Maison Bab is a “modern kebab house” from friends Stephen Tozer (ex city) and Ed Brunet (ex Le Gavroche). Based in Covent Garden, opposite Temper, it’s a looker inside; tall ceiling, open kitchen and Tom Dixon-inspired copper light shades. I arrive a touch hungover which is handy as a kebab is the perfect fix. We start with a naan bread drenched in meat butter (£4.50). … Continue reading Maison Bab, Covent Garden
Dan Doherty made a name for himself as exec chef at Duck and Waffle; the food there was always rather bloody good. It was interesting then to see him leave the role and open his own pub in Marylebone. The Royal Oak is one of those pubs that’s perfect for a Sunday roast. It’s bright and airy with a relaxed vibe, service is chilled and … Continue reading The Royal Oak, Marylebone
It’s an exciting setup at Evelyn’s Table, the eleven-seat kitchen bar in the basement of The Blue Posts pub in between Soho and Leicester Square. You’d have no idea it was there. It was always going to be good though as the owners, Assaf Granit and Zoë and Layo Paskin, who also have The Palomar, The Barbary, Jacob and the Angel and now Coal Office … Continue reading Evelyn’s Table, The Blue Posts
Neptune is the restaurant from Brett Redman inside the recently opened, and rather stunning, Principal London. This guy knows how to run restaurants, owning Elliot’s in Borough Market and Jidori in Covent Garden and Dalston. This is his biggest opening yet and no expense has been spared on the fit out. There’s a salmon and gold colour scheme with plants a plenty. It’s a very … Continue reading Neptune, The Principal London
With the news that Peruvian restaurant LIMA has just opened in Dubai, it seemed fitting to return to their original London restaurant in Fitzrovia to see how it’s fairing. It’s held a Michelin star for over five years. [NB Lima lost its Michelin star in the 2018 Guide] Not much has changed in appearance since they first opened. There’s still a small dining room out … Continue reading LIMA, Fitzrovia
It’s that time of year again; the Glorious Twelfth means many a London restaurant menu features grouse in some form or another. In previous years I was treated to exquisite dishes by John Williams at The Ritz and Calum Franklin at Holborn Dining Room. This year it’s the turn of 45 Jermyn St. If you’re unfamiliar with the place, this is the restaurant attached to … Continue reading 45 Jermyn St.
Bancone is one of those new openings that has taken the food world by storm. Grace Dent – “casually orgasmic”, Jimi Famurewa – “outrageously good”, Timeout – “an Italian restaurant in Covent Garden serving fresh pasta.” Everyone seems to love the place. We pop in off the cuff before the cinema – a black and white Polish film called ‘Cold War’ which is brilliant by … Continue reading Bancone, Covent Garden
There are some restaurants that are always going to appeal to me and that’s usually somewhere serving meat. And lots of it. I’m also a sucker for a gorgeous, wood panelled dining room. Give me old over new anytime. So, it was a given Simpsons in The Strand would be my cup of tea. It’s been on 100 The Strand since 1828. The dining room … Continue reading Simpsons in The Strand
Cora Pearl is the second restaurant from the trio owners of Kitty Fishers in Mayfair. It was always going to be tricky when their talented chef left as he really put it on the map – that’s Tomos Parry by the way, who went on to open the brilliant BRAT. But it didn’t seem to affect business, they were still packed most nights and here’s … Continue reading Cora Pearl, Covent Garden
I was particularly excited to visit Roux at the Landau after a cracking meal at The Wigmore, the other restaurant, well, pub, actually, in the Langham hotel. Michel Roux Jr and his team look after the food in both. This one has just undergone a dashing makeover and the result is far less fussy than before. You can sit at the counter or in two … Continue reading Roux at The Landau
Ruya is a big, brash new restaurant which takes up a formerly disused space next to Corrigan’s off Park Lane. The first Rüya in Dubai has proved a hit so exec chef Colin Clague is hoping his dishes, inspired by the Anatolian peninsula, will prove just as popular. The menu is as vast as the dining room we’re sat in, of which there are three. … Continue reading Rüya, Mayfair
Bombay Bustle is an Indian restaurant which sits in the former two Michelin starred Hibiscus site in Mayfair. It’s a gorgeous space, made to look like a 1920’s train carriage and the result is quite glamorous. This is co founder Samyukta Nair’s second restaurant, owning Jamavar in Mayfair, another looker. At lunch, a South Indian Tiffin Box menu at £19 is available. A stack of … Continue reading Bombay Bustle, Mayfair
The team behind The Palomar and The Barbary have taken over The Blue Posts, working their magic on restoring this Soho pub, dating back to 1739, to its former glory. Now there’s a special occasion, 8 cover counter restaurant in the basement (Evelyn’s Table), a dark and sexy upstairs cocktail bar (The Mulwray) and a ground floor pub. Said ground floor pub has started serving … Continue reading The Blue Posts, Soho
Even with all the new openings coming out our ears, one of London’s prettiest dining rooms still remains Berners Tavern, a five star hotel on Berners Street just off Oxford Street. Ian Schrager is the designer and it’s got to be some of his finest work. The giant walls are filled with photos in varying shapes and sizes, some in gold leaf frames. The ceiling … Continue reading Berners Tavern, Fitzrovia
