellites to open over the next two years. A 60-cover restaurant will anchor the operation. Opened: 22 September 2020
Pantechnicon Address: 19 Motcomb Street, Belgravia SW1X 8LB Key people: Barry Hirst, Stefan Turnbull What to expect: A blend of Nordic and Japanese food, drink, and design, with two flagship restaurants and a London debut for well-regarded cafe/fashion brand, Cafe Kitsune Opened: 22 September 2020
The Dairy Address: 153 — 157 Tower Bridge Road, Bermondsey, SE1 3LW Key people: Sarah and Robin Gill What to expect: A new lease of life for Clapham’s former neighbourhood jewel and its formerly pioneering New Nordic-influenced cooking. Opened: 22 September 2020
Noble Rot Soho Address: 2 Greek Street, Soho W1D 4NB Key people: Chef Alex Jackson, and Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew of Noble Rot What to expect: Speaking of flexes: what if one of London’s essentially, unilaterally adored wine-bar restaurants, known for its tightrope walk between hedonism and elegance, decided to take over one of Soho’s most iconic buildings and revive it in the same spirit? There is perhaps no other restaurant in the city that has it like the Bloomsbury original, but early indicators are that Keeling, Andrew, and head chef Alex Jackson — supported by Michelin-starred The Sportsman’s Stephen Harris — will deliver something utterly idiosyncratic. Opened: 18 September 2020
Murger Han Address: 9 Philpot Lane, The City EC3M 8AA Key people: The team behind Murger Han’s Euston and Mayfair restaurants What to expect: A focus on Xi’an dishes, including murgers, biang biang noodles, and a new Xi’an breakfast menu Opened: 15 September 2020
Maison François Address: 34 Duke Street, St. James’s SW1Y 6DF Key people: Matthew Ryle, a Masterchef finalist. What to expect: Classic French food from a menu written entirely in French, with a heavy focus on charcuterie and pickling, as well as grilled seafood. Opened: 14 September 2020
Towpath Cafe Address: 42 De Beauvoir Crescent, Haggerston N1 5SB Key people: Lori Zimring De Mori, Laura Jackson What to expect: Green tables, groaning with hearty plates of late summer early autumn food, at one of London’s straightforwardly excellent restaurants. It’s added a set dinner service for 2020. Opened: 10 September 2020
Chishuru Address: Unit 9 Market Row, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW9 8LB Key people: Adejoké ‘Joké’ Bakare What to expect: A four-course set menu of dishes that Bakare has designed to place heritage recipes in a contemporary London context. Opened: 3 September 2020
AUGUST
Sollip Address: Unit 1, 8 Melior Street SE1 3QP Key people: Woongchul Park, Bomee Ki What to expect: A statement opening in SE1, with ascetic, minimalist plates that are testaments to Park and Ki’s lives so far, in Korean and European kitchens. Opened: 30 August 2020
Seoul Bird Address: Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, Shepherd’s Bush W12 7GF Key people: Judy Joo What to expect: Korean fried chicken, bibimbap bowls, truffled seaweed tater tots, and kimchi mac and cheese. Opened: August 2020
JULY
Larry’s Address: Unit 5, 12 — 16 Blenheim Grove, Peckham SE15 4QL Key people: Levan’s Nicholas Balfe What to expect: Jewish deli food by day, and small plates — including pig’s head ragu with Sichuan peppercorn, XO cabbage and clams, and a devilled crab dish — by night. Opened: 31 July 2020
Six by Nico Address: 33 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RR Key people: Nico Simeone What to expect: Nico will bring his six-course tasting menu restaurant empire to London offering the same six week rotations of six dish menus, priced at around £33 — £35. Opened: 20 July 2020
Muazu’s Suya Address: Unit 10, Aylesham Centre, Peckham SE15 5EW Key people: Maryam Muhammad Muazu, Muhammad Muazu What to expect: A newish star in Peckham’s suya firmament, offering suya dredged in the nasal rush of yaji, fried tilapia and bream, Hausa jollof rice, and various pepper soups. Opened: July 2020
Supa Ya Ramen Address: 276 Hackney Road, Hackney E2 7SJ Key people: Chef Luke Findlay What to expect: Findlay’s supper club finds a permanent site in Hackney to serve up ramen with toppings like salt beef, roast beef, celeriac chashu, and more. Opened: July 2020
MAY
Nasi Economy Rice Address: 169 Holloway Road, London N7 8LX Key people: Sambal Shiok’s Mandy Yin What to expect: No laksa. But expect stir fries, braises, curries, including nasi campur, and Malaysian chicken curry with potatoes Opened: May 2020
MARCH
Cocotte Address: 271 New Kings Road, London SW6 4RD Key people: Founder and chef Romain Bourrillon What to expect: Farm-to-table rotisserie, known for their 24hr marinated chickens in herbs and spices. Opened: 27March 2020
Phillipe Conticini Address: 732 — 736 North Yard, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH Key people: Phillipe Conticini What to expect: Fine French pâtisserie, including a version of baumkuchen, the tree-trunk cake made on a split with fine layers of batter. Opened: 3 March 2020
CoCo Ichibanya Address: 39 James Street, Marylebone W1U 1DL Key people: Japanese curry chain CoCo Ichibanya What to expect: Curry rice, the way you want, tonkatsu and tori katsu available as toppings, alongside scrambled egg, hamburgers, Frankfurter-style sausages, fried fish, squid, shrimps, cheese, and more options. Opened: March 2020
FEBRUARY
Zia Lucia Address: 12a Piazza Walk, London E1 8ZH Key people: Claudio Vescovo and Gianluca D’Angelo What to expect: Experimental pizza doughs with a variety of toppings from butternut squash cream and spianata spicy salami to truffle honey, apple and olive sauce Opened: 8 February 2020
Dominique Ansel Treehouse Address: 24 Floral Street, Covent Garden WC2E 9DP Key people: Dominique Ansel What to expect: NO cronuts: a restaurant focussed on pasty with a ropey treehouse vibe. Opened: 10 February 2020
Hoppers King’s Cross Address: Unit 3, 4 Pancras Square, King’s Cross N1C 4AG Key people: Karan Gokani What to expect: A replication of the runaway success of Hoppers in Soho and Marylebone, majoring on grills, sambals, and of course, the eponymous dish. Opened: 11 February 2020
Megan’s Address: 6 Esther Anne Place, N1 1WL Key people: Executive chef Sercan Ugurlu What to expect: Dog friendly, Mediterranean, all-day brunch. Opened: 12 February 2020
Chuku’s Address: 274 High Road, Tottenham N15 4RR Key people: Ifeyinwa and Emeka Frederick What to expect: The sibling duo behind one of 2019’s most popular roving residencies finally have a restaurant to call their own, positioning their approach to Nigerian cuisine and culture between the rooted West African diaspora’s community restaurants and the city’s dining landscape at large. “Tapas” in spirit, not in cultural crosshatching, the scope of the duo’s ambition and playful respect for the spectrum of Nigerian food in London makes this one of the most compelling openings out there. Opened: 13 February
Padella Address: 1 Phipp Street, Shoreditch EC2A 4PS Key people: Chef Tim Siadatan and front-of-house Jordan Frieda What to expect: London’s favourite fresh pasta restaurant will serve critically acclaimed handmade pastas like pici cacio e pepe, pappardelle with beef shin ragu, and tagliarini Opened: 13 February 2020
Gymkhana Address: 42 Albemarle Street, Mayfair W1S 4JH Key people: Siblings Karam, Jyotin, and Sunaina Sethi What to expect: Reopens after a fire. Back to outstanding biryanis, grilled meats, and game. Opened: 18 February 2020
The Courtyard Address: 11 Goods Way, King’s Cross London, N1C 4UR Key people: Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett What to expect: Sushi on Jones, Lupins, Breddos Tacos and The Duck Truck, among other traders, along with the live music venue Lafayette. Opened: 20 February 2020
L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Soho Address: 44 Old Compton Street, Soho W1D 4TY Key people: World-famous Naples pizzeria What to expect: Classic margherita pizza, Naples style. Opened: February 2020
The Connaught Grill Address: Carlos Place, Mayfair W1K 2AL Key people: Award-winning New York chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten What to expect: In its heyday, the restaurant inside the luxury Mayfair hotel was among the capital’s most renowned. The 2020 iteration will have a contemporary design and pay homage to classics. Opened: February 2020
Bar Douro City Address: 1 Finsbury Ave, Broadgate, EC2M 2PF Key people: Restaurateur Max Graham What to expect: Hand-painted Portuguese tiles, open kitchen, bespoke furniture. An exclusively Portuguese wine list will offer one of London’s largest selections of wines. Food will be small-plate focused, and will include the much loved pasteis de nata. Opened: February 2020
JANUARY
Big Fernand London Address: 39 Thurloe Place, South Kensington SW7 2HP Key people: The Paris burger chain Big Fernand What to expect: Responsibly sourced meats, freshly baked bread, and fromage from the wheel all assembled into burgers. Opened: 2 January 2020
Pastaio Westfield Address: Unit 1032, Lower Southern Terrace, Westfield White City W12 7GF Key people: Chef-restaurateur Stevie Parle What to expect: Fresh pasta, seasonal soft serve ice cream, prosecco slushies, and more. Opened: 10 January 2020
Muse Address: 38 Groom Place, Belgravia SW1X 7BA Key people: Tom Aikens What to expect: Equal parts acclaimed and criticised chef Tom Aikens’s new restaurant will reportedly showcase a “gastronomic autobiography”; that is each course will represent influential people, places, and events throughout his life. Opened: 11 January 2020
Pizza Pilgrims Victoria Address: 32 — 34 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0QP Key people: Brothers James and Thom Elliot What to expect: An “immersive Italian pizza experience” complete with Limoncello cocktails, a Parmesan room, and more — taking some inspiration from Big Mamma? Opened: 13 January 2020
Ampéli Address: 18 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia W1T 2LZ Key people: Chef Oren Goldfeld of Nopi, and restaurateur Jenny Pagoni What to expect: Eastern Mediterranean cooking with a focus on Greek wines Opened: 15 January 2020
The Water House Project Address: 3 Mare Street, Hackney E15 4RP Key people: Gabriel Waterhouse, formerly chef at Galvin La Chapelle What to expect: Supper club since 2015 finds a venue at Hackney, keeping its ethos firmly in place by serving up a 9-course tasting menu, including dishes such as pheasant doughnuts, and hot smoked mackerel mousse. Opened: 17 January 2020
Mozzasando Address: 96 Draycott Avenue, Chelsea SW3 3AD Key people: Alan Yau What to expect: Yau’s take on the katsu sando marries the idea of veal Milanese to mozzarella — hence the name Mozzasando. Fries are either served as is or with a beef ragù and n’duja sauce, along with espresso martinis on tap. Opemed: 20 January 2020
Oklava Bakery and Wine Address: 64 Grafton Way, Bloomsbury W1T 5DN Key people: Selin Kiazim, Laura Christie What to expect: Kiazim and Christie’s closure of Kyseri came first as a shock, and then as excitement, with news of a tantalising wine bar and Turkish bakery project that does something so many London chefs fail to do: engage with the city’s most firmly established diaspora communities and cuisines in a way that both evolves and respects heritage — Eater contributor Jonathan Nunn’s dining grievance of 2019. This wine bar will also be a bakery, cafe, and breakfast destination, spinning two of last year’s key trends into a new yarn. Opened: 21 January 2020
Smokey Kudu Address: Arch 133, Queens Road, Peckham SE15 2ND Key people: Amy Corbin, Patrick Williams What to expect: Beloved Peckham restaurant Kudu is gearing up to open its second restaurant next door to the original, but in the meantime Smokey Kudu — a cocktail and wine bar designed to function as its own place and a sort of anteroom to the restaurant is now open. Expect three categories of cocktail with loose, playful, and respectful South African influences. Opened: 21 January 2020
Halo Burger Address: 105 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch EC2A 3JD Key people: What to expect: Shoreditch gets another dose of vegan burgers.. Opened: 22 January 2020
Sarap Address: 14D Market Row, Brixton SW9 8PR Key people: Chef-founder Ferdinand “Budgie” Montoya What to expect: Grilled pork skewers, kinilaw, and more snacks will round out the menu, serving 25 covers with some additional outdoor seating. Opened: 30 January 2020
Baraka Address: 1 Finsbury Avenue, Unit 4 EC2M 2PF Key people: What to expect: An all-day restaurant serving mezza plates, 12 hour marinated aubergine, homemade baklava, and more. Opened: January 2020
Patri Address: 29 Bond Street, Ealing W5 5AS Key people: Indian restaurant group Patri What to expect: Patri’s third site will offer Mughlai nawabi seekh kebabs, shahi laal maas, naan, chaats, puris Opened: January 2020
DECEMBER
Barboun Address: 61-67 Great Eastern St, EC2A 3HU Key people: Hus Vedat and long-time protégé and collaborator Fezile Ozalgan What to expect: A stylish new Eastern Mediterranean grill from the team behind Yosma and Hovarda. Opened: 2 December 2019
Old Chang Kee Address: 56 Goodge St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 4NB Key people: Sandra Leong, UK director of the iconic Singaporean street food brand What to expect: The iconic Singaporean snack chain Old Chang Kee is back with its second branch, in Fitzrovia, bringing the much-loved curry puffs and a range of chicken and tofu curries. Opened: 2 December 2019
Black Bear Burger Address: 11-13 Market Row, London SW9 8LB Key people: Stew and Liz, the duo behind Black Bear Burger pop-ups in the city What to expect: Grass-fed dry-aged beef, oak and chestnut smoked bacon, homemade fries, sauces and condiments to make their popular burgers. Opened: 2 December 2019
The Melusine Address: Unit K, Ivory House, East Smithfield, St. Katherine Docks, London E1W 1AT Key people: Chef Theodore Kyriakou, formerly of Greek Larder What to expect: Sustainably sourced seafood, including rock oysters, scallops, crispy skin gurnard. Opened: 4December 2019
Davies and Brook Address: Claridge’s Hotel, Brook Street W1K 4HR Key people: Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park What to expect: Hyper-intuitive, obsessive attention to detail on both food and service from one of the world’s most famous chefs. Possibly the biggest opening in London this year. Opened: 9December 2019
