The Berkeley hotel, in Knightsbridge, has transformed a former car park into The Garden at The Berkeley, a gorgeous outdoor restaurant. There are real trees strewn with fairy lights. Generously spaced tables, each topped with an automated hand sanitiser dispenser. There’s music pumping loudly enough to feel fun but so you can hear yourself talk with it. On a balmy Thursday evening it feels like … Continue reading The Garden at The Berkeley
I’ve been a fan of Adam Handling ever since watching him on MasterChef: The Professionals back in 2013. He’s a bloody good cook, even if the folk at Michelin are yet to acknowledge it. A recent meal at Handling’s restaurant, The Frog in Covent Garden, was superb. Continue reading Adam Handling at the Belmond Cadogan Hotel
London’s doing well for fancy Indian restaurants right now. There’s Chutney Mary, which has settled well into its new St James’s home, Gymkhana and Trishna from the always-reliable JKS group and recently-refurbished Tamarind in Mayfair. Another one for your posh popadom list is Kutir in Chelsea. It replaces Vineet Bhatia London, which I liked, with new owner Rohit Ghai keeping a similar dinner-at-someone’s-house vibe. The … Continue reading Kutir, Chelsea
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is one of those small chain restaurants where the quality hasn’t dropped since expanding. I’ve been to all of them now, from Copenhagen to Covent Garden, and for decent sushi, friendly service and a gorgeous room, you can’t beat it. Their newest opening is in Chelsea. It’s their biggest yet, sprawled over three floors. In the basement there’s a private dining room, … Continue reading Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, Chelsea
Kitchen W8, that Kensington neighbourhood restaurant which has held a Michelin star since 2011, is fresh from a smartly appointed refurb. The elegant dining room has had a lick of paint and some fresh linen and the result is splendid. We are however the youngest people in there by a country mile. It’s all white hair and people who don’t realise it’s their mobile ringing. … Continue reading Kitchen W8, Kensington
I’d never been to Min Jiang before but I’d heard plenty about the luscious views from the tenth floor dining room inside the Royal Garden Hotel. I was excited then to be invited in to try the dishes from a specially created menu to celebrate the restaurant’s 10th anniversary. The long and narrow dining room is fairly nondescript – which makes even more of “a … Continue reading Min Jiang, Kensington
The Cleveland Arms is a pub and restaurant at the end of a sleepy mews in Paddington. Other than Frontline Club, the area isn’t exactly famous for its food offering. But maybe things are on the up… This is a proper “posh” boozer. The ground floor sees a bar with stools and a snug out the back complete with open fire. Downstairs is the dining … Continue reading The Cleveland Arms, Paddington
This is the first opening in the UK for chef and restaurateur Roaya Saleh who already has a Villa Mama’s out in Bahrain. We visited her new one based just a few doors down from Phil Howard’s Elystan Street in Chelsea. There’s a Middle Eastern vibe about the place with rugs hanging on the stone washed walls and the clientele on our visit are equally … Continue reading Villa Mama’s, Chelsea
We had a truly memorable lunch at three Michelin starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay back in 2013. At the time, the kitchens were headed up by Clare Smyth, who has since gone on to open this little beauty, Core, in Notting Hill. It’s a confident operation, which you’d expect from someone with such a fine dining background. There are a staff galore, the sort who fold … Continue reading Core by Clare Smyth, Notting Hill
After dinner at recently opened Isabel in Mayfair, we love it so much, it makes us book Juan Santa Cruz‘s first restaurant in West London called Casa Cruz. And surprisingly, we manage to bag a table, albeit early, on a Friday night. We’re the first to arrive, after a 10 minute walk from Holland Park tube. The houses en route are something else – there’s … Continue reading Casa Cruz, Holland Park
Our first taste of Dominique Ansel’s sweet treats was at his cafe in New York. This chap worked for years as the exec pastry chef at two Michelin star Daniel in New York and then set up his own place which was made all the more famous by his invention the Cronut®. Mum, that’s a cross between a donut and a croissant, you’d love it. … Continue reading Dominique Ansel Bakery, Victoria
Hai Cenato, meaning ‘have you had dinner?’ in Italian, is the latest opening from chef turned fashion icon Jason Atherton (Sosharu, Social Wine & Tapas and City Social). It’s in a new development in Victoria called Nova which has got restaurants aplenty all housed in glass fronted new-builds right by the station. We have an interesting arrival; a huge door which we can’t see into … Continue reading Hai Cenato, Victoria
Phil Howard has had quite a career to date; his time running Mayfair stalwart The Square gained him 2 Michelin stars, neighbourhood favourite Kitchen W8 is always busy and he’s regularly a judge on BBC’s Great British Menu. He’s now opened Elystan Street in Chelsea on the former Tom Aikens site. Gone is the dark dining room with quote ridden walls. Instead it’s a bright … Continue reading Elystan Street, Chelsea
It’s not a place I often frequent to be honest, is Holland Park. I’m not sure I’ve actually ever been there before. But now Six Portland Road has opened, on 6 Portland Road, I think I’ll be planning many more a visit. It’s a restaurant from Oli Barker (front of house) who used to head up Terroirs near the Strand. Much like there, the menu … Continue reading Six Portland Road, Holland Park
The Goring hotel, made famous by Kate Middleton’s stay the night before her wedding day, is now home to a Michelin starred dining room. We’ve had the afternoon tea before in the bar which was quite wonderful. The hotel is all glamour, from the outside to the lobby. The dining room however has a little less grandeur and the clientele are north of 60; it’s … Continue reading The Goring, Belgravia
