London Camden Restaurant Guide

“An experience as well as amazing food!” – the Hart Bros’ spring 2019 newcomer, in Coal Drops Yard, occupies a big, glam terrace, overlooking Regent’s Canal: “it’s outside only, partially protected from the rain, but with no protection from any wind”. Each table has its own DIY tabletop mini-grill (the eponymous ‘parrillan’): “you grill your own partially-prepared vegetables, meats and fish”; and there’s also a selection of ‘para picar’ (Spanish nibbles). All early feedback says the formula stacks up well, but one or two diners feel the bill ends up a tad pricey.

“Quality Italian beefsteaks” – most notably from the Piedmontese Fassone breed – are showcased in style at Genovese owner, Roberto Costa’s, “unique” steakhouse group, where at each branch you “enter through the butcher’s shop” and “you can tell the staff which cut you want”. “The well-hung rump steak is absolutely delicious” and “a great selection of Italian wines” helps make it the perfect place to kill off an evening.

“Andy Murray is a regular visitor (to the Wimbledon branch), and with good reason”, report fans of this “upmarket” group. Like Sir Andy, “great service” is a particular strength, while “the food is pretty authentic” too. Now an international operation, the first of its six London venues opened in 1990.

“Truly amazing tastes recommended for both vegans and non-vegans!” help win high scores for this year-old, Camden Town offshoot of the UK’s first vegan pizzeria (which first hit Brighton in 2015). Bases include sourdough, hemp and gluten-free options: “it’s the best pizza I’ve had in a very long time!”. Top Tip – kids under 10 get a free pizza when eating with their parents.

“Distressed in all the right places” – Guy Ritchie and David Beckham have channeled their inner Marie Antoinette at this spring 2019 newcomer – a Fitzrovia boozer transformed into their conception of a perfect country pub, and serving beers from Gritchie (Guy’s brewery). “The food here is so much better than it needs to be, with a short, ideal menu” of incongruously-polished small plates; and “with the Sunday menu augmented by a roast”. “Attentive staff and a room full of happy punters” complete the idyll.

“Easily missed” – “tucked away” in “an unfashionable part of Covent Garden” near Seven Dials – Prabir Kumar Chattopadhyay and Biswajit Deb Das’s year-old “little gem” graduated “from a pop-up to provide homecooking in an unpretentious canteen-style outlet”. “It showcases a range of interesting regional Indian dishes” including “specialities from Calcutta and Bengal” and fans say it’s “a must-visit”. Top Tip – “The lunchtime bento box is good value and offers a good choice.”

“My partner’s a die-hard meat eater, but still thinks this place is the bee’s knees!” – this extremely popular vegetarian chain has built on three decades of popularity for the “always-super-busy” (no bookings) Soho original, with branches in Camden Town, Dalston and King’s Cross all opened in the last few years. All outlets get a good rep in the survey, with their “great choice” of “very tasty, veggie, comfort food”.