Great Scotland Yard Address:3-5 Great Scotland Yard SW1A 2HN Key people: Robin Gill, Alex Harper What to expect: Two restaurants and two bars, in London’s latest prolific-restaurateur-does-hotel. Opened: 9 December 2019
Gaucho Address:60A Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NU Key people: Martin Williams What to expect: The revamp will see an open kitchen, and a steak menu that offers spiral cut sirloin and fillet steaks, a smart Galician T-Bone, and a new four-cut sampler that weighs in at 1.2 kilograms of steak for a round £100. Also a new, anything goes BYOB initiative for Mondays, and a “Gaucho Film Club”, which screens films and serves dishes from those films as they appear on screen. Opened: 9 December 2019
Bancone Golden Square Address: 8 Golden Square, W1F 9HY Key people: Michelin-starred chef Claudio Melis What to expect: Lots more fresh pasta from the perennially popular Covent Garden original, plus a new cocktail bar. Opened: 14 December 2019
Barbie Green Address: 2 London Wall Place, Barbican, London EC2Y 5AU Key people: The Daisy Green group behind restaurants such as Beany Green and Timmy Green What to expect: All-day Aussie brunch, including shakshouka, tandoori roasted salmon, and more. Opened: 17 December 2019
St Clair Address: 22 The Pavement, Clapham Town, London SW4 0HY Key people: Head chef Jorge Baumhauer da Silva, formerly of Ceviche and Andina, Maria Corrêa-Monteiro and Geovany Mota What to expect: ‘London curated Nikkei cuisine with French “Mise-en-Scène”’, playing out in dishes such as salmon and passionfruit with squid-ink tostadas, served with lemongrass dashi; fresh tuna sausages; and pork chashu with smoked black bean mole. Opened: 21 December 2019
NOVEMBER
Simplicity Burger Address: 202 Brick Lane, Shoreditch E1 6SA Key people: Chef Neil Rankin What to expect: Meat master Rankin will try his hand at plant-based burgers, using dehydration, fermentation, and actual vegetables. Opened: 1 November 2019
Le Comptoir Robuchon Address: 6 Clarges Street, Mayfair W1J 8AE Key people: Joël Robuchon, Jeremy Page What to expect: A roster of Robuchon classics such as scallops with potato and sage; Iberico pluma with padron peppers and garlic; and the famous, 1:1 ratio butter-to-potato pommes purée. Opened: 3 November 2019
Silo Address: Unit 7 Queen’s Yard, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN Key people: Doug McMaster What to expect: One of the U.K.’s most acclaimed contemporary restaurants brings its actually, genuinely zero-waste ethos to London from Brighton. Opened: 5 November 2019
Sam’s Riverside Address: 101 Queen Caroline Street, W6 9BN Key people: Sam Harrison What to expect: Combine Thameside views with a fish pie and a glass of wine… on a Monday night. Opened: 4 November 2019
Trivet Location: 36 Snowsfields, Bermondsey, London SE1 3SU Key people: Chef Jonny Lake and master sommelier Isa Bal What to expect: One of the most anticipated restaurants of the past two years, as two key members of Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck will open their first restaurant in London. It is described as “an informal, high-quality dining restaurant utilising the finest ingredients and wines and will aim to deliver an unrivalled taste experience.” It will function as a restaurant, wine bar and wine cellar on the site of Londrino in Bermondsey. Opened: 5 November 2019
Daffodil Mulligan Address: 70 – 74 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ Key people: Chef Richard Corrigan What to expect: A restaurant based on produce from Corrigan’s farm in Ireland, with a less of a focus on seafood than Bentley’s or Corrigan’s Mayfair. Opened: 6 November 2019
Dandy Address: 35 Malty Street, SE1 3PA Key people: Dan Wilson, Matt Wells What to expect: An all-day restaurant featuring seasonal, modern European food and a brewery. This is Dandy’s third iteration of its much-loved cafe and restaurant, which was helped by a crowdfunding campaign. Opened: 7 November 2019
Folie Address: 37 Golden Square, Soho W1F 9LB Key people: Guillaume Depoix, who worked with the Costes brothers in Paris, and at Boundary Hotel, and Casa Cruz in London What to expect: An all-day brasserie in the centre of Soho. One inspired by 1960s and ‘70s St Germain in Paris: somewhere between Chiltern Firehouse, Brasserie Zedel, and Granger and Co, servicing the breakfast crowd with coffee, through business lunches, special occasion dinners, and cocktail drinkers and DJs late into the night. Opened: 12 November 2019
Toca Madera at Treehouse London Address: Langham Place, Regent Street, W1B 2QS Key people: American Treehouse hotel group What to expect: A modern take on traditional Mexican cuisine, shared plates, and craft cocktails. Opened: 14 November 2019
Lina Stores Address: 20 — 21 Stable Street, N1C 4DR Key people: Founders of iconic Italian deli Lina Stores What to expect: The biggest pasta restaurant and deli yet for 75-year-old Soho stalwart. Opened: November 2019
Stoney Street Address: Borough Market Key people: Henrietta Inman What to expect: Six grain and seed porridge with apples, blackberries, lemon cream, butterfly sorrel, and puffed barley will lead at breakfast, along with a takeaway hatch for pastries. Opened: November 2019
Lucky & Joy Address: 95 Lower Clapton Rd, E5 0NP Key people: Chef Ellen Parr and drinks expert Pete Kelly What to expect: Broadly Chinese-inspired dishes and eclectic cocktails (and an aesthetic style that recalls 80s fluorescence) at the pop-up’s first permanent restaurant. Opened: Late November
Cafe Murano Bermondsey Address: 184 Bermondsey St, SE1 3TQ Key people: Angela Hartnett What to expect: Refined yet generous cooking drawing on northern Italian traditions, on the site that was formerly home to Zucca Opened: Late November
Firebrand Clerkenwell Address: 84-86 Rosebery Ave, EC1R 4QY. Key people: The people behind Firebrand pizza in Marylebone What to expect: Sourdough pizzas, pasta dishes, and salads. Projected opening: November 2019
14 Hills by D&D Address: 120 Fenchurch Street, EC3M 5BA Key people: D&D London What to expect: One more to the list of rooftop restaurants in London — this will be on the 14th floor below a ‘public sky garden’. Opened: November 2019
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele Address: 44 Old Compton Street, W1D 4TY Key people: The team behind L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Naples What to expect: After finding worldwide fame through its appearance in Eat Pray Love, L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele will replace the original Patisserie Valerie in Soho. Expect chewy, saucy, rustic margherita pizzas. Opened: November 2019
Mercato Metropolitano Address: 13A N Audley St, Mayfair, W1K 6ZA Key people: The team behind Elephant and Castle’s Mercato Metropolitano What to expect: The usual fare of deli counters, street food, gelato, espresso, and highly branded spritzes. Opened: November 2019
The Ivy Asia Address: 20 New Change Passage, EC4M 9AG Key people: Millionaire restaurateur Richard Caring What to expect: Zeitgeisty and lucrative ingredients and aesthetics — raw fish, grilled things, citrus, geisha iconography, and plush fabrics. Opened: Winter 2019
Locket’s Address: 25, St James’s St, St. James’s, SW1A 1HA Key people: Wiltons group What to expect: Café by day and ambient wine bar by night. Opened: November 2019
OCTOBER
Decimo Address: 10 Argyle St, Kings Cross, WC1H 8EG Key people: Peter Sanchez-Iglesias What to expect: Rooftop restaurant serving Spanish and Mexican food including the likes of shellfish on ice and aguachiles, along with rare mezcals and agave-based spirits. Opened: 10 October
Kolamba Address: 21 Kingly St, W1B 5QA Key people: First-time restaurateurs Eroshan and Aushi Meewella What to expect: Sri Lankan home cooking, and a menu that will draw from the staff’s family recipes. Opened: 14 October
Wilder Address: 2-4 Boundary St, Hackney, E2 7DD Key people: Chef Richard McLellan,Terence Conran What to expect: An ‘all-British menu’ featuring vinegar and rapeseed oil instead of lemons and olive oil; and, of course, pickles, charcuterie, and sourdough as well. Opened: 16 October 2019
Legare Address: Cardamom Building, 31G Shad Thames, SE1 2YR Key people: Chef Matt Beardmore,Jay Patel What to expect: Fresh pasta, tidy salads, low-intervention natural wines. Opened: 16 October 2019
Plu Address: 12 Blenheim Terrace, NW8 0EB Key people: Elliot Moss What to expect: A 22-cover, extremely French tasting menu operation that has already declared its ambition: Michelin stars. Plural. Opened: 25 October 2019
Ozone Coffee Address: Emma Street, E2 9AP Key people: The team behind Ozone Coffee in New Zealand and London What to expect: A winning formula of globally inspired food and reliably good coffee. Opened: 30 October 2019
Oren Address: 89 Shacklewell Ln, Dalston, E8 2EB Key people: Chef Oded Oren What to expect: This restaurant opening follows Oren’s acclaimed 2018 residency at Borough Wines in Kensal Rise, and will feature Mediterranean food using local and sustainable produce. Opened: 31 October 2019
SEPTEMBER
Neat Burger Address: 4 Princes Street, London, W1b 2LE Key people: Lewis Hamilton What to expect: Plant-based burgers from Beyond Meat. Drinks include lemonades, soya-based milkshakes, and more. Opened: 2 September 2019
Mama Shelter London Address: 437 Hackney Rd, London E2 8PP Key people: From the Paris-based Mama Shelter What to expect: Foremost a hotel with rooms starting at an affordable £99, its restaurant will serve dishes like pork belly baos, crab doughnuts, and pie, mash and liquor. Opened: 2 September 2019
BaoziInn Borough Address: 34 – 36 Southwark Street, SE1 1TU Key people: Francis Law What to expect: Hunan and Sichuan cuisine, majoring in brightly coloured dumplings that have earned the restaurant a following. Opened: 3 September 2019
Terra Terra Address: 120 Finchley Rd, London NW3 5JB Key people: What to expect: A neighbourhood Italian restaurant and all-day cafe where the menus are inspired by Florence and Bologna’s food markets. Opened: 3 September 2019
Bank House Address: 11 High Street, BR7 5AF Key people: Stuart Gillies, Gordon Ramsay’s former partner What to expect: A menu of daily changing small plates. Opened: 5 September 2019
The Breakfast Club Soho Address: 11 Berwick Street, London W1F 0PLLX Key people: The Breakfast Club franchise What to expect: All-day breakfast in Soho, which brings them back to where they started, 14 years later. Opened: 6 September 2019
Loyal Tavern Address: 171-173 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3UW Key people: Tom Cenci of Duck & Waffle What to expect: Seasonal menus, cheese toasties, venison tartar. Opened: 6 September 2019
Seven Dials Market Address: Thomas Neal’s Warehouse, WC2H 9LX Key people: KERB, Franco Manca, Tim Anderson of Nanban What to expect: Another infernal London food market, with street food moving indoors, fresh pasta from Neapolitan pizza specialists, and more. Opened: 7 September 2019
Sons and Daughters Address:Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, N1C 4DQ Key people: James Ramsden, Sam Herlihy What to expect: A sandwich and soft serve shop from two of London’s most restless restaurateurs — expect New York influences and a magpie attitude to flavour. Opened: 9 September 2019
Charlie’s at Brown’s Address: Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4BP Key people: Adam Byatt of Michelin-starred Trinity, in Clapham What to expect: Little on the menu as yet, but Byatt’s pedigree is built on a less affected style of cooking than the one formerly on show at Brown’s. Opened: 9 September 2019
Haya Address: 184A Kensington Park Road, W11 2ES Key people: Victoria Paltina, Oren King What to expect: Tel Aviv-inspired all-day dining, with a broad spectrum of bright, sunny dishes under Sephardic Jewish traditions. Opened: 10 September 2019
Forza Wine Address: 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST Key people: Bash Redford, Michael Lavery What to expect: Built for drinks, killer snacks, and views from its fifth floor restaurant and terraces. Opened: 10 September 2019
Norma Address: 8 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2LS Key people: Ben Tish What to expect: Traditional southern Italian-style menu with antipasti, pasta, grilled meat, fish. Opened: 12 September 2019
Waka Address: 120 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7BT Key people: What to expect: Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine in the form of sake and miso salmon anticucho, sushi de salmón, salmon tataki, and more. Opened: 12 September 2019
Bubala Address: 65 Commercial Street, E1 6BD Key people: Helen Graham, Marc Summers What to expect: Vegetarian, Sephardic Jewish / Tel Aviv-inspired cooking from a chef whose previous experience is at restaurants excelling in exactly that. Opened: 12 September 2019
TOKii at The Prince Akatoki London Address: 50 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, London, W1H 7FD Key people: Luxury hotel group Prince Hotels What to expect: A Japanese-influenced menu that’s inspired by international ingredients Opened: 16 September 2019
Seabird Address: 40 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8PB Key people: The Hoxton Hotel Group, Maison Premiere What to expect: Fruits de mer platters, cocktails, oysters, and more from a hip New York City oyster bar. Opened: 18 September 2019
The Betterment Address: 39-44 Grosvenor Square, W1K 2HP Key people: Jason Atherton What to expect: Modern British cuisine, probably — the attraction here is that Atherton opens across from his former mentor, Gordon Ramsay, in a very specific restaurant face off in the heart of Mayfair. Opened: 19 September 2019
Megan’s Address: 86 High Street, Wimbledon, London SW19 5EG Key people: Megan What to expect: All-day brunch, deli bar and a Mediterranean-influenced menu. Opened: 18 September 2019
Crudo Address: 35 Riding House Street, London W1W 7EA Key people: Carlos Soccoro and Maria Yanez What to expect: A grab-and-go cevicheria that marries the traditions of South and Latin America with Miami. Choose from three signature ceviche bowls or opt for a DIY one. Opened: 19 September 2019
Julie’s Address: 135 Portland Rd, Holland Park, London W11 4LW Key people: Shay Cooper, Ralph Herring What to expect: Modern British cuisine from one of London’s classic hang-outs for the Hollywood set, high society and rock stars since 1969. Opened: 19 September 2019
