Big Mamma Group is a collection of fun, Italian restaurants across Paris and Lilles, which have proved rather popular. Their latest venture is Gloria, a trattoria in Shoreditch, based on 1970s Capri. I like it already. Inside it’s stunning with something pretty at every turn. We sink into the thousands of cushions in our booth, admiring the specially designed crockery, from the candle holder to … Continue reading Gloria, Shoreditch
This is the new restaurant from Mr. Hospitality himself, Richard Corrigan, fellow Irishman and bloody-nice-bloke, John Nugent, and Tony Gibney, taking over the old Nuala site just off Old Street roundabout. The gorgeous basement bar remains, which serves a mighty-fine Guinness, while the ground floor dining room has the addition of an oyster bar, where we perch while watching the open fire cooking. It’s all … Continue reading Daffodil Mulligan, Old Street
This is the first Ivy Asia in London, one has been a hit in Manchester for a while now. You’d be right to assume Richard Caring (Sexy Fish, Annabel’s, Scott’s, 34 etc) plans to roll these out like the rest of his Ivy branded restaurants. UK domination, it certainly is. Best of all here is the design. There’s nowhere quite like it. Just look at … Continue reading The Ivy Asia, St Paul’s
If you’re not from round these parts, the walk to Hackney Church Brew Co is a little hairy. Down an alley, under a railway arch, past a group of men drinking vodka and there you’ll find it. Hackney Church Brew Co is a community brew house, basically a bar, and a noisy one at that. Out the back you’ll find a chap called Elliot Cunningham, … Continue reading Lagom, Hackney Church Brew Co
The pairing for this new restaurant inside London’s Cheesegrater, or Leadenhall Building as it’s officially known, is my dream team. It brings together the restaurateur behind Bob Bob Ricard; that ultra glitz, all-booth Soho stalwart, and Eric Chavot, whose French food I fell in love with at the now-closed Brasserie Chavot. Lovers of Bob Bob’s pomp will wet their undies when they step inside this … Continue reading Bob Bob Cité
Followers of my Instagram know I’m partial to a burger. Many a time have I visited Burger & Beyond’s Camden Market stall in the pissing rain just to eat their aged beef patties topped with American cheeses and smokey mayo. Fabu news it was when I heard owners Tom and Craig, a handsome pair, were opening their first restaurant in Shoreditch, just opposite the Ace … Continue reading Burger & Beyond, Shoreditch
You’ll get lost finding LINO. We sure did. This new restaurant and bar is hidden round the back of Smithfield Market in an old Lino warehouse in a maze of new developments which aren’t quite finished. It’s worth finding though. It’s warehouse chic but there’s an authenticity about it. Taking up the centre of this huge, lofty space is a clover leaf-shaped bar. The music … Continue reading LINO, Smithfield Market
Crispin is a café and restaurant in a beautifully angular building just next to Spitalfields Market. The guys who opened it also own Lundenwic coffee shop on Aldwych and Borough Market scotch egg stall, Scotchtails. The acute angle-vibes continue inside which give you plenty to look at. Bags of coffee beans sit on the steel rafters to make use of any available space and there … Continue reading Crispin, Spitalfields
The much loved A.Wong, now Michelin-starred, has just got itself a sister restaurant, over in Bloomberg Arcade. It joins a whole host of brilliant spots to eat: Koya, Brigadiers, Homeslice and the best burger in London: Bleecker. Kym’s specialises in Chinese roast meats and is backed by Chris Miller of White Rabbit Fund. You may recognise that chap from BBC Two’s Million Pound Menu. It’s … Continue reading Kym’s, Bloomberg Arcade
Blacklock is the restaurant I recommend the most. If you love meat (they source theirs from Philip Warren in Cornwall) then there are few better places to indulge in London. The fact they serve decent cocktails in proper glasses for just a fiver is an added bonus. I was delighted then to hear of a third Blacklock – this time in Shoreditch. The space feels … Continue reading Blacklock, Shoreditch
Owner of Brunswick House Jackson Boxer and its exec chef Andrew Clarke have opened their first joint venture, the big and beautiful St Leonards in Shoreditch. There are two options when visiting; the main dining room, which subtly looks onto an open grill with meats hanging above big flames and a raw seafood bar, OR, the bar, which has a separate menu. With both you’re … Continue reading St Leonards, Shoreditch
Nobu is that big, shiny sushi brand backed by Robert De Niro. They had two restaurants; one near Park Lane, one on Berkeley Street. Both are always busy. Good times. A strange choice then for Nobu to open a hotel in Shoreditch, right opposite The Hoxton. It’s certainly a looker though. At one end of the building the hotel’s balconies jut out in a higgledy-piggledy … Continue reading Nobu Shoreditch
Sitting pretty in the former 8 Hoxton Square site, this is the second Cocotte, an ethically sourced rotisserie chicken restaurant, their first being in Notting Hill. We start with chicken wings; barbecue and spicy flavoured (£9 each) and crudités with a herby dip and yoghurt sauce (£8). It’s the perfect food for the muggy weather and their outside terrace. The doors between it and the … Continue reading Cocotte, Shoreditch
Tom Oldroyd, of Oldroyd in Islington fame, has taken over what was once The Richmond pub in Hackney. It’s now The Duke of Richmond and it’s a beauty to say the least. Continue reading The Duke of Richmond, Hackney
Hoi Polloi is the restaurant which takes up a large part of the Ace Hotel’s ground floor. It’s big and beautiful and full of East London hipsters. Seriously. We walk through the hotel’s lobby at 6pm and not a single person is without a MacBook. You can also enter the wood-panelled canteen-style dining room through a florist shop which is rather charming. We start with … Continue reading Hoi Polloi, Shoreditch
