There’s a lot going on! Here’s our round up of current restaurant, bar, and industry news.
News
Just announced, the ever-expanding group that owns The Pelican, The Hero, The Fat Badger and The Bull are launching The Hart pub next to Chiltern; these guys know what they’re doing and are, seemingly, unstoppable. Rita’s has had a summer terrace gloss up, and it’s looking like exactly where you want to be on a spring afternoon.
Just Opened
Town by Stevie Parle (in collaboration with Jonathan Downey – he’s baaaaaaack), has just opened on Drury Lane; sneak peek here. The interiors look very grown-up JD (with Milk and Honey and East Rooms vibes, but even more sultry), and the restaurant had us at fried sage leaves (Stevie’s cooking, swoon). Eel Sushi Bar by The Notting Hill Fish Shop crew has just opened across the street from their older sibling, Dorian. It’s a 10- to 16-seat à la carte sushi bar on soft launch until the end of May (50% off food). Pyro in Borough is – unsurprisingly – all about cooking over fire, and has the ex-Hide chef Yiannis Mexis leading the kitchen, with cocktails by Ana Reznik from A Bar with Shapes for a Name. Duchy is a new restaurant in the old Leroy site in Shoreditch (we love that site), by a duo who met when they both worked there in 2021. The menu will combine head chef Simon Shand’s French training with the game, pasta, and antipasto of Northern Italy. Liberty – finally! – has a standalone restaurant, Seventy Five at Liberty, with a head chef who was formerly at Fera at Claridge’s. Bubala has opened at King’s Cross, this time with a terrace; Setlist is a new riverside bar and venue at Somerset House (accessed by the River Terrace South Side); and P.P.S– the salad brand that opened LFW with a banquet style show merging fashion and food – is serving elevated salads and signature bowls – just off Old Street.
Shoot Offs from Big Brands
The all-day Permit Room Portobello by Dishoom has just opened in W11, and it looks great, with rooms to come. Kricket has also just opened a Kafé next to their restaurant and bar on Charlotte Road in Shoreditch.
Trend
Luxe everything! For the category ‘things you never knew you needed elevated until now’, we include Mayfair’s new artisanal patisserie, Naya, the luxe sando bar by The Aubrey and the souped-up sorbet – Champagne Sgroppino – at Oriole.
Michelin Fast Food in Borough
There are haute burgers at Heard from chef Jordan Bailey, who worked at various Michelins, and pizza by the Michelin-starred chef Tom Kemble at Spring Street (looks incredible; there’s been a void there ever since ASAP Pizza left).
Away
Global culinary experience creators We Are Ona have a stunning pop up serving lunch (six courses) and dinner (eight courses) in NYC until 15 May. Roka is opening a restaurant and a new concept, Roka by the Beach at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum; and a vinyl bar has opened at historic Cannes Hôtel Martinez, just in time for the film festival, which starts today (we’re hoping big names arrive half naked).
Pop Up and Events
The Berkeley’s rooftop is turning into Capri in the City this summer, with spritzes, pizzas and sunset views; Jikoni’s in residence at Fortnum’s until 18 May with cooking, events, experiences, and they even co-designed one of Fortnum’s windows; the next QV & Friends: The Wine Bar Four looks like an incredible night that brings together four of London’s top wine spots – 40 Maltby Street, Cadet, Camille and Planque – for a collaborative dinner (tickets here). Quality Wines are launching a new Sunday lunch series with guest chef friends – it’s a monthly all-afternoon affair, which sounds like our kind of lunch! The participating chefs, with influences ranging from Louisiana to West Africa, Puglia, Tunisia and more, will make for interesting collaborative menus.
Back to School
Also monthly, on the last Sunday of every month: the Park Hyatt River Thames’ Cantonese restaurant, Yú Gé, is running a dim sum masterclass where you will learn (in a hands-on way), tour, and then dine with Chinese wine. The next session is 25 May; book here.
Coming Soon
News just in that the Estelle group are opening a member’s club in Notting Hill this autumn called Celeste; this will be their third property, joining Maison Estelle and Estelle Manor. Also in Notting Hill (on All Saints Road), Sino, by the same team that recently opened Tatar Bunar, is their second contemporary Ukrainian restaurant – they too have Ana Reznik from A Bar with Shapes for a Name to head up the cocktail menu. And lastly, Mareida will be a new Chilean restaurant and wine bar coming to Great Portland Street; we can’t wait!