Tonkotsu Peckham Address: 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST Key people: Emma Reynolds, Ken Yamada What to expect: London’s largest ramen restaurant chain will bring its familiar formula of rich, creamy white broths; chashu pork or karaage; the cult-followed ‘Eat the Bits’ chilli oil to Peckham as well. Opened: 21 September 2019
Vardo Address: 9 Duke of York Square, Chelsea SW3 4LY Key people: Caravan Coffee What to expect: The formula of good coffee and globetrotting all-day dining that has made Caravan a mid-market success, dialled up a tad for the new environs. Opened: 23 September 2019
Yard Sale Pizza Address: 184 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Key people: Johnnie Tate and Nick Buckland, Dan Spinney What to expect: Modern take on pizza toppings: tenderstem broccoli, manchego, pine nuts. Opened: 24 September 2019
Kiss the Hippo Address: 51 Margaret Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 8SG Key people: Can Eren What to expect: An essential and outstanding London coffee shop, and one of the few in the city to serve filter coffee brewed directly on to ice. Opened: 25 September 2019
Church Road Address: 94 Church Road, Barnes, SW13 0DQ Key people: Sam Astley-Dean, Alan Parry, Phil Howard, Rebecca Mascarenhas What to expect: South London staple Sonny’s — which closed after 33 years — becomes Church Road that will offer a variety of comforting dishes including sweetcorn and clams and a roasted fig pudding with fig leaf ice cream. Opened: 25 September 2019
Sweet Chick Address: 8 Market Place, Fitzrovia W1W 8AG Key people: World-famous rapper Nas What to expect: “New American comfort food”: a key dish is fried chicken and waffles. Opened: 26 September 2019
Mama Fuego Address: 69-72 Olympian Way, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0NA Key people: The team behind Abuelo in Covent Garden What to expect: Aussie coffee meets Argentinian food. Opened: 26 September 2019
Allegra Address: Olympic Park, 20-22 International Way, E20 1GQ Key people: Patrick Powell What to expect: Dine on modern European cuisine with promising views — the restaurant will be on the 7th floor — of the hotel’s sky gardens. Opened: 26 September 2019
Fafa’s Address: Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, WC2H Key people: Finnish chain Fafa’s What to expect: Pita, mezze, salad. Opened: 27 September 2019
Arabica KX Address: 7 Lewis Cubitt Walk, King’s Cross, N1C 4DT Key people: James Walters What to expect: Levantine cuisine with a curated wine list by Zeren Wilson. Opened: 30 September 2019
AUGUST
Eggslut Address: 185 Portobello Road, W11 2ED Key people: Eggslut What to expect: Queued-for egg sandwiches, pots, and more from the hyped Los Angeles chain. Opened: 7 August 2019
The Halal Guys Address: 163-165 Earls Court Road, SW5 9RF Key people: The Halal Guys of NYC What to expect: Fast-casual form of Middle Eastern grilled lamb, chicken, and fried falafel, or gyro beef, served over either rice or in a wrap. Look out for its famous ‘white’ garlicky herb sauce. Opened: 10 August 2019
Kapihan Address: 13A Parkgate Rd, Battersea, SW11 4NL Key people: David and Nigel Motley of Kape and Pan What to expect: Immaculate breads and Viennoiserie: croissant, brioche, pan de sal, adobo and pan de coco. Opened: 10 August 2019
Snackbar Address: 20 Dalston Lane, E8 3AZ Key people: Freddie Janssen, Anaïs van Manen What to expect: A long-awaited East London home for Freddie Janssen’s restaurant project, Snackbar, joining up with van Manen for a focus on pickling and fermentation, sandwiches, and rice bowls. Opened: 14 August 2019
Bafarat Address: Warwick Street, Soho London, W1B 5AW Key people: From the Jeddah-based Bafarat coffee company What to expect: A selection of teas and coffees, and pastries likepistachio éclairs, raspberry tarts, lemon tarts,andpassionfruit cheesecake. Opened: 19 August 2019
Officina 00 Address: 152 Old Street, EC1V 9BW Key people: Elia Sebregondi of Bone Daddies and Kiln, Enzo Mirto What to expect: Freshly-baked sourdough, pasta and Italian pastries Opened: 19 August 2019
Three Uncles Address: 12 Devonshire Row, Liverpool Street, EC2M 4RH Key people: Cheong Yew, Put Sing Tsang, Mo Kwok What to expect: The focus is on siu mei or roasted meat on spits — expect Cantonese-style roasted crispy pork belly, barbecued pork collar (char siu), and roast duck with shatteringly crisp, lacquered skin. Opened: 27 August 2019
Happy Lamb Hotpot Address: The Office Group building, 10 Bloomsbury Way, WC1A 2SL Key people: Chinese hotpot chain hits London What to expect: Four soup bases plus various meats, fish, and veg equals a giant, steaming hotpot. Opened: 31 August 2019
Berto Address: 155 Holloway Road, N7 8LX Key people: FromZia Lucia What to expect: Zia Lucia launches its fresh pasta restaurant which will include egg tagliatelle and pappardelle, vegan pici, gnocchi, and filled pasta like ravioli, and also doughs made from traditional, wholemeal and gluten-free flours. Opened: 31 August 2019
JULY
Flat Iron Address: 88-90 Commercial Street, E1 6LY Key people: Charlie Carroll What to expect: The classic Flat Iron formula — affordable steak on a concise menu. Opened: 1 July
Rye by Water Address: Catherine Wheel Road, TW8 8BD Key people: Ben Rand, Janine Edwards What to expect: Rand and Edwards have serious previous, with the latter head pastry chef at Little Bread Pedlar and the former head chef at Robin Gill’s The Dairy in Clapham. Opened: 1 July
Tsaretta Spice Address: 55 Church Street, Twickenham, TW1 3NR Key people: What to expect: Indian tapas for lunchtime including the likes of Tellicherry pepper fried squid and tawa keema, and à la carte for the evening. Opened: 3 July
The Stratford Brasserie Address: Olympic Park, 20-22 International Way, E20 1GQ Key people: Harry Handelsman, Ben Harrington What to expect: An all-day brasserie inside the new 42-storey building in Stratford focusing on sharing dishes such as crumpets, grilled romero pepper with salsa verde, grilled peach bake alaska, and more. Opened: 3 July
Moncks of Dover St Address: 33 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S 4NF Key people: Gennaro Vitto, Valentino Pepe What to expect: A Mayfair brasserie that will serve classics such as truffled benedict, sole meunière, caesar salad, and more. Opened: 3 July
Nandine Address: 45 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8TR Key people: Pary Baban, Pola Baban, Rang Baban, Raman Baban What to expect: Outstanding Kurdish mezze from one of London’s cafe institutions. Opened: 4 July
Radio Alice Address: Unit 24, Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, E14 5NY Key people: Matteo and Salvatore Aloe, Emma King What to expect: 24-hour fermented organic sourdough pizzas. Toppings include pork sausage, aubergine, speck, prosciutto, and courgette ribbons. Opened: 10 July
Heritage Address: 18-20 Rupert Street, W1D 6DF Key people: Aarik Persaud What to expect: A fondue-heavy Swiss restaurant. Bacon rosti, raclettes, meat fondue. Opened: 11 July
Flor Address: 1 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL Key people: James Lowe, John Ogier What to expect: A wine bar and bakery from the owners of Lyle’s, Shoreditch’s Michelin-starred, ‘Modern British’ restaurant that many regard as one of the city’s best. All bread and pastries will be made on-site, from flour milled at Lyle’s. Opened: 11 July 2019
The Standard Hotel Address: 10 Argyle Street, London WC1H 8EG Key people: Adam Rawson, Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, Angela Dimayuga What to expect: A rooftop restaurant from Sanchez-Iglesias and a ground floor restaurant from Rawson, at a serious new hotel destination for King’s Cross. Opened: 11 July2019
Humble Grape Address: 18-20 Mackenzie Walk, E14 4PH Key people: What to expect: A waterfront wine bar, 30 wines by glass and more than 400 wines by the bottle. Opened: 15 July2019
Bob’s Lobster Address: Unit Su 59, London Bridge Station, St Thomas Street, SE1 3QX Key people: Rob and the team behind Bedales of Borough What to expect: This is their first permanent site since their street food days. Best known for their signature dish, the lobster roll, besides other offerings such as fish tacos and chips with mussel and bacon chowder. Opened: 16 July 2019
Arcade Food Theatre Address: 103 — 105 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DD Key people: Streat Markets Ltd, and restaurateurs behind Tātā Eatery, Harts Group, Pophams, Oklava, Casa do Frango, Chotto Matte, Flat Iron Steak What to expect: A new London food court evolution, with open kitchens and counter seating moving things forward from the cherry-picking model adopted by Market Halls and The Kitchens at Spitalfields. Opened: 18 July 2019
Tóu Address: 103 — 105 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DD Key people: Ana Gonçalves, Zijun Meng What to expect: A katsu sando shop and rice bowl restaurant, with the product-focussed, meticulously orchestrated fun that Gonçalves and Meng bring to their Tātā Eatery pop-ups and residencies. Opened: 18 July 2019
Wun’s Address: 23 Greek Street, W1D 4DZ Key people: Alex Peffly, Z He What to expect: Owners Alex Peffly and Z He’s former Bun House site in Soho becomes a ‘Hong Kong-inspired’ restaurant and bar serving dishes like Iberico pork char siu rice in a claypot, Macau-style egg tarts, while drinks focus on bright and sour flavours, including a bamboo fenjiu paired with pu’er liqueur, fresh quince and mango. Opened: 24 July 2019
KPH Address: 139 Ladbroke Grove, W10 6HJ Key people: Henry Harris, Ruairidh Summers What to expect: Henry Harris continues to carve out a portfolio of pubs serving above average food with this restoration of a Ladbroke Grove stalwart; chef Ruairidh Summers is ex-St. John and will work on Harris’ template alongside him. Opened: 29 July 2019
Nutshell Address: 30 St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2N 4EJ Key people: Mohammad Paknejad and Marwa Alkhalaf What to expect: Modern Iranian cuisine cooked with British ingredients. Opened: 31July2019
My Neighbours the Dumplings Address: 178 — 180 Victoria Park Road, E9 7HD Key people: Bec Wharton, Kristian Leontiou What to expect: Skewers, xiaolongbao, and baozi will join an already winning formula of handmade siu mai, wontons, and potstickers. Opened: 31July2019
JUNE
Tayer + Elementary Address: 152 Old St, London EC1V 9BP Key people: TāTā Eatery, Monica Berg, Alex Kratena What to expect: A significant new addition to London’s cocktail bar scene, with a former “World’s Best Bartender” and one of London’s most acclaimed movable restaurants joining forces. Opened: 1 June 2019
Maremma Address: 36 Brixton Water Lane, SW9 1PE Key people: Alice Staple, Dominique Goltinger What to expect: Simple and seasonal regional specialities from the Maremma area of Tuscany. Fresh pasta made daily, with meat and fish cooked on a charcoal grill. Opened: 5 June 2019
Gold Address: 95 Portobello Road, W11 2QB Key people: Theo Hill, Alex Ghalleb, Arez Akgundogdu What to expect: Lo-fi cooking over wood fire that focuses on doing as little to produce as possible, as per 2019 decrees. Opened: 5 June 2019
Squeg + Bonez Address: 171 Mare Street, E8 3RH Key people: Holly O’Leary of Cornerstone, Alice Harry, formerly of Monmouth, AllPress What to expect: A vegan restaurant, speciality coffee shop, and a natural wine bar. Opened: 6 June 2019
Arros QD Address: 116-128 Oxford St, W1D 1LT Key people: Spanish chef and restaurateur Quique Dacosta What to expect: Paella. Rice. Seafood. A special high-tech burner keeps paella cooking evenly, with large actual paellas and smaller “rices” for smaller tables. . Opened: 7 June2019
Crazy Pizza Address: 7 Paddington Street, W1U 5QH Key people: Flavio Briatore What to expect: Crazy pizza. Opened: 10 June 2019
Siren Address: 15 Beeston Place, SW1W 0JW Key people: The Goring, Nathan Outlaw What to expect: A new ‘flagship’ London restaurant for celebrated Cornwall chef Nathan Outlaw, who will work on a new, less formal seafood restaurant at The Goring for 2019. Opened: 12 June 2019
Natoora Counter Address: 5 Elgin Crescent, W11 2JA Key people: Franco Fubini What to expect: A new cafe and fruit and vegetable shop from one of the city’s foremost suppliers, with a daily-changing menu offering a Californian feel: toasts, bowls, salads. Opened: 17 June 2019
OKN1 Address: 40 Hoxton St, Hackney, N1 6LR Key people: Des McDonald Associates team up with New City College Hackney What to expect: This collaborative kitchen and training restaurant features a wide-ranging menu from popcorn chicken with sweetcorn relish, Suffolk bacon chop with fried egg, and chocolate Eton Mess sundaes. Opened: 19 June 2019
Sloane Street Deli Address: 162b Sloane St, SW1X 9BS Key people: Caprice Holdings magnate Richard Caring What to expect: It’s a Sloane Street follow-up to Mount Street Deli. Opened: 20 June 2019
Hoh Sek Address: The Roundhouse with the Green Roof, St. Katharine’s Way, St. Katharine Docks, E1W 1TW Key people: Saiphin and Alex Moore of Rosa’s Thai Cafe What to expect: Noodles, noodles, and more noodles. Opened: 24 June 2019
Suzi Tros Address: 8 Hillgate Street, W8 7SR Key people: Adrien Carre and Christina Mouratoglou of Mazi What to expect: Small plates inspired by eateries in Northern Greece, Greek wines and spirits. Opened: 24 June 2019
Lucky Cat Address: 10 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair W1K 6JP Key people: Gordon Ramsey, Ben Orpwood What to expect: Gordon Ramsay promises to bring “a new flavour of Asian food”. Good luck to him? It will no longer be “authentic” nor “vibrant.” Opened: 24 June 2019
Circolo Popolare Address: 40 Rathbone Place, W1T 1HX Key people: Big Mamma restaurant group, behind Gloria in Shoreditch What to expect: More exhibitionist maximalism from London’s most extra restaurateurs — including a 1 Litre ice cream sundae and more pasta in wheels of cheese. Opened: 28 June 2019
MAY 2019
Myrtle Address: 1A Langton St, SW10 0JL Key people: Anna Haugh What to expect: The beginning of an Irish food renaissance perhaps? Myrtle aims to highlight Irish food combined with the sophistication of the restaurant’s Chelsea address. Opened: 9 May 2019
Bao Address: 13 Stoney Street, Borough Market, SE1 9AD Key people: Erchen Chang, Shing Tat Chung, Wai Ting Chung, JKS Restaurants What to expect: Bao’s third restaurant will evolve its offering even further — likely fuelled by the Fitzrovia test kitchen — but its pillowy steamed buns will remain the hallmark. Opened: 9 May 2019
