The Best New Restaurants To Book This August
Arcade Food Theatre, Tottenham Court Road
Once a central London bus stop, Arcade Food Theatre is an impressive 12,500sq ft, Grade II-listed location filled with seven independent kitchens (from London stalwarts Lina Stores, Casa Do Frango, Chotto Matte, Oklava, Flat Iron, TaTa Eatery and the Harts Group), a coffee and bakery counter, three bars, an outdoor terrace and The Loft, an incubation-focused mezzanine kitchen space available for private hire. Inspired by food markets from around the world, this is an all-day and all-night space where guests can use the venue as they like. Large groups can take over one of the banquet-style tables, while those hitting a deadline can plug into one of many discreet power supplies and work away uninterrupted – it’s as much about groups as it is solo diners. We recommend going as a gang based purely on greed: trust us, you’ll want to try everything. Each of the restaurants offer counter-top seating if you choose to dine at just one spot, otherwise guests can order from multiple sites, leave their phone number, and collect when their dishes are ready. When it comes to drinks, a central bar serves up interesting cocktails (we enjoyed the paprika-tinged ‘Japanese Highball’), craft beer, cocktails on tap and a decent selection of wine.
Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road, WC1A 1DD
Visit Arcade-London.com
Eggslut, Notting Hill
Already one of the most popular casual dining destinations in California, high-end egg concept Eggslut has thrown open the doors at a prime spot on Portobello Road. This first UK site serves Eggslut’s fresh made-to-order eggs using the highest-quality locally-sourced ingredients, such as cage-free Clarence Court eggs and Bread Ahead dough. We like the sound of ‘The Fairfax’ (a sandwich made from soft scrambled eggs and cheese, served in a brioche bun) and ‘The Slut’ (a poached egg on top of a smooth potato puree, poached in a glass jar and served with baguette slices). For those after a full-on lunch experience, we recommend the cheeseburger, which comes with a ground angus beef patty, cage-free over-medium egg, caramelised onions, bread and butter pickles, cheddar cheese, and ‘dijonnaise’, all served in a warm brioche bun. Delicious.
185 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 2ED
Visit Eggslut.com
Isla, King’s Cross
The former Camden Town Hall Annex in King’s Cross has been restored to house The Standard’s first property outside America. The modernist hotel has 266 bedrooms and two restaurants by Adam Rawson, former Chef of the Year at the Young British Foodies awards. Double Standard offers lunch, happy-hours and casual drinking and dining, while Isla is the cornerstone of Rawson’s culinary offering at the hotel. Inspired by Britain’s island geography, Isla focuses on coastal cuisine and seasonal British produce accompanied by a selection of minimal intervention wines. Menu highlights include fowey mussels with coastal herbs and seaweed cream and turbot with sea aster and wild fennel. The striking tenth-floor restaurant is decorated with an abundance of foliage and is painted in bold shades of blues and reds. A stylish, outside space comes with retractable awning – perfect for pre-dinner drinks.
10 Argyle St, King’s Cross, WC1H 8EG
Visit IslaLondon.com
Mama Fuego, Greenwich Peninsular
Mama Fuego is a 70s-inspired all-day drinking and dining venue located on the river. The restaurant forms part of the newly created Greenwich Peninsula neighbourhood right beside The Tide, an elevated walkway and garden designed by the creators of the NYC High Line, which features a running track and sculpture walk showcasing works by the likes of Damien Hirst. The 70-seat dining room serves a new take on Australian-style food, with a focus on organic produce and a relaxed, buzzing atmosphere. An open kitchen allows guests to interact with the team of chefs and the rooms are only divided by a stone fireplace. The dining room houses a hydroponic cress and edible flower farm, used by the chefs, bakers and bartenders in their daily dishes. Situated on the second-floor mezzanine level, the bakery is an open space where guests can watch as Mama Fuego’s bakers create patisserie, cakes, breads and pasta, all of which are available to purchase to take away.
Unit 5, 69-72 Olympian Way, Greenwich, SE10 0NE
Visit MamaFuego.com
The KPH, Ladbroke Grove
This month saw the re-opening of Ladbroke Grove pub The KPH (formerly the Kensington Park Hotel) which has been extensively restored following its closure in 2017. The new opening sits within Harcourt Inns, the independently-owned portfolio founded by James McCulloch, who has set about saving a number of iconic neighbourhood pubs – such as The Coach in Clerkenwell and The Hero of Maida – from residential redevelopment. Reopening as a ground floor pub with a first-floor dining room, The KPH has been reinvigorated with menus from group chef-director Henry Harris, who has appointed rising star Ruairidh Summers (previously of St John) as head chef. The menu offers a contemporary approach with influences from the Montreal food scene: highlights include octopus carpaccio with red gem and pistachio; coco bean salad with ricotta and fine herbs; guinea fowl with hispi and Alsace bacon; and crème caramel. The drink offering is as considered as the food, featuring 12 draft beers and three cask ales, as well as old and new world wines and simple classic cocktails.
139 Ladbroke Grove, W10 6HJ
Visit TheKPH.co.uk
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