London Fitzrovia Restaurant Guide

“Superb”, “authentic Keralan food and old-fashioned Indian service” are the hallmarks of this veteran, close to the Telecom Tower – and “the value is unbelievable, especially for central London”. “The food went through a down patch but has improved again” – “despite the somewhat odd recent renovation and updated menu”.

“Monica and David have nailed it here” – their Fitzrovia basement “ticks every box for a truly special night out in London”, starting with “the personal greeting in the beautiful, ground level bar area” before descending into the “lovely”, “bright” yet “romantic” dining room. Monica’s cuisine is “a dream” with “hints of the exotic that subtly differentiate the menu”; and is further bolstered by some “superb and unusual wine pairings”, not to mention “fantastic service”. As ever, “it seems inexplicable that it hasn’t been awarded a Michelin star, as it is way above the quality of many others that have been”.

“Truly extraordinary” – James Knappett and Sandia Chang’s gastronomic vision continues to blossom at their Fitzrovia 18-seater, which reopened in July 2021 after a major refurbishment. The reformatting included ditching the adjacent Bubbledogs concept, which they led with in 2012, and converting that space into a lounge and bar for diners at the main event: the chef’s table. It also included a not-insignificant price hike to £250 for up to 20 courses, which on opening included dishes such as Glazed Cornish Blue Lobster, Tahitian Vanilla Brown Butter, and Pickled Beach Roses. Sandia’s wine list now features some of the rarest grower champagnes (which she also sells online). The ratings are something of a guesstimate based on past performance and – the restaurant being closed leading up to the survey – rave meal kit reports.

Hailed as among “the best Neapolitan pizzerias in town”, this Ealing-based chain has made slow but steady progress since its launch by Pasquale Chionchio and Angelo Ambrosio in 2010, with offshoots in Fitzrovia, Fulham Broadway, Brentford’s Duke of London pub and most recently Islington, on the former site of Baba Boom in Upper Street. The Ealing branch has moved to a new address nearby – “stylish, but not as fun as the original” – making way for a new vegan pizzeria, Vergine Maria, on the St Mary’s Road site (see also).

“Our local and by far the best pub in Fitzrovia” – Guy Ritchie and David Beckham seem to have hit the target with the ‘country pub’ they opened three years ago, serving beer from the former’s Gritchie brewery and venison from his Wiltshire estate – “their own Angel Lore lager is fantastic”. The site has housed a pub since 1829, known as the Adams Arms and the Lukin within living memory, while “Alan McGee’s Creation Records started its infamous club the Living Room here in the 1980s”. A fire in June 2021 has temporarily closed the pub, which hopes to be open again by Christmas.

This ‘Philadelphia dive bar’ in Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, has certainly “got the American vibe”, with “US-style beer and bar food” giving a real taste of the City of Brotherly Love. Philly street food classics such as the hoagie and cheesesteak are on the menu – and “it’s not health food, that’s for sure”. Reporters are divided on the results – “defining the category” for fans, “pretty underwhelming” for sceptics. There’s now a second site at Westfield Stratford, complete with baseball batting cages, but a 2021 crowdfunding bid to raise £150,000 for a massive bar under the railway arches in Leake Street, Waterloo, struck out.

“This corner of Fitzrovia is a must-visit if you enjoy fine and very well-priced wine”, also accompanied by “superb French cooking”. Owner Mathieu Germond (former manager of Pied à Terre) is “a great host”, who provides “absolutely stellar service”. He named the venture after his grandparents’ village in the Loire Valley, and makes it “feel like a local restaurant even though it’s in central London”.

“Not just cheap and cheerful but good, cheap and cheerful” – “you can’t fault the pizza, thin-crust, well made to order, and tasty” at this veteran Goodge Street pizzeria, est. 1999, where a basic marinara costs just £3.95. There’s now a branch in Camden, as well as delivery-only outlets in Wood Green, Wandsworth and Croydon.

With its quality mix of Spanish and Italian tapas, this cosy bar/restaurant near Goodge