Parrillan Address: Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, London N1C 4AB Key people: Harts Group What to expect: Tabletop coal grills where diners can cook their own dishes and a para picar offering for anyone reluctant to play with fire.. Opened: 10 May 2019
The Buxton Address: 42 Osborn Street, E1 6TD Key people: The Culpeper team What to expect: A new hotel with an unfussy bar and restaurant menu — scotch eggs, rillettes, langoustines. Opened: 10 May 2019
Bob Bob Cité Address: Level 8, 122 Leadenhall St, EC3V 4AB Key people: Eric Chavot What to expect: Classic French cooking. And copious amounts of champagne. Opened: 14 May 2019
HaiDiLao Address: 13 Coventry Street, W1D 7DH Key people: The team behind global hot pot chain HaiDiLao What to expect: With over 300 sites around the world and a reputation for generous customer service, HaiDiLao will bring Sichuan hot pot to London on a massive scale. Opened: 14 May
Darby’s Address: Embassy Gardens Towers, 5 Nine Elms Lane, SW8 5DA Key people: Robin Gill of The Dairy, Sorella, and Counter Culture What to expect: Details are light at present, but live fire cookery, Irish inflections, and the scratch-made fermentation culture of The Dairy are to be expected. The restaurant is named for Gill’s father, after a nickname acquired in the 1950s. Opened: 26 May 2019
Gezellig Address: 193-197 High Holborn, WC1V 7BD Key people: Wieteke Teppema, James Comyn, Graham Long, Rebecca Mascarenhas What to expect: Borrowing from a Dutch word that translates as an atmosphere that allows good times to happen, a classical European menu will lean heavily on wine to facilitate those good times. Opened: 26 May 2019
APRIL 2019
Lucknow 49 Address: 49 Maddox St, W1S 2PQ Key people: Dhruv Mittal of Dum Biryani House in Soho What to expect: It’s all about Awadhi cuisine so expect gilafi kulcha, chicken kakori or lamb galauti kebab and the usual biryanis and curries. Aiming to be affordable for Mayfair. Opened: 2 April 2019
The Gate Address: 87 Allitsen Road, NW8 7AS Key people: The Gate Restaurants What to expect: These self-styled #PlantBasedPioneers have been serving vegan and vegetarian food in London since 1989, so expect a big vegan weekend brunch and more. Opened: 4 April 2019
Endo at Rotunda Address: White City House Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, W12 7FR Key people: Endo Kazutoshi What to expect: High-end sushi and Japanese food. Opened: 9 April 2019
Casa Fofó Address: 158 Sandringham Road, E8 2HS Key people: Adolfo de Cecco What to expect: Former Pidgin head chef de Cecco will serve a tasting menu that flexes daily, with dishes including almond tortello in cock crab and brown butter “tom yum” broth, as well as tempura shiso leaf with retired dairy cow beef tartare and XO sabayon. Opened: 10 April 2019
Mao Chow Address: 159A Mare Street, E8 3RH Key people: Mao Chow team What to expect: An entirely vegan Chinese menu, including mapo tofu; chongqing noodles, and langya potatoes. Opened: 10 April 2019
Bun House Address: 26-27 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Key people: Z He, Alex Peffly What to expect: Besides the traditional Cantonese steamed buns, look forward to beef brisket and a soft, brioche-style sweet pineapple bun. Opened: 16 April 2019
Emilia Address: 101 New Bond Street, W1S 1SR Key people: Woodhead Restaurant Group — behind Portland, Clipstone, and Quality Chop House What to expect: Dishes that respect and derive from, but are not shackled by, the traditions and demographics of Emilia-Romagna in Italy. Expect bowl after bowl of tortellini en brodo, and some Italian-leaning wine lists. Opened: 26 April 2019
Kebab Queen Address: 4 Mercer Walk, London WC2H 9FA Key people: Manu Canales, Stephen Tozer, Ed Brunet What to expect: Six courses of kebabs, or dishes inspired by global kebab culture, served on a bacteria resistant, heated Dekton countertop for eating with hands. An early interest is the risotto made to represent doner kebabs, with rice cooked in lamb stock, garlic and chilli sauces, and shavings of cured lamb’s tongue. Opened: 27 April 2019
The Sea The Sea Address: 174 Pavilion Rd, Chelsea, SW1X 0AW Key people: Alex Hunter, of Bonnie Gull seafood restaurants What to expect: Seafood, quite obviously, but also a fishmonger, fish restaurant and champagne bar, with a menu from lauded chef Leo Carreira. Opened: April 2019
MARCH 2019
Element Coffee Address: 236 Northfield Avenue, W13 9SJ Key people: Natalia Moorzami, Louis Wainwright-Vale What to expect: Speciality coffee from Origin Coffee Roasters in south Ealing, with food from local specialist deli The Cheddar Deli and Debaere bakery. A focus on community will be put into practice with evening classes including origami, creative writing, and other crafts. Opened: 1 March 2019
Orasay Address: 31 Kensington Park Road, W11 2EU Key people: Andrew Clarke, Jackson Boxer What to expect: A neighbourhood restaurant inspired by the Outer Hebrides, focussed on the region’s seafood, particularly shellfish. Boxer describes it as “aquanautical” — concerning water, and the sea. Opened: 5 March 2019
Xier Address: 13-14 Thayer Street, W1U 3JR Key people: Carlo Scotto, the Rhug estate What to expect: A split level operation similar in scope, but not ambition to Hide — Xier will be fine dining, with a ten course tasting menu, with XR estimably casual. Scotto’s Neapolitan background will guide much of the cooking. Opened: 5 March 2019
Fatt Pundit Address: 77 Berwick Street, W1F 8TH Key people: Hamza Sajawal What to expect: A menu majoring on Desi-Chinese food — a style of cooking brought about by immigration of Chinese nationals to Kolkata in India, that marries the two countries’ ingredients, techniques, and spicing. There will also be a range of Nepalese momo, dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables. Opened: 11 March 2019
Temakinho Address: One Tower Bridge, SE1 2AA Key people: The team behind Temakinho, the Brazillian-Japanese temaki/caipirinha chain What to expect: Fresh, sustainable seafood; ceviche; sushi and a whole lot of caipirinhas. Opened: 23 March 2019
Bambusa Address: 6 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2LR Key people: The team behind Roti Chai What to expect: All-day bakes and breakfast with a south Indian slant — Dishoom will look on with interest. Opened: 27 March 2019
Barullo Address: 19 Bevis Marks, EC3A 7JA Key people: Victor Garvey What to expect: Like Rambla, expect a Spanish menu but less of a Catalan influence. Expect sherry-marinated fried chicken, suckling pig, and a paella. Opened: 28 March 2019
Cutting Room Address: 95 Charlotte Street, W1T 4PZ Key people: It’s partnering with neighbour Woolff Gallery What to expect: Seasonal small plates in the heart of Fitzrovia, mainly cooked over charcoal, plus a late-night downstairs bar. Opened: March 2019
Unimini Address: 20 Eastcheap, EC3M 1EB Key people: Lee Wooyung of CheeMC What to expect: Fried chicken meets bento box, along with rice, noodles, kimchi and sashimi. Opened: March 2019
The Halal Guys Address: 14-15 Irving Street, WC2H 7AU Key people: The Halal Guys of NYC What to expect: Fast-casual form of Middle Eastern grilled lamb, chicken, and fried falafel, or gyro beef, served over either rice or in a wrap. Look out for its famous ‘white’ garlicky herb sauce. Opened: 30 March 2019
FEBRUARY 2019
Yeni Address: 53-55 Beak Street, W1F 9SH Key people: Civan Er What to expect: Contemporary Anatolian cuisine using ingredients from the British Isles as well as further afield — early indications suggest affinity with Selin Kiazim’s Oklava and Kyseri. Opened: 4 February 2019
Emilia’s Crafted Pasta Address: 77 Alie Street, Aldgate, E1 8NH Key people: Andrew Macleod What to expect: Besides antipasti, salads and sides, choose from six types of pasta — rigatoni, pappardelle, casarecce, potato gnocchi, bucatini and ravioli — and seven types of sauce, including four hour slow-cooked béchamel bolognese. Opened: 4 February 2019
Yopo Address: 20 – 21 Newman Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1PG Key people: The Mandrake Hotel What to expect: South American influences on a modern European menu, so expect grilled octopus with ‘aji pancha’, which is a pepper-based sauce that changes according to the country, or even region where it is prepared, a dessert made from double-fermented itakuja chocolate with yoghurt sorbet, salted caramel, fennel pollen, and olive oil. Opened: 5 February 2019
Earth Kitchen Address: 11-17 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BH Key people: Chris Gillard What to expect: St. John alumnus Gillard will bring dishes like griddled ox heart, mackerel with beetroot and horseradish, and steamed British puddings to Hackney. Opened: 11 February 2019
Ooty Address: 66 Baker St, Marylebone, W1U 7DJ Key people: Manmeet Singh Bali What to expect: Promises of Tellicherry crab fry, a Goan chicken cafreal and a Keralan lime lobster hang heavy in the air. Opened: 14 February 2019
Vivi Address: Centre Point, 11 St Giles Square, WC2H 8AP Key people: Rhubarb Food What to expect: Look forward to a nostalgic British menu inspired by the 60s involving chicken à la king, cauliflower cheese croquettes and banana splits for two. Opened: 16 February 2019
Angelina Address: 156 Dalston Lane, E8 3AH Key people: Owner-general manager Joshua Owens-Baigler, head chef Daniele Ceforo, Robin Beparry. What to expect: A “surreal” exploration of Japanese and Italian cuisine from a team which includes alumni of the River Cafe, Bocca di Lupo, and Artusi. Opened: 20 February 2019
Peg Address: 120 Morning Lane, E9 6LH Key people: Phil Bracey, Will Gleave, Byron Fini What to expect: Site number three for P. Franco and Bright’s wine maestros, returning to the all bar seats meets simple-yet-quality food menu meets natural wine model that made the former so successful. Opened: 20 February 2019
Top Cuvée Address: 177B Blackstock Road, N5 2LL Key people: Max and Noel Venning, Brodie Meah What to expect: A familiar London wine bar formula for Highbury: small plates of cheese and charcuterie from local importers Provisions, lots of natural wines by the glass, and British-ish dishes like steak tartare with horseradish and dill. Opened: 20 February 2019
Gloria Address: 54 — 56 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3QR Key people: Big Mamma restaurant group What to expect: Italian glamour writ large — cacio e pepe pasta served from a whole wheel of cheese; lasagna with ten layers; a lot of tiramisu. The first opening for the group in London, with a second on its way in Fitzrovia. Opened: 22 February 2019
Koolcha Address: Olympic Way, Wembley Park, Wembley, HA9 0JT Key people: Rohit Ghai What to expect: An extensive menu of Indian comfort food featuring the eponymous kulcha flatbreads filled with various flavours. Also expect biryanis, masala chai and cocktails. Opened: February 2019
AOK Kitchen Address: 52-55 Dorset Street, W7U 7NQ Key people: Kelly Landesberg, Gary Landesberg What to expect: The focus is on health, wellness and nutrition — no refined sugar, and a prominent suite of gluten and dairy-free bakes, as well as coconut bowls and açai bowls. Opened: February 2019
The Northall at Corinthia London Address: Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD Key people: André Garrett What to expect: The foil to Kerridge’s Bar and Grill, expect a renewed focus on seafood and Mediterranean cookery to balance out Tom Kerridge’s luxe-hefty approach to British cooking. Opened: February 2019
Numnum Address: 81 Scoresby St, SE1 0NX Key people: What to expect: Southern Chinese cuisine — beef noodle soup, dan dan noodles and spicy roasted chicken. Opened: February 2019
JANUARY 2019
Vapiano Centre Point Address: 103 New Oxford St, London WC1A 1DB Key people: Vapiano What to expect: Fast-casual, replicable, and reliable Italian dining. Opened: 3 January 2019
Homeslice Address: 50 James Street, W1U 1EU Key people: Alan Wogan, Mark Wogan, Ry Jessup What to expect: 20 inch pizzas with toppings a notch more creative — and untraditional — than London’s Neapolitan stalwarts. Opened: 5 January 2019
Moio Address: 188 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7JD Key people: João Ferreira Pinto, Carolina W Seibel What to expect: Avant-garde Portuguese dining, with a menu that reads several notches more interestingly than most small plates openings in the last few months. Opened: 10 January 2019
Stem and Glory Address: 60 Bartholomew’s Close, EC1A 7BN Key people: Louise Palmer-Masterton, Gemma Doherty What to expect: Plant-based dining that has been a runaway success in Cambridge, mostly leaning on replacing meat with pulses, rather than “substitutes.” Opened: 14 January 2019
The Crown Address: 210 Chiswick High Road, W4 1PD Key people: Henry Harris What to expect: Henry Harris’ Anglo-French swathe of London pub real estate grows ever wider — expect Mediterranean dining from the ex-Racine chef. Opened: 22 January 2019
Da Terra Address: 8 Patriot Square, E2 9NF Key people: Paolo Airaudo What to expect: A follow-up to one of San Sebastián’s most distinctive Michelin-starred restaurants, whose menus, wine lists, and design recall some of Copenhagen’s most interesting operations. Opened: 23 January 2019
Söderberg Address: 36 Berwick Street, W1F 8RJ Key people: Söderberg Edinburgh What to expect: Swedish-inspired morning buns, smorrebröd open sandwiches, and more. The bakery’s Scandi-inspired sticky buns have won acclaim across Edinburgh. Opened: 25 January 2019
Wild by Tart Address: 3-4 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, SW1W 9AZ Key people: Jemima Jones and Lucy Carr-Ellison What to expect: The space boasts of an open kitchen grill, bar, a photography studio, a food-to-go outlet, and immersive retail store, and promises flatbread pizzas and slow cooked meat along with fresh salads and soups. Opened: January 2019
JinLi Chinatown Address: 4 Leicester St, Chinatown, WC2H 7BL Key people: Yi Fei What to expect: The first of a clutch of landlord’s choice dining experiences in a changing Chinatown, featuring sliced pork and sizzling rice crust and JinLi fragrant rabbit. Dishes to be listed on a digital menu. Opened: January 2019
Monga Fried Chicken Address: 12 Macclesfield Street, Chinatown, W1D 58P Key people: What to expect: Crisp fried Taiwanese chicken in huge, chop-like portions — seasoning powders the norm.. Opened: January 2019
