Chef and co owner of Brat, Tomos Parry, earned his stripes head cheffing at Kitty Fisher’s in Mayfair. There he cooked meats on an open grill and it was marvellous. David Cameron even liked it. Tomos’s first standalone restaurant, BRAT, is above Smoking Goat in Shoreditch (the guys from SG have invested). It’s one of the prettier dining rooms I’ve been in of late; dark … Continue reading BRAT, Shoreditch
I loved the original Smoking Goat on Denmark Street in Soho. A small menu of Thai barbecue food and an even smaller dining room with vibes galore; it’s the sort of place you’re always guaranteed a good meal. Owner Ben Chapman then opens Kiln, also in Soho, which sees counter seats overlooking a kitchen full of claypots producing more Thai dishes all of which lush … Continue reading Smoking Goat, Shoreditch
Old Spitalfields Market has had a wee makeover (that’s the side with Taberna do Mercado and Bleecker) adding a load of new permanent food and drink stalls which is pretty exciting. If you’ve been to Barcelona it feels very La Boqueria. Breddos, Rök, Dumpling Shack, are a few of the familiar names you’ll see alongside newbies like Thousand Knives, Sood Family and Flank; this being … Continue reading Flank, Spitalfields
I first heard about Popolo (Italian for ‘people’) when it was given a Bib Gourmand in the 2018 Michelin Guide. Say what you want about the Michelin Twitter account but the guide has rarely let me down for solid restaurant recommendations. Their award coincided with an invite from the restaurant’s PR to dine there, so I accepted. Its a small space with a downstairs counter … Continue reading Popolo, Shoreditch
Homeslice is the third restaurant to open in the new Bloomberg building just round the corner from The Ned. It’s making the area quite a foodie spot with Caravan and Vinoteca already open while Bleecker, Koya Bar, an Indian pub concept from JKS Restaurants and a rumoured A. Wong are soon to follow. For those unfamiliar, Homeslice is a pizza restaurant by Mark Wogan, son … Continue reading Homeslice, The City
The food at Hotbox is probably best summed up by Timeout London – “meaty barbecue masterpieces”. I couldn’t agree more. The restaurant is run by husband and wife team Basit and Preeya Khagram-Nasim, who have invited us in to give their updated menu a whirl. The dining room is a simple space. There are long shared tables with benches meaning getting cosy with your fellow … Continue reading Hotbox, Commercial Street
Cub is collaboration between Ryan Chetiyawardana – he’s the cocktail bloke who’s bar, Dandelyan at the Mondrian, was recently listed no.2 in the World’s 50 Best Bars, and Doug McMaster, who’s made a name for himself in the Brighton food scene with his zero-waste restaurant Silo. I’ve certainly never been to a restaurant quite like Cub. We’re seated in a bright yellow booth (awkwardly close … Continue reading Cub, Hoxton
I don’t think London will ever reach peek fried chicken. Places like BIRD, Chick ‘n’ Sours, Chik’N, hell – even KFC ensure that people can get there fix of battered bird whenever they like. And it’s all lovely stuff. Coqfighter is the latest one to tick off my list. It’s on the first floor of BOXPARK, the shipping container village full of shopping/eating/drinking on Bethnal Green … Continue reading Coqfighter, BOXPARK Shoreditch
It’s hard not to gush about SMOKESTAK. Owner David Carter is a bloomin’ nice bloke and the things he and the team do to meat is something out of this world. We went when it first opened and fell in love, so we thought we’d return 10 months on to see how they’re doing. The place is always packed, so booking is advised. We’re seated … Continue reading SMOKESTAK, Shoredtich
It was Eater’s list of London’s Most Iconic Dishes that got me through the doors of Sweetings. This seafood restaurant has been at 39 Queen Victoria Street for over 100 years and has become a hit with old school city boys looking for a long and boozy lunch. Note: Sweetings is closed evenings and weekends. Included in Eater’s list was Sweetings’ scampi and bacon so … Continue reading Sweetings, The City
[UPDATE: Lutyens Grill is now open to the public] Of all the 312,476 restaurants inside The Ned (joke, there are just 9) only two are exclusively members and hotel guests only. There’s the roof with its stunning views over the City, not to mention its own swimming pool, and Lutyens Grill, which sits hidden behind a mirrored wall In the foyer. On our Thursday night … Continue reading Lutyens Grill, The Ned
Walking into Gordon Ramsay’s BSK, it’s hard to miss the city boys and gals. Though that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it certainly makes for a beautiful space. High ceilings, well lit, walls covered in wine. I’m here to try the allotment menu; a concept that celebrates the British summer and the goodies that come with it. Plants and herbs are growing around … Continue reading Bread Street Kitchen, One New Change
It’s the view from our table at SUSHISAMBA that is just so impressive. I’ve been up to a few of these restaurants in tall buildings now – Hutong, City Social, the Walkie Talkie – but this one, on the 38th floor of the Heron Tower, has got to be the best. Even the lift up there, on the outside of the building, gives me a … Continue reading SUSHISAMBA, 110 Bishopsgate
The chap behind Red Rooster, Marcus Samuelsson, has himself a hit over in Harlem, USA with his original restaurant specialising in fried chicken. He’s now searching for similar success over here, in newly opened hotel and members club, The Curtain, on Curtain Road, Shoreditch. We can only bag a 10:15pm reservation but being a Friday we think that pretty lucky. We’re taken down into the … Continue reading Red Rooster, Shoreditch
There’s a current surge in street food vendors getting permanent restaurants at the moment which is a wonderful thing. Take The Cheese Bar and SMOKESTAK as examples – some of the best new openings I’ve been to in yonks. Monty’s Deli is the next in line. Friends Mark Ogus and Owen Barratt successfully Crowdfunded the project, gone from a stall at Maltby Street Market to … Continue reading Monty’s Deli, Shoreditch
