As chilly December looms on the horizon and we frantically dive in and out of the bustling shops for Christmas gifts, take a breather. Perhaps it is time to warm yourself up with a hearty meal in a hot new London restaurant. We’ve picked five of the best new restaurants which you should visit. Browse our shortened reviews below, then click through to read more on each and book a table.
Berenjak, Soho (featured image)
Our verdict: This new reasonably priced Iranian restaurant is by Kian Samyani (former founder of Gymkhana) who was inspired by the kebab joints of Tehran. Despite this, it feels like a middle eastern spiritual successor to backers JHS's Sri Lankan restaurant Hoppers. Share half a dozen small plates before tucking into a kebab at this snug Aladdin's cave of a restaurant.
Our menu pick: The Kabab torki: mixed meat shawarma atop a bed of fries with homemade chilli and garlic sauce.
Where: 27 Romilly Street, W1D 5AL
Casa Pastor, King’s Cross
Our verdict: Part of the restaurant enclave at Coal Drops Yard, Casa Pastor is one of three sites that the Hart bothers have opened here, along with The Drop and Barrafina. Expect a tightly-packed interior with an impressive tree decorated with lights that dominates the room, before dining on Mexican dishes and drinking avocado and passionfruit Margaritas.
Our menu pick: The veggie option of plump mushrooms paired with caramelised onion and wrapped in a crisp sheet of fried queso Oaxaca cheese.
Where: Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4AB
Hicce, King’s Cross
Our verdict: This is the first solo venture by former head chef of Murano, Pip Lacey. Those with beady eyes may realise when they visit that they are in fact inside luxury lifestyle store Wolf & Badger, due to the Scandinavian-style furniture. When it comes to the food, Hicce offers healthy international dishes that bring something genuinely new to London's dining scene.
Our menu pick: Pork rillettes, enjoyed with some of the terrific breads on offer.
Where: Hicce x Wolf & Badger, Unit 102, Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4DQ
Onima, Mayfair
Our verdict: This five-storey members club in Mayfair is the brainchild of Alexandros Andrianpoulos who has plenty of experience with the restaurant scene in Mykonos. The romantic ground floor restaurant is open to the public offering a Disney-esque vision of an exclusive central London hot spot. Like Mykonos, Onima’s food is a mix of Mediterranean dishes with Asian influence.
Our menu pick: The reconstructed lemon tart, although the hummus with pitta is a surprising second.
Where: 1-3 Avery Row, Mayfair, W1K 4AJ
Sushisamba, Covent Garden
Our verdict: This is the second branch of international brand Sushisamba to open in London, and while it does not have the view of the Liverpool Street debut, it does have an impressive ‘living’ ceiling of foliage. Sushi is of course one of the main feature of the menu here, although the cocktails and upmarket Champagnes may well also appeal to its target audience.
Our menu pick: The El Topo, a tightly-packed sushi roll layered with strips of salmon, melted mozzarella, jalapeños and crispy shallots.
Where: Opera Terrace, The Piazza, WC2E 8RF