Beer + BurgerStore Address: 1A ArtHouse, 1 York Way, N1C 4AS Key people: What to expect: American-inspired burgers, including a vegan one — it’s 2019 — deep-fried jalapeños, chicken wings, and, of course, (craft) beer on tap. Opened: January 2019
Flat Iron Address: 112-116 Tooley St, SE1 2TH Key people: Charlie Carroll What to expect: The usual Flat Iron fare along with a concise menu, keen pricing and no reservations policy. Just a good value steak meal. Opened: January 2019
DECEMBER 2018
Burger and Beyond Address: 147 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE Key people: Craig Povoas and Tom Stock What to expect: Burgers, and beyond — the former drawn from time at Camden Assembly and Kerb street food, the latter including shaved rib cap with anchovy butter; deep-fried lamb nuggets with burnt onion dip; and mushrooms, cured egg yolk, and lardo on toast. Opened: 3 December 2018
Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine Address: 8-10 Waterloo Place, St. James’s, SW1Y 4BE Key people: Alfred Leung What to expect: Broad strokes Chinese fine dining from a restaurant group with Michelin star acclaim in China and Hong Kong. Peking duck is a speciality, while the group’s restaurants span China’s regions and delicacies. Opened: 3 December soft launch, until 17 December
Wild Rice Address: 28 Brewer Street, W1F 0SR Key people: Pan Serirak and Mike Asavarut What to expect: The first of two new Thai, Thai-owned restaurants for London, stacked on top of each other. Small plates to share, combining “bold and vibrant Thai flavours,” with seasonal British ingredients Opened: 3 December 2018
Mamasan Address: 28 Brewer Street, W1F 0SR Key people: Pan Serirak and Mike Asavarut What to expect: Southern Thai fried chicken, seasoned with coriander root, garlic, and soy sauce and topped with crispy shallots, and more drinking food snacks Opened: 3 December 2018
Din Tai Fung Address: 5-6 Henrietta St, WC2E 8PT, and Center Point building Tottenham Court Road Key people: Taiwanese dim sum specialists Din Tai Fung What to expect: Two prospective venues for Din Tai Fung, bringing their signature Xiao Long Bao (steamed soup pork dumplings) to Europe for the first time Opened: 5 December 2018
Coco Ichibanya Address: 17-18 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JE Key people: Coco Ichibanya restaurant group What to expect: Japan’s most popular karē raisu restaurant launches in London — its 1,000-plus locations in Japan serve curry rice with customisable heat, sweetness, and toppings. Opened: 12 December 2018
Omotesando Koffee Address: Rathbone Square, W1J 5EZ Key people: Omotesando Koffee What to expect: A coffee shop that started as a single bar in a quiet Tokyo neighbourhood, with a service model focussed on customer engagement and interaction, as well as quality coffee. Opened: 14 December 2018
Farzi Cafe Address: 8 Haymarket, SW1Y 4HT Key people: Massive Restaurants group What to expect: A “modern Indian bistro” featuring “experimental Indian cuisine… molecular gastronomy, state-of-the art equipment and food theatre.” Opened: 28 December 2018
Spiritland Royal Festival Hall Address: Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Key people: Moondog What to expect: A 180 cover restaurant with a 2 am license, an open grill and oyster bar. Opened: 17 December 2018
Provisioners Address: 4 Queen Elizabeth St, London SE1 2LL Key people: Clive Watson What to expect: All-day dining, from oat porridge and smokehouse grilled kipper for breakfast to beetroot tagliatelle and line-caught bream for dinner. Opened: December 2018
NOVEMBER
Tapas Brindisa Address: 188 Kirtling St, SW8 5BN Key people: Monika Linton, the Brindisa team What to expect: A blend of classic Brindisa — competent, confident tapas and an Iberian-focused wine list — and new ideas, including a dedicated bar for hand-cut jamon Iberico and aged Spanish cheese. Opened: 1 November 2018
Pachamama East Address: 73 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HR Key people: Micaela Philippo, Tom Catley What to expect: A second site for the Peruvian-inflected restaurant that Giles Coren gave 9 out of 10 for food but otherwise loathed. “Diverse and playful” is the watchword. Opened: 1 November 2018
Cérès Address: 74 Green Lanes, N16 9EJ Key people: Camille Tardieu What to expect: Newington Green, the excellent dining neighbourhood sandwiched between Green Lanes and Islington will be the home of Cérès, which promises “contemporary southern European gastronomy.” A menu blends provençal French with Japanese and Cantonese — oxtail bourguignon in a dim sum bun — and suggests a prix fixe will be on the cards. Opened: November 2 2018
Diogenes the Dog Address: 96 Rodney Road, SE17 1BG Key people: Sunny Hodge What to expect: Neither in the London interpretation of Paris’ cave culture — see P. Franco and The Laughing Heart — nor the irreverent classicism of Noble Rot or Sager and Wilde, Sunny Hodge’s new bar wants to put the esoteric front and centre; minus the pretension. More here. Opened: 4 November 2018
Theo’s Pizza Address: Draper House, 17-19 Elephant and Castle, SE1 6TH Key people: Theo Lewis What to expect: A second iteration of the winning formula at Camberwell’s — and arguably south London’s — premier pizzeria, with well-blistered dough, quality toppings, and jars of carmine chilli oil. Opened: 5 November 2018
Le Petit Citron Address: 98 Shepherds Bush Road, W6 7PD Key people: Emily Hartley, Lawrence Hartley What to expect: A very classic, Provençal-inspired bistro in the heart of west London Opened: 9 November 2018
Gopal’s Corner Address: Terminus Place, SW1V 1JR Key people: Sugen Gopal What to expect: An offshoot of lauded, hidden, iconic Euston restaurant Roti King, based on the food of Gopal’s parents in the 1970s and the flaking roti canai that have made the original one of London’s essentials. Opened: 10 November 2018
Koya at Market Halls Victoria Address: Terminus Place, SW1V 1JR Key people: Shuko Oda, John Devitt What to expect: A streamlined iteration of Koya Soho and Koya City, with the peerless udon noodles and Japanese small plates that have made it too, one of London’s essentials. Opened: 10 November 2018
BunShop Address: Terminus Place, SW1V 1JR Key people: Jon Rotheram, Tom Harris What to expect: Buns. Specifically, Marksman buns. Rotheram and Harris’ seasonal food will be translated from the Hackney Road pub and dining room to a food hall context, but won’t lose any of its affable refinement — which has made it too, one of London’s essentials. Opened: 10 November 2018
Hicce Address: Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4AB Key people: Pip Lacey, Gordy McIntyre, Angela Hartnett What to expect: Even more wood-fire cooking. Great British Menu winner Lacey has been cooking around London in the run-up to Hicce’s launch; wood will be the fuel for the fire which will smoke and steam as well as grilling. Yakitori could be a star. Opened: 12 November 2018
Fare Bar and Canteen Address: 11 Old Street, EC1V 9HL Key people: Michael Sager, Marcis Dzelzainis, Will Pitts What to expect: All-day middle Eastern cookery, with high-spec cocktails and an excellent coffee programme. Opened: 12 November 2018
Kutir Address: 10 Lincoln Street, SW3 2TS Key people: Rohit Ghai What to expect: The kind of interpretation of Indian culinary traditions that earned Ghai plaudits at Gymkhana and Jamavar, with an emphasis on feasting, game and seafood. Opened: 22 November 2018
Lino Address: 90 Bartholomew Close, EC1A 7BN Key people: Richard Falk What to expect: All-day dining and cocktails, with an emphasis on fermentation and low-waste preparations honed in Falk’s time at The Dairy in Clapham. Read more here. Opened: 22 November 2018
Brasserie of Light Address: 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB Key people: Richard Caring, Damien Hirst, Selfridges What to expect: “An eclectic mix of classic British and internationally-inspired dishes throughout the day,” guided by Richard Caring’s “extreme talent, extreme experience, extreme desire and extreme passion” and Damien Hirst’s latest enormous restaurant sculpture. This time, it’s a Pegasus, rumoured to cost £2 million. Opened: 22 November 2018
Bodega Rita’s Address: Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, N1C 4DR Key people: Missy Flynn, Gabe Pryce What to expect: Following the triumphant Hackney rebirth of Rita’s Dining, Flynn and Pryce are bringing a “global deli and sandwich shop” to the highly ambitious, fast-growing Coal Drops Yard restaurant battlefield at King’s Cross. Opened: 23 November 2018
Pucci Address: 39 Maddox Street, W1S 1FX Key people: Tilly Turbett What to expect: Mediterranean cookery via Gordon Ramsay and Noma from Turbett, coupled with the sensibility — and thin-crust pizzas — of the original Pucci’s restaurant in Kensington. Opened: Friday 30 November 2018
OCTOBER
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi Address: 113-115 King’s Rd, SW3 4PA Key people: Sticks ‘n’ Sushi What to expect: Sticks (yakitori) and sushi (sushi.) This is the eighth U.K. site for the Danish chain and the sixth in London — it will have a separate plant-based menu, as is more and more common. Opened: 1October 2018
Two Lights Address: 28-30 Kingsland Rd, E2 8DA Key people: Chase Lovecky, Johnny Smith, Isaac McHale, Daniel Willis What to expect: A third restaurant from the team behind The Clove Club and Luca, headed up by chef Lovecky. There will be a focus on “modern American cuisine”, aiming to be more of a neighbourhood restaurant than The Clove Club and Luca’s destination dining rooms. Opened: 1 October 2018
Zela Address: 336-337 Strand, WC2R 1HA Key people: Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Enrique Iglesias (yes, really) What to expect: “Meppon” cuisine, blending Japanese forms and techniques with Mediterranean ingredients. It’s worked in Ibiza… Opened: 1 October 2018
Kym’s Address: Bloomberg Arcade, 3 Queen Street, EC4N 8BN Key people: Natalie and Andrew Wong, Eater London Chef of the Year 2017 What to expect: The name of Andrew Wong’s second restaurant has finally been confirmed: Kym’s will offer a “Hong Kong diner kind of lunch — crispy pork belly, honey-roast pork, and soya poached chicken… [it] will be true to being Chinese.” And, significantly for a chef who has become synonymous with distinctive, distinguished dumplings, no dim sum. Opened: 2 October 2018
Omoide Address: 128 Bermondsey St, SE1 3UB Key people: Chef Angelo Sato What to expect: Sato will follow up his bento box operation, Mission Sato, with another grab-and-go brand. Omoide is rooted in the tradition of chirashi sushi, derived from the rice course in Japanese kaiseki cuisine. Opened: 2 October 2018
Caractère Address: 209 Westbourne Park Rd, W11 1EA Key people: Emily Roux (yes, those Roux) and Diego Ferrari What to expect: A characterful interplay of classical French and Italian cookery from two people with extensive Michelin experience. Opened: 4October 2018
Cecconi’s East Address: 1 Whitby St, E1 6JU Key people: Soho House Group What to expect: It’s another Cecconi’s for Soho House, this time at its approaching Redchurch Townhouse. More pizza, more aperitivo, more of the same. Opened: 5 October 2018
Blacklock Shoreditch Address: 28-30 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DZ Key people: Blacklock, of successful Soho and City restaurants What to expect: More of the competitively priced and conscientiously sourced barbecued meats and sides that have made Blacklock’s Soho and City sites such a hit. Opened: 8 October 2018
Harry’s Bar Address: James St, W1U 1DT Key people: Richard Caring What to expect: More casual Italian, with the Caring twist: slightly higher prices than would ordinarily fly. Some things designated as “Harry’s,” too. Opened: 10 October 2018
The Ivy in the Park Address: 50 Canada Square, E14 5FW Key people: Richard Caring What to expect: The elegant / lo-fi-luxe British fare that has made Caring’s Ivy Collection a trend-bucking casual dining success. Opened: 16 October 2018
Kinilaw and Buco Address: 104 Hoxton Street, N1 6SG Key people: Francis Puyat and Andrew Zilouf What to expect: Kinilaw — literally “eaten raw” — is the Filipino iteration of ceviche-style curing, using palm or cane vinegar and calamansi juice to sour and tenderise fish, meat or vegetables. Buko, meanwhile, means coconut, which here will act as a shell for vegan ice cream. Opened: 16 October 2018
Jollibee Address: 180 Earls Court Road, SW5 9QG Key people: Tony Tan and family What to expect: A Filipino restaurant institution, known for fried chicken, “ethereal” gravy, and spaghetti made with liver, banana ketchup, and, allegedly, condensed milk. Opened: 20 October 2018
Upstairs at The French House Address: 49 Dean Street, W1D 5BG Key people: Neil Borthwick What to expect: The former home of Margot Henderson and Florence Knight is resurrected by dishes with an appropriately Gallic accent: confit leeks gribiche, plaice meunière, quail with remoulade and hazelnuts. Once again a dining destination. Opened: 22 October 2018
Berenjak Address: 27 Romilly Street, W1D 5AL Key people: Kian Samyani, JKS Restaurants What to expect: The food at Berenjak will depart somewhat from Brigadiers’ Indian mess hall dining, leaning into Persian tradition: kababs, khoresht, and sharing plates — mazeh. Iranian chef Kian Samyani has cooked at both Brigadiers and Mayfair’s Gymkhana: this is the first time the Sethis have backed a chef from their own restaurants in a solo venture. Opened: 25 October 2018
Barrafina, Casa Pastor, The Drop Address: Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4AB Key people: The Hart Brothers, plus Crispin Somerville What to expect: The holy triumvirate of the new Coal Drops Yard development — the brothers behind Barrafina, and their business partner from El Pastor, are opening three new venues there this year. A new Barrafina, plus Casa Pastor — a new “big sister” to Borough’s El Pastor — and The Drop, a wine bar featuring (largely) British plates and an oyster cart. Opened: 26 October 2018
Vermuteria Address: Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4AB Key people: Anthony Demetre What to expect: A new all-day restaurant from the owner of Mayfair’s widely-acclaimed Wild Honey, specialising in Spanish cuisine and vermouth. A vermuteria is a bar, most commonly found in Barcelona, so Demetre’s concept should complement the new Barrafina from Harts Group just a few doors/drops down. Opened: 27 October 2018
