East London, Restaurant Review

The Ivy Asia, St Paul’s

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

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Central London, Restaurant Review

Bellamy’s, Mayfair

You’ll likely know Bellamy’s as the Queen’s favourite restaurant – she’s famously visited on a few occasions. This Bruton Place stalwart (just down the road from The Guinea Grill) is celebrating its 15th Birthday. Owner, Gavin Rankin, flung open the doors after working as MD at Annabel’s Group, so he’s a well connected chap. It’s a rather understated affair from the room to the menu … Continue reading Bellamy’s, Mayfair

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Adam Handling, Fine Dining, Restaurant Review, Restaurants in hotels, West London

Adam Handling at the Belmond Cadogan Hotel

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

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North London, Restaurant Review, Restaurants in hotels

Isla at The Standard, London

London is full of exciting new hotel openings right now. You’ve got the Hoxton Southwark, Mama Shelter in Shoreditch, The Biltmore in Mayfair and The Stratford in, er, Stratford. Head over to King’s Cross and you’ll find the first UK outpost from The Standard. It takes over the old Camden Town Hall right opposite King’s Cross station. A little less glamorous than its Downtown LA, … Continue reading Isla at The Standard, London

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Hotel Review, Outside London, Soho House

Mollie’s Motel and Diner

Soho House can do no wrong in my eyes. From the recently refurbished original Soho House to the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road to White City House to The Ned – I love them all and I’m not even a member! Here, we have their latest opening, a roadside motel and diner by the name of Mollie’s. It sits next to the BP Garage on … Continue reading Mollie’s Motel and Diner

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Abroad, Fun things to do

Ducasse sur Seine, Paris

What is the logical next step for a chef and restaurateur who has dominated the culinary scene in, arguably, the most culinary destination in the world? A river boat, that’s what. Ducasse sur Seine sits on the famous Parisian river directly below the Eiffel Tower and is unlike any river boat restaurant you may have been on before. It’s powered 100% by electricity, the food, … Continue reading Ducasse sur Seine, Paris

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3 Star Michelin, Abroad, Restaurant Review, World’s 50 Best

Osteria Francescana, Modena

I’ve been working front of house for nearly a year now. I’ve written about eating in restaurants for yonks but never before considered the difficulty involved in the day to day running of one. It’s been a steep and fascinating learning curve. Shortly after employing me, Oisín Rogers, general manager of the Guinea Grill, gave me Danny Meyer’s Setting the Table. In this book the … Continue reading Osteria Francescana, Modena

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Fun things to do, Pop ups

Dining Under the Stars with Dom Pérignon

Based in the Ascot countryside, which is reassuringly close to London, the setting for Coworth Park is a rather stunning one. Once checked in we go for a walk around the grounds, all 240 acres of them. Wildflower meadows unlike anything I’ve seen before lead out onto Polo fields as far as the eye can see. A giant helicopter lands nearby, its owners visiting for … Continue reading Dining Under the Stars with Dom Pérignon

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East London, Glitz 'n' Glamour, Restaurant Review

Bob Bob Cité

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

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1 Star Michelin, Central London, Restaurant Review

Hakkasan Hanway Place

This is the original Hakkasan, based, you guessed it, in Hanway Place, which is a piddle-riddled alley just behind Tottenham Court Road. The Hakkasan restaurant empire has grown to 12 restaurants worldwide but this one has been here since 2001. On one of the hottest days of the year, there is no finer place to have lunch than in Hakkasan’s air conditioned basement. Outside it’s … Continue reading Hakkasan Hanway Place

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Abroad, Restaurant Review

Le Meurice – Alain Ducasse, Paris

Le Meurice, part of the Dorchester Collection, is just a short walk from the Louvre museum in Paris. The hotel houses a two Michelin starred restaurant by Alain Ducasse in one of the most beautiful and opulent dining rooms I’ve ever encountered. It is simply stunning. It’s a jacket and ‘tie preferred’ kind of place yet it doesn’t feel stuffy; service is friendly and relaxed … Continue reading Le Meurice – Alain Ducasse, Paris

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Restaurant Review, West London

Kutir, Chelsea

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

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