Bloomsbury, International Restaurant Guide

You can book any time for the cafés at the Bloomsbury store and for certain sittings in Marylebone if you visit these well-known cheese emporia. Obviously the cheese is an attraction in itself, but there are other high-quality options.

“Innovative guest chefs from around the world”, but also with gigs from local stars (“went solo on James Knappett night – how can they provide that level of cooking for £95, when he’s normally £250+!”) have won a major reputation for Ed and Ollie Templeton’s one-of-a-kind revolving-residency venue. In August 2021, they announced they are on the move, closing their Marylebone site and taking over three Georgian townhouses on Fitzrovia’s Charlotte Street. The expansive site will also house Carousel’s own wine bar (open throughout the day), as well as a ten-seater incubator for new concepts and longer-term residencies, and separate spaces dedicated to private dining, workshops and events.

Chef Nico Simeone’s “amazing-value set-meal” concept, launched in Glasgow in 2017, has now opened in Fitzrovia and Canary Wharf, offering “a six-course tasting menu for only £37” – a “clever formula” with “well thought-out feasts that entice a bubbly audience”. “The menu changes every six weeks”, and is “themed around an experience” – ‘the circus’, ‘the Amalfi coast’ and ‘the chippie’ have all featured – with the cooking winning high praise for “variety, skill and quality”.

“Great French-style bistro” – “a bit of a squeeze” with “lots of hustle and bustle” – close to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The “interesting if slightly limited menu” is overshadowed by the “amazing wines” on a constantly changing list. Only 10 cases of each are bought at a time – hence the name (but you can also “order from the much lengthier list at their wine bar next door, which always includes interesting options at various price points, as well as classics”).

JKS Restaurants and the innovative Sethi family relaunched Arcade Food Theatre in April 2022. The new-look food hall features nine new kitchens, an independent restaurant on the mezzanine level, a counter dining experience as well as a standalone bar and outdoor dining.