Cook Daily Address: Arch 358, Westgate Street, E8 3RN Key people: King Senathit, a.k.a. King Cook What to expect: A familiar global approach to vegan cooking, as indebted to meat substitutes as it is tofu and vegetables, and lacking the clumsy misappropriation of many similar endeavours. Opened: 27 October 2018
Gridiron Address: Como Metropolitan Hotel, Old Park Lane W1K 1LB Key people: Richard Turner, Colin McSherry, Fiona Beckett, Max Venning, Noel Venning What to expect: Hawksmoor x Three Sheets x Nuala grill restaurant supergroup, likely including modish pre-bottled cocktails, prime cuts of beef, and the familiar new-opening list of bone marrow, XO sauce, turbot, and smoked eel as ingredients. Opened: 30 October 2018
POTUS Address: 10 Albert Embankment, SE1 7HG Key people: Pablo Peñalosa Najera, not Donald Trump What to expect: Dishes from the American canon including cioppino (San Francisco) and steak (everywhere) — and questions over the resonance of a name governed by who is in power at the time of dining. Opened: 31 October 2018
Levan Address: 12-16 Blenheim Grove, SE15 4QL Key people: Nicholas Balfe, Mark Gurney and the team behind Salon Brixton What to expect: A bistronomy restaurant influenced by Paris, London and Copenhagen, with the same low waste, low intervention, meat and fish adjacent approach to cooking that defines Salon’s approach to modern British food. Opened: 31 October 2018
Macellaio RC Address: 6 Store St, WC1E 7DQ Key people: Roberto Costa What to expect: The five-strong chain’s Piedmontese, dry-aged beef, and offals, as well as normcore Italian staples. Opened: October 2018
Kerridge’s Bar and Grill Address: Whitehall Place, SW1A 2BD Key people: Tom Kerridge, of course What to expect: You’ll find the chef’s first London restaurant in five-star The Corinthia hotel, with a rotisserie taking centre stage. The meat will come from Kerridge’s butchers, The Butcher’s Tap in Marlow. Opened: 10 September 2018
Kahani Address: 1 Wilbraham Place, SW1X 9AE Key people: Peter Joseph What to expect: Robata grill cooking with the Indian spicing and ingredients that Joseph honed during his ten years at Tamarind, Mayfair. Opened: 10 September 2018
Maison Bab Address: 4 Mercer Walk, WC2H 9FA Key people: Stephen Tozer, Ed Brunet, Manu Canales What to expect: “More rustic, bolder flavours” than the original Soho Le Bab, as well as a downstairs tasting menu called “Kebab Queen”, led by Canales. Also: a lingering sense that the notion of “elevating” the kebab is fundamentally awry. Opened: 17 September 2018
Jolene Address: 20 Newington Green, N16 9PU Key people: David Gingell, Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim, Andy Cato What to expect: A bakery, restaurant and natural wine bar from the team at Westerns Laundry and Primeur, focussed on ancient and heritage grains. Flours will be milled on site for breads and sweet and savoury pastries, while natural wines will continue to provoke highly aggressive reactions. Opened: 18 September 2018
Flesh and Buns Fitzrovia Address: 32 Berners St, W1T 3LR Key people: Ross Shonhan What to expect: A 170-cover iteration of the Flesh and Buns template, with a new “press for pisco” button a la Bob Bob Ricard and wood-fired dishes a la most of London, right now. Opened: 21 September 2018
St. John Bakery Address: 3 Neal’s Yard, WC2H 9DP Key people: Fergus Henderson, Trevor Gulliver What to expect: A permanent, stand-alone bakery site for St. John’s lauded doughnuts, Eccles cakes, and breads. With Neal’s Yard dairy in attendance, the Eccles cake / Lancashire cheese pro move will be easier than ever. Opened: 21 September 2018
AUGUST
Red Farm NYC Address: 9 Russell Street, WC2B 5HZ Key people: Joe Ng, Ed Schoenfeld What to expect: This New York stalwart’s greenmarket approach to dim sum produces creations like pastrami spring rolls and “Pacman Dumplings,” blending modern Americana with Cantonese technique. Opened: 29 August 2018
Manifesto Pizza Address: 148 Northcote Road, SW11 6RD Key people: Ex-Natoora director Vittorio Maschio What to expect: Another London pizzeria fanatical about sourcing, dough production and wood-fired ovens. Maschio’s pedigree is credible, but in a city full of excellent pizza, he’ll do well to stand out. Opened: 27 August 2018
1251 Address: 107 Upper St, N1 1QN Key people: James Cochran What to expect: Kentish ingredients inflected with chef James Cochran’s Vincentian roots, served in short tasting menus or a la carte. Cochran is currently embroiled in a trademark dispute with former investors, with his moniker still appearing at former restaurant James Cochran EC3. Opened: 25 August
Pide Oven Address: 77 Fulham Palace Rd, W6 8JA Key people: Ersen Salih, who launched the original Pide Oven on Charlotte Street in 2016 What to expect: Pide, obviously, filled with cheese, meat and vegetables, plus thin-crust lahmacun flatbreads and a range of other Turkish and Cypriot dishes. Opened: 25 August
Milk Beach Address: 19 Lonsdale Road, NW6 6RA Key people: Matt Robley-Siemonsma, Elliot Milne What to expect: Speciality coffee roasted in house by a U.K. coffee roasting champion, all-day Antipodean brunch, natural wine, and small plates. Current P. Franco chef George Tomlin consulted on the evening menu, but will not be cooking. Opened: 19 August 2018
Gunpowder Address: 4 Duchess Walk, SE1 2SD Key people: Harneet and Devina Baweja What to expect: A new restaurant from the team behind Shoreditch’s Gunpowder, Madame D, and Gul & Sepoy. The new site will seat 60 covers for dinner (no reservations), while a bigger kitchen than at the Spitalfields original means a whole host of new creative dishes in the restaurant’s signature style. Opened: 14 August 2018
Zuaya Address: 35 Kensington High Street, W8 5BA Keypeople: Alberto Zandi, Arian Zandi Whattoexpect: A bit of a globetrotter, with dishes from Peru, Brazil and Mexico, hopefully remaining true to their specificity. Opened: 7 August 2018
Bababoom Address: 189 Upper Street, N1 1RQ Keypeople: Travis Fish, Eve Bugler, Jono Jenkins Whattoexpect: Sumac wings, crispy quid, orange chicken shish kebab and a general feeling that the idea of the gourmet kebab is at least a little bit flawed. Opened: 7 August 2018
JULY
Tish Address: 196 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 2AG Keypeople: John Ellison and Yuri Horpinchenko Whattoexpect: Ex Bob Bob Ricard head chef John Ellison is behind a 160 cover kosher restaurant opening in Belsize Park. The kosher restaurant promises “Jewish heritage classics”, opening right through from 7am to 12.30am. Opened: 29 July 2018
Tonkotsu Stratford Address: Unit 1, Endeavour Square, International Quarter, Stratford, London, E20 1JN Key people: Emma Reynolds and Ken Yamada What to expect: An eighth site for one of London’s most enduring and popular chains, serving their ramen, gyoza and cult-followed chilli oil with bits. Opened: July 28 2018
CasadoFrango Address: 1st floor, 32 Southwark Street, SE1 1TU Key people: Algarvian-English Marco Mendes, Jake Kasumov and Reza Merchant What to expect: Proper Portuguese piri piri chicken, cooked the Algarvian way over a wood-fired grill, plus natural Portuguese wines and, of course, pasteis de nata. Opened: 20 July 2018
Endo Kazutoshi at The Berkeley Address: The Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL Key people: Sushi master Endo Kazutoshi What to expect: A highly exclusive, highly secretive 15-course omakase menu available in two sittings Thursday — Saturday only. Kazutoshi’s knife work and delicacy are world-renowned, with best quality ingredients from Japan and the UK as standard. Opened: 20 July 2018 (running through 31 August)
Al Dente Address: 51 Goodge St, London W1T 1TG Key people: Filippo Gallenzi What to expect: Another pastificio for London: a fresh pasta shop that doubles down on its offering with a restaurant. One of those cases where newness is not the main concern: homemade dough, cooked well, with good sauces, in London’s neighbourhood of the moment.London pasta restaurants, meet your latest sibling. Opened: 20 July 2018 (running through 31 August)
Caravan Fitzrovia Address: 152-156 Great Portland Street, W1W 6QA Key people: Laura Harper-Hinton, Chris Ammermann and Miles Kirby What to expect: As well as globetrotting breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, the latest outpost of the all-day dining chain will be trialling a new takeaway brand, Caravan-To-Go. Opened: 16 July 2018
Teahouse at XU Address: 30 Rupert St, W1D 6DL Keypeople: Wai Ting Chung, Shing Tat Chung and Erchen Chang Whattoexpect: A ground floor teahouse continuing the Taiwanese restaurant’s commitment to making tea and tea service part of its fabric. Hand thrown teaware, a dedicated afternoon tea menu and new lunchtime rice bowls all feature. Opened: 16 July 2018
Ichiba Address: Westfield London, Ariel Way, London W12 7GF Key people: CEO of the Japan Centre, Tak Tokumine What to expect: Europe’s biggest Japanese food hall inside Westfield — the west London shopping centre. Food stations will offer: Katsu curries; sushi and sashimi; street food including takoyaki, tempura and noodles made to order; a traditional Japanese bakery and café serving items such as dorayaki pancakes with teas including hot or iced matcha lattes; a kaku-uchi sake bar, serving hot sake and regional artisan sake; a ramen noodle bar. Opened: 14 July 2018
Cora Pearl Address: 30 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8NA Keypeople: George Barson and Tom Fogg of Kitty Fisher’s Whatto expect: The kind of simple, ingredient-led cooking that made Kitty Fisher’s a London institution, complemented by ice-cold martinis and brooding interiors. Opened: 10 July 2018
Gazelle Address: 48 Albermarle Street, W1S 4DH Key people: Tony Conigliaro and Rob Roy Cameron What to expect: London cocktail don Tony C and chef Rob Roy Cameron are opening a two-story “cafe, bar, and restaurant” in a Georgian building in Mayfair. Much more than just cocktails, Conigliaro said of the new venture; “This will be a bit of a new direction for me. I always wanted to open a place where the food stood equal with the drinks and would be a complete destination in its own right.” Reservations are now open. Opened: 9 July 2018
Quality Wines Address: 88 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3EA Key people: Quality Chop House, Gus Gluck. What to expect: A wine bar to complement the Quality Chop-adjacent café and shop, with 200 bottles available for reasonable corkage, a daily-changing selection of interesting wines by the glass, and vintage QCH snacks. Opened: 3 July 2018
JUNE
Japan House Address: 101 – 110 Kensington High Street, W8 5SA Key people: Akira Shimizu, formerly the executive head chef of Engawa. What to expect: A new Japanese cultural centre called Japan House on Kensington High Street includes a high-end restaurant, by chef Shimizu, formerly of Engawa — the kobe beef and bento specialist close to Piccadilly in Soho — who will lead a new kitchen that aims to “emphasise the rich regional diversity and seasonality of Japan’s cuisine.” Opened: 24 June 2018
Bancone Address: 39 William IV Street, WC2N 4DD Key people: Former Locanda Locatelli chef Louis Korovilas, with William Ellner and David Ramsey What to expect: “Crowd-pleasing” pastas, seasonal arancini and a range of small plates and cicchetti, and a wide selection of Italian wines by the glass, aiming to “champion lesser known vineyards and growers.” Opened: 25 June 2018
The Royal Oak Address: 74-76 York St, Marylebone, W1H 1QN Key people: Dan Doherty, former executive chef of Duck & Waffle What to expect: A food-focused London boozer. The emphasis will be on homegrown produce, like British burrata, Canon & Canon charcuterie and Secret Smokehouse salmon, plus mains cooked on the plancha and coal fire. Absolutely no small plates, apparently. Opened: with food on 25 June 2018
Rovi Address: 55 Wells Street W1A 3AE Key people: Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi What to expect: A new restaurant concept from the Ottolenghi team, Rovi promises a vegetable-focussed experience separate from Nopi or the Ottolenghi delis. Fermentation and an open fire will be central to preparations, while there will also be a strong focus on sustainability and the re-use of by-products in house. Opened: Thursday 21 June 2018
Ruya Address: 30 Upper Grosvenor Street, W1K 7PH Key people: Chef Patron Colin Clague, formerly of Zuma and Caprice Holdings What to expect: Inspired by Umut Özkanca’s heritage, Ruya promises a “contemporary and fresh twist” on Anatolian classics, spanning regional cuisines “from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea”. Opened: Thursday 7June 2018
Brigadiers Address: Bloomberg Arcade, 3 Queen Street, EC4N 8BN Key people: Karam, Sunaina and Jyotin Sethi, of JKS Restaurants What to expect: An expansive 140+ seater venue in the new Bloomberg Arcade development, Brigadiers is “an Indian barbecue and beer tavern inspired by the army mess bars of India, where military regiments go to eat, drink and socialise.” Menus focus on preparations by way of tandoors, charcoal grills, rotisseries, wood ovens and classic Indian smokers, while there’s also an extensive beer list, and cocktails on tap. Opened: Wednesday 6 June 2018
St Leonards Address: 70 Leonard Street, EC2A 4QX Key people: Jackson Boxer and Andrew Clarke What to expect: A new restaurant from the team at Brunswick House, St Leonard’s inspired by a “very drunken lunch” at Boxer’s mother’s farm, and will “attempt to create a high-summer afternoon in Sussex in a more urban setting”. In practice, that means fresh shellfish and charcuterie, as well as liberal use of a newly-installed log-fired hearth in the cooking process of other seafood, meat and game dishes. Opened: Wednesday 4 June 2018
Native Address: Flat Iron Square, 32 Southwark Street, SE1 1TU Key people: Owners Imogen Davis and (head chef) Ivan Tisdall-Downes What to expect: A 60-cover wild food and British game restaurant, which sees the team relocate from Covent Garden to Flat Iron Square. A celebration of “entirely British produce, zero waste, and a profound respect for the natural environment.” Opening: Tuesday 5 June 2018
Old Chang Kee Address: 15a New Row, WC2N 4PD Key people: Sandra Leong, UK director of the iconic Singaporean street food brand What to expect: The iconic Singaporean snack chain Old Chang Kee has opened its first venue in Europe, bringing the much-loved curry puffs — a sort of Cornish pasty, Portuguese South American empanada, Indian samosa and Cantonese dim sum — and a range of other kopi tiam classics to Covent Garden. Opened: Monday 4 June 2018
Laurent at Café Royal Address: 10 Air Street, W1B 4DY Key people: Internationally acclaimed French chef Laurent Tourondel, whose restaurant portfolio stretches from New York, via Kazakhstan, to Hong Kong. What to expect: Upmarket American-leaning hotel dining — so steaks, including Aberdeen Angus onglet, ribeye and fillet, plus “SRF Black” (superior to USDA Prime), burgers, grilled Dover Sole,; Anglo-American and French breakfasts; and the popover: a U.S. take on the Yorkshire pudding, made with cheddar and gouda — served with warm butter in place of bread at the start of the meal. Opened: Friday 1 June 2018
Bife Address: 40-42 Middlesex St, E1 7EX Key people: Juan Pablo de Alzaa, Jose de Alzaa, Ricardo de Alzaa What to expect: Wet-aged Argentine steaks from a family-owned restaurant, cooked on a custom charcoal grill. Opened: Friday 1 June 2018
Han’s Bar & Grill Address: 164 Pavilion Road, London, SW1X 0BP Key people: Head chef Adam England (previously of Le Pont de la Tour) and the team behind Chewton Glen, Lygon Arms, Cliveden and 11 Cadogan Gardens What to expect: 106-cover restaurant near Sloane Square: Chef England has created an all-day seasonal menu, rooted in British produce, “underpinned by his classical cookery skills.” Expect duck breast; confit salmon; goats curd and cucumber; and veal carpaccio. Opens for breakfast at 7am. Opened: Friday 1 June 2018
Vins Address: 93 Grosvenor Avenue, N5 2NL Key people: Vinny Burke and Hugo Thurston, formerly of Jago What to expect: Another neighbourhood wine shop/bar/restaurant hybrid, Vins will open just up the road from Highbury favourite Primeur. Expect “seasonal European” cooking in a — refreshingly — traditional menu format from their small kitchen, with an ever changing wine list supplemented by the availability of all retail wines to drink in with the addition of a small corkage charge. Opened: June 2018
MAY
Lina Stores Address: 51 Greek Street, W1D 4EH Key people: Chef Masha Rener rejoins the Lina Stores team What to expect: Soho’s 75-year-old Italian delicatessen will open a fresh pasta restaurant on Greek Street, headed by Masha Rener, a former devotee of the original shop who returns to London after selling her Umbrian restaurant in favour of a lead role at the new Lina Stores. Pasta will be made fresh daily, and the menu will celebrate Lina Stores classics and “lesser-known regional specialties and family recipes handed down through generations.” Opened: Friday 4 May 2018
Sargeant’s Mess Address: Tower of London, EC3N 4AB Key people: Mark Sargeant — Gordon Ramsay alumnus and proprietor of three coastal Kent favourites What to expect: A new all-day restaurant and deli from Mark Sergeant at the Tower of London will “focus on British classics with their signature twists” and “pay homage to the heritage of this historic location.” That means riffs on the likes of kedgeree for breakfast, and cod and chips, or lamb with minted potatoes and mushy peas for dinner. Opened: Friday 4 May 2018
Bright Address: 1 Westgate St, E8 3RL Key people: Phil Bracey (GM, P. Franco), William Gleave (London’s foremost kitchen gun-for-hire), Giuseppe “Peppe” Belvedere (formerly of Brawn, and a much-loved residency of his own at P. Franco) and Liam Kelleher (co-founder, Noble Fine Liquor/P. Franco) What to expect: The team who turned Clapton’s P. Franco from an unassuming local’s hangout and wine shop into one of the most exciting cave a vin “restaurants” in the capital (and Eater London’s Restaurant of the Year 2017) are finally opening a ‘real’ restaurant, taking over the Netil House venue vacated earlier this year by Ellory (now Leroy, in Shoreditch). Expect the whimsical approach to flavours and dedication to seasonality that has made Gleave’s name in London, and much more of Peppe’s unmissable fresh pasta. Opened: Wednesday 9 May 2018. Take a first look inside here.
The Lebanese Bakery Address: Drury House, Russell St, London WC2B 5HA Key people: Samer Chamoun, Bassam Chamoun What to expect: Manousheh — Lebanese flatbreads baked in an oven constructed from Arabic basalt rock. Built on a cult following in Beirut, the bakery promises pizza-style breads at breakfast and lunch: za’tar, egg and tomatoes will feature heavily. Opened: Friday 11 May 2018
Neptune Address: The Principal London, 1-8 Russell Square, WC1B 5BE Key people: Brett Redman and Margaret Crow, formerly of The Richmond What to expect: A “fun and accessible approach to British cuisine”, also “inspired by California and Australia”. Centred on an oyster and shellfish bar, with menus heavy on the fresh seafood and open-fire cooking for which Redman is known, Neptune will be an all-day bistro in the newly-renovated The Principal London, overlooking Russell Square. Opened: Monday 14 May 2018
Sarona Address: 27 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 5RN Key people: Andre Avedian, Dan Levine and Stuart Swycher What to expect: A new Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant from three friends, with a menu “thoughtfully designed for sharing, within a contemporary and relaxed setting, making it the perfect spot for brunch, lunch, and dinner alike.” This translates to hummus-oriented small plates, “all-day shakshuka” both cooked and served all day, and chermoula-marinated chicken. Opened: Monday 14 May 2018
Fayre Share Address: 178-180 Victoria Park Road, E9 7HD Key people: Founders Mark Bloom and Barry Myers; head chef Luke Spencer What to expect: A restaurant founded explicitly on the principle of sharing Founders, Bloom and Myers “want to turn the typical dining experience on its head.” Small plates, presumably, are not enough. Each dish can be ordered for 1, 2, or 4 people — and all are described as “quintessentially British.” They include roasted beer chicken; an “homage to the classic British pie” (shepherd’s; chicken; leek and mushroom; plus a changing ‘pie of the day’; and Arctic roll with jelly. Opened: Monday 14 May 2018
Mother Clucker Address: 59-61 Rosebery Ave, EC1R 4SD Key people: Ross Curnow and Brittney Bean, co-founders What to expect: Tea-brined, twice-battered fried chicken that has made the street food stall a Deliveroo Editions favourite Opened: Tuesday 15 May 2018
Gizzi Erskine at Mare Street Market Address: 115 Mare St, E8 4RT Key people: Gizzi Erskine What to expect: Gizzi Erskine’s Mare Street Market opened recently to much fanfare. Delis and food stalls serve up an all-day offering that gets predictably rammed — and photographed — on Broadway Market days. The centrepiece of the project, Erskine’s solo restaurant The Dining Room, is yet to open, but keep those eyes peeled. Opened: May 2018
Address: Mercers Walk WC2H Key people: Neil Rankin What to expect: The third Temper restaurant, in contrast to its older siblings, will focus on Detroit-style deep dish and thin-based pizzas, cured meats, ragus, vermouths, and cocktails on tap. Opened: Monday 14 May 2018
Inko Nito Address: 51 Broadwick St, W1F 9QR Key people: Rainer Becker, of the Zuma group of restaurants, brings his “modern Japanese grill restaurant” concept from LA to London What to expect: A strong focus on “unconventional” robatayaki (barbecue) fare, as well as lighter dishes, and a “new style of sushi”. Becker says; “We’ve gone ‘back to basics’ to create a local, accessible destination for London diners, [combining] bold and adventurous flavours in a relaxed yet high-energy environment.” Opened: Monday 14 May 2018
Andina Panaderia and Picanteria Address: 155-157 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RS Key people: Martin Morales, of Ceviche and Andina restaurants, pastry chef Ana Velasquez, and head chef Luca Depalo What to expect: London’s first Peruvian bakery, specialising in slow-ferment baking and traditional pastries, next door to a new 40-seat restaurant described as “an ode to the Peruvian picanterias.” Opened: Tuesday 15 May 2018
Bucket Address: 107 Westbourne Grove, W2 4UW Key people: Georgie Godik Hayward, Adam Hayward, Patsy Godik What to expect: Seafood. In buckets. Prawns, whitebait, fritto misto and an intriguing banana blossom tempura will all feature, as well as mussels with a choice of four sauces. There will also be seafood that isn’t in buckets, meat that isn’t in buckets, and wine that might be in buckets. Opened: Monday 21 May 2018
Kricket Brixton Address: 41-43 Atlantic Road, SW9 8JL Key people: Kricket founders Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, backed by White Rabbit Fund What to expect: The third permanent site for Kricket marks a return to their roots — the brand started life as a popup stall at Pop Brixton. Expect more of the same vibrant and modern approach to Indian cuisine that has made Kricket such a hit. Opened: Tuesday 22 May 2018
The Duke of Richmond Public House Address: 316 Queensbridge Road, Hackney, E8 3NH Key people: Tom Oldroyd (of Oldroyd) and Rory Shannon (ex-Winemakers Deptford) What to expect: The reopening of the Richmond, an 80-cover gastropub and bar in Hackney. The owners promise “a good old-fashioned neighbourhood boozer and dining room” which will serve a menu of classic pub dishes with a French slant, including snacks like Cornish crab chip butty with brown crab rouille; and mains such as Swaledale lamb en croûte, with green beans and truffle butter. Plus a roast lunch on Sundays. Opened: Thursday 24 May 2018
Cecconi’s Pizza Bar Address: 19-21 Old Compton St, Soho, W1D 5JJ Key people: The Soho House Group What to expect: The ninth iteration of Cecconi’s and the most pared-back, focussing on the pizza. One of few London restaurants able to claim a signature floor, a wood-fired oven will be responsible for charring those crusts; if previous is anything to go by, expect multiple features on the celebrity restaurant circuit. Opened: Thursday 24 May 2018
Kyseri Address: 64 Grafton Way, W1T 5DN Key people: Selin Kiazim and Laura Christie What to expect: The founders of Shoreditch favourite Oklava are opening a long-rumoured sophomore project in Fitzrovia, inspired by the food of Kayseri — a region of central Turkey — and focussed on fresh-daily Turkish pastas including manti and erişte. Christie is in charge of the wines, which is an esoteric collection featuring small winemakers from Turkey and the Middle East. Opened: Friday 25 May 2018. Take a first look at the restaurant here.
The Bluecoats Pub Address: 614 High Road, N12 0AA Key people: Jamie Rule and Louis Hyams of Night Tales, alongside Tom Gibson of Ruby’s What to expect: A new hip pub for Tottenham, on the site of an 18th century school for girls. Local London breweries will be well represented on the bar, while food is by way of another Hackney stalwart in Lucky Chip. Opened: Friday 25 May 2018
The Jones Family Kitchen Address: 7-8 Eccleston Yards, London SW1W 9NF Key people: Sister restaurant to Shoreditch’s The Jones Family Project What to expect: Eccleston Yards, on the border of Victoria and Belgravia, is coming together. JFK offers all day dining, seven days a week with a year round outside terrace, cocktails, Josper-grilled steaks, fish specials, brunches, and a number of wines by the glass. 11am to 11.30pm Monday to Wednesday; midnight Thursday to Saturday; 8pm on Sundays. Opened: Tuesday 29 May 2018
APRIL
Hide Address: 85 Piccadilly, W1J 7NB Key people: Ollie Dabbous, Evgeny Chichvarkin and Tatiana Fokina What to expect: A massive undertaking, the much-heralded return of Ollie Dabbous will feature a casual ground-floor dining room serving breakfast, and à la carte lunch and dinner menus, along with a basement bar, and — on the first floor — a dining room where set menu lunch and dinner offerings will see Dabbous “take his cooking to new heights.” Opened: Now open
The Petersham and La Goccia Address: 27 King Street, WC2E 8JD Key people: Lara Boglione and Damian Clisby of Petersham Nurseries What to expect: Richmond’s iconic Petersham Nurseries is opening two restaurants at its new Covent Garden site this year. La Goccia will be a “vibrant” and “accessible,” all-day restaurant with an open kitchen, wood-fired oven, grill and dining bar. It will offer Petersham Nurseries’ interpretation of the Italian aperitivo and ‘cicchetti’ (small plates), while The Petersham will more closely follow the Slow Food-inspired mission of the Richmond original, celebrating fresh British produce and the Boglione family’s passion for “understated grandeur”. Opened: Monday 23 April 2018
Cornerstone Address: Prince Edward Road, Hackney Wick, E9 5LX Key people: Tom Brown, former head chef of Outlaw’s at The Capital What to expect: The debut restaurant from Tom Brown, who left his position as head chef at Nathan Outlaw’s eponymous restaurant late last year to pursue this solo venture. The Hackney Wick restaurant will be built around a central open kitchen, where the Cornwall native will be serving “adventurous” small plates focussed on pared-back representations of a few hero ingredients. Opened: Now open.
Stem Address: 5 Princes Street, W1B 2LF Key people: Mark Jarvis and Sam Ashton-Booth What to expect: A third venture from Mark Jarvis — founder of both Anglo and Neo Bistro — who has teamed up with former Anglo head chef Sam Ashton-Booth to bring “a bit of Anglo… west, to Regent Street — informal, but precise in terms of its modern British food.” Split over two levels, the new venue will feature a private six-seat chef’s table downstairs in addition to the main 35-cover dining room, where both à la carte and short set menus will be available, in the style of Parisian bistros. Opened: Tuesday 1 May 2018
As 2023 comes over the horizon, new restaurants continue to open in London all the time. With the caveat that these dates are subject to change, here’s the definitive list of notable upcoming restaurant openings in London, in order of anticipated launch. It will be updated constantly. JANUARY 2023 Darjeeling ExpressAddress: 2nd Floor, Kingly Court, […]
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Tacos from Sonora’s original stall in London Fields. | James Hansen/Eater London
As 2023 comes over the horizon, new restaurants continue to open in London all the time. With the caveat that these dates are subject to change, here’s the definitive list of notable upcoming restaurant openings in London, in order of anticipated launch. It will be updated constantly.
JANUARY 2023
Darjeeling Express Address: 2nd Floor, Kingly Court, Kingly Street, Carnaby W1B 5PW Key people: Asma Khan. What to expect: A combination of all the previous iterations of Darjeeling Express, focussed on homestyle Bengali and Mughal cooking. Projected opening: 30 January 2023
FEBRUARY 2023
Bossa Address: 3 Vere Street, St. James’s W1G 0DG Key people: Alberto Landgraf, of two-Michelin-starred Rio de Janeiro restaurant Oteque. What to expect: A more casual Brazilian restaurant from a chef known for championing indigenous ingredients in the fine dining world. Projected opening: February 2023
Socca Address: 41A South Audley Street, Mayfair W1K 2PS Key people: Claude Bosi and Samyukta Nair What to expect: Breezy French Riviera cuisine from the esteemed French chef. Projected opening: February 2023
Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London Address: The Old War Office, Whitehall SW1A 2EU Key people: Mauro Colagreco, of three-Michelin-starred Mirazur. What to expect: A trio of restaurants overseen by the garlanded chef, including a brasserie, a fine dining restaurant, and a chef’s table. Projected opening: February 2023
SPRING 2023 AND BEYOND
Rambutan Address: 10 Stoney Street, Borough Market SE1 9AD Key people: Chef and cookbook author Cynthia Shanmugalingam What to expect: Tamil diaspora cooking. Projected opening: Spring 2023
Sonora Address: 208 Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington N16 7HU Key people: Michelle Salazar de la Rocha and Sam Napier. What to expect: A first fully fledged taqueria from one of the best food stalls to grace the city in recent times. Projected opening: Spring 2023
Manzi’s Address: 1 Bateman’s Buildings, Soho W1D 3EN Key people: Wolseley Hospitality Group. What to expect: A huge seafood restaurant in the heart of Soho, in the affordable luxury guise that the former Corbin and King duo did so well. Projected opening: May 2023
Aragawa Address: 38 Clarges Street, Mayfair W1J 7EN Key people: Mitsuya Yamada. What to expect: A laser-like focus on high quality Kobe beef, with an austere supporting cast of luxury ingredient sides. Projected opening: 2023
Forno Address: Vyner Street, Hackney E2 9DG Key people: Mitshel Ibrahim, chef-owner of the original Ombra. What to expect: A pasta and charcuterie production site that will be open to the public for pastries, soups, and Roman pizza, in the vein of London Fields favourite E5 Bakehouse. Projected opening: 2023
AngloThai Address: TBD Key people: John and Desiree Chantarasak. What to expect: A central London home for one of the most exciting exponents of uncynical “fusion” cooking out there, whose push-pull between the language of Thai cooking and its traditions and British ingredients resolves its tensions in thrilling dishes. Projected opening: Summer2023
Black Swan & Little Bread Pedlar Address: Unit A1, Swan Court, 9 Tanner Street, Bermondsey SE1 3LE Key people: Currently closed cafe Black Swan, and bakery Little Bread Pedlar. What to expect: A meeting of great minds in the coffee, pastry, and restaurant arena, for an all-day space that brings one of the city’s most essential cafes back to life. Projected opening: 2023
Master / All Under Heaven / TBD Address: East London Key people: Chef John Javier. What to expect: A high-end modern Chinese restaurant. Projected opening: 2023
Long Chim Address: 9 Horse and Dolphin Yard, Chinatown W1D 5BP Key people: Revered Thai food maestro David Thompson, formerly of Michelin-starred Nahm. What to expect: Expansion for his more “casual” chain of restaurants. Projected opening: 2023
Pavilion, the bakery and cafe group with roots in east London and Cornwall, has taken over the former Lighthaus Cafe space for a new canteen. Labelled as Mentmore Studios, it will be closer to the original Pavilion in Victoria Park than the smaller bakeries on Columbia Road and Broadway Market, serving “batch cooking” like chard […]
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The interior of Pavilion’s new space, in its days as Lighthaus Cafe. | Lighthaus Cafe
Pavilion, the bakery and cafe group with roots in east London and Cornwall, has taken over the former Lighthaus Cafe space for a new canteen.
Labelled as Mentmore Studios, it will be closer to the original Pavilion in Victoria Park than the smaller bakeries on Columbia Road and Broadway Market, serving “batch cooking” like chard gratin, dal — familiar to customers of Victoria Park — onion soup, and bread. Owner Rob Green is, atypically, using Instagram to chart his ongoing revisions of the new opening, describing a “eureka moment” that has led to the space becoming a weekday canteen and weekend “market vibe.”
Atypical it might be, this attention to detail feels necessary considering the shoes into which Pavilion is stepping. Lighthaus, which closed in October 2022, was deeply beloved not just among locals but in the wider London “food scene,” with successful residencies from Missy and former 40 Maltby Street chef Alex Vines. Founder Jen Weiss said that it could not absorb rising costs; Pavilion founder Green will hope the infrastructure built up in his brand since 2004 can.
Scotti’s Snack Bar, an Italian sandwich shop that is over half a century old, fears that planned “improvements” to London’s historic Clerkenwell Green will have a “devastating impact” on business. Works are set to begin as early as February 2023, Eater London has learned. The planned changes include reducing road space on the Green by […]
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Inside Scotti’s Snack Bar, the old-school Italian Caff in Islington. | Isaac Rangaswami
Scotti’s Snack Bar, an Italian sandwich shop that is over half a century old, fears that planned “improvements” to London’s historic Clerkenwell Green will have a “devastating impact” on business. Works are set to begin as early as February 2023, Eater London has learned. The planned changes include reducing road space on the Green by 51 percent and removing 43 parking spaces.
Scotti’s is often affectionately described as “museum-like” or a “time capsule.” It dates back to 1967, when Clerkenwell was London’s “Little Italy,” and when the capital’s caffs were full of black cab drivers on a well-earned break. Scotti’s still depends heavily on cab drivers for business. As well as being drawn in by generous breakfasts and legendary chicken escalope sandwiches, they rely on Scotti’s because of the plentiful street parking nearby. If redevelopment works go to plan, the Green will look very different by summer 2023.
With the number of office workers in the City of London still well below pre-pandemic levels, Al Scotti, who runs Scotti’s with his brother, Max, is worried about the café’s future. “Our customers are people who can’t work from home: cabbies, builders, and window cleaners,” he says. “Scotti’s is somewhere they can park up and have something to eat. They don’t have time to park half a mile away and walk to us.”
Islington Council consulted locals on the proposals back in 2017, and Al organised a petition to oppose the plans. A lot has changed since then — the effects of Brexit, a global pandemic, and a cost of living crisis — and Al argues that the plans should be reconsidered. He also believes his business’s concerns were not taken seriously. “They don’t care about old-fashioned caffs and the people we bring to the Green,” Al tells Eater London. “Big money talks, and Scotti’s Snack Bar is small money.”
Scotti says that the caff was “deemed too small to be on the [consultation] committee.” He says that as a result, Islington Council did not make any concessions to mitigate the risk to Scotti’s business. “They could have compromised with a timed zone,” he says, “because we really rely on that early morning business.”
In a response to Scotti’s initial concerns about the proposals, a spokesperson for Islington Council wrote that “reducing through-traffic and increasing public space will create a more welcoming and less polluted Clerkenwell Green.” They also argued that “whilst traffic in the area will reduce, the quality of the environment will improve and will encourage people to visit and stay in the area, enjoying the characterful surroundings,” predicting that “this in turn would create additional trading opportunities.” Islington Council did not immediately respond to Eater’s request for comment on the current situation today, 19 January.
The planned changes to Clerkenwell Green are at an advanced stage, and are set to go ahead unless a Traffic Management Order (TMO) is declined. Interested parties have until 27 January 2023 to object to the TMO. Failing this, works will begin in the coming weeks, and will bring significant changes to the neighbourhood.
This might be good news for the 42 percent of London households which don’t have a car. If it leads to an overall reduction in motor vehicle usage, then it will be good news for the environment, too. Some food businesses may benefit from pedestrianisation — it can create an attractive atmosphere for restaurants with kerbside outdoor seating — but there are undoubtedly others like Scotti’s which stand to lose out. How redevelopment plans address the concerns of these businesses, if they do so at all, will affect their chances of survival.
The future of cafés like Scotti’s, which rely on motor traffic, also depends on their ability to adapt to a city in flux. For a variety of reasons, including rent hikes and changing consumer habits, there are historic Italian food businesses under threat across London. As Joy Lo Dico puts it in an Financial Times column on Soho’s I Camisa, they “can’t survive on nostalgia alone.”
There is hope for Scotti’s yet, however. At least in theory, a successful last-minute objection to the TMO is not entirely out of the question. And although cab drivers have historically been Scotti’s “bread and butter,” as Al puts it, they are not the only customers drawn to the café.
Ann Pembroke, the founder and director of the Clerkenwell Green Preservation Society, tells Eater London that Scotti’s “counts many of the residents on the Green as loyal customers, who will continue to support the café in future.” She hopes that expanding the public space on the Green will “encourage people to visit this precious and historical place, which is a conservation area and has been a public open space since the twelfth century.” She predicts that the changes will “attract a lot of tourism, which should bring Scotti’s more business.”
Some of London’s most influential new food writers, including Isaac Rangaswami and Jonathan Nunn, regularly champion the freshly-made sandwiches at Scotti’s. This brings new customers to the café, and reminds lapsed regulars that this vestige of old London is still, for now, clinging on. It remains to be seen whether a renewed interest in London’s caff heritage will be enough to keep cafés like Scotti’s going. Whatever happens, there are difficult days ahead for businesses which rely on car traffic alone.
A long-serving restaurant in southeast London has shut down after 45 years, with the current generation of its owning family citing the “current economic conditions.” Will Ellner, who took over Joanna’s on the Crystal Palace triangle in 2003, announced the closure of the much-loved bistro on Instagram, saying that while he had made the decision […]
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The bar at Joanna’s restaurant, in Crystal Palace, which has closed after 45 years. | Joanna’s
A long-serving restaurant in southeast London has shut down after 45 years, with the current generation of its owning family citing the “current economic conditions.”
Will Ellner, who took over Joanna’s on the Crystal Palace triangle in 2003, announced the closure of the much-loved bistro on Instagram, saying that while he had made the decision “with the heaviest of hearts,” the impact of COVID-19, Brexit, and recent price rises had been “unfortunately too much for us as a small business to overcome which has led me to make this difficult decision.”
Evolving from opening in 1978 as something of a tribute to Deep South Americana, into a buzzy, comfortably contemporary and European sort of restaurant, it remained a fixture of the Crystal Palace restaurant community through all of its iterations. Accomplished pasta, well-judged steaks from local butcher Flock and Herd, and hearty but exacting braises, pies, and Sunday roasts were calling cards in its later years.
Birthdays, anniversaries, breakups, paydays, getting a dream job, quitting a hell job… Sometimes a meal needs to do more than feed, and when that time comes a splurge is needed. A splurge is a state of mind, not just an act of fiscal negligence: it’s about the release from humdrum quotidian constraints, not purely what […]
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Finessing dessert buns at A. Wong in Pimlico. | Andrew Leitch/Eater London
Birthdays, anniversaries, breakups, paydays, getting a dream job, quitting a hell job… Sometimes a meal needs to do more than feed, and when that time comes a splurge is needed.
A splurge is a state of mind, not just an act of fiscal negligence: it’s about the release from humdrum quotidian constraints, not purely what it does to one’s bank balance. And, boy, does 2022 feel like a good time to find release from quotidian constraints, as the U.K. continues to take nervous steps out of its metaphorical sitting room and out into the wider world again. Here, then, is a list of place to go to let go — yes for special occasions, but also for occasions made special by the sheer pleasure of being out again, contemplating a menu, deciding one more dish would be overkill, and ordering it anyway.
Another week, another spectacular new London restaurant. Restaurant design gets more extravagant, ambitious, and expensive by the year. But how many of the city’s latest squeezes will look the same in 10 years, 20 years, even 100 years? Which, if any, will have the historical or architectural interest to make it on the National Heritage […]
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Mince on dripping toast at Quality Chop House | Quality Chop House [Official Photo]
Another week, another spectacular new London restaurant. Restaurant design gets more extravagant, ambitious, and expensive by the year. But how many of the city’s latest squeezes will look the same in 10 years, 20 years, even 100 years? Which, if any, will have the historical or architectural interest to make it on the National Heritage List? The roster of listed eating places in London includes everything from the grand hotels to ornate department stores, local boozers ,and greasy spoons. How lucky London is to be able to not just gawp at them but explore them, enjoy them, and actually use them. Below are 10 that have stood the test of time.
This isn’t just rice with some masala and garnishes. This is an emotion. This is the regal biryani. While the word “biryani” itself is said to be from the Persian “birian,” meaning “fried before cooking,” and “birinj,” meaning rice, the dish has numerous origins. One of the most popular stories can be traced back to […]
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The majority of restaurants use a handi and/or aluminium vessels for biryani, such as the one here at Hyderabadi Zaiqa. | Advika Reddy
This isn’t just rice with some masala and garnishes. This is an emotion. This is the regal biryani. While the word “biryani” itself is said to be from the Persian “birian,” meaning “fried before cooking,” and “birinj,” meaning rice, the dish has numerous origins. One of the most popular stories can be traced back to the kitchen of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan who was the fifth Mughal emperor of India. When she visited the army barracks and saw the soldiers looking weak and undernourished, she asked the chef to make a dish with meat and rice for their balanced nutrition. And this very dish was spiced up and cooked over a wood fire.
In Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors, Lizzie Collingham writes that the modern-day biryani came from the Mughal empire’s royal kitchens, while historian Pushpesh Pant writes that biryani, which evolved in India, travelled with pilgrims and soldiers to Deccan in south India. Pratibha Karan in Biryani also writes that biryani originated from south India when varieties of pilaf were brought in by Arab traders.
Wherever the biryani came from, India has certainly embraced it. The subcontinent celebrates a wide variety of biryanis, with almost every state having its very own style and instilling a very deep passion for it in its people. And these very people have brought several such variations here, for the eaters of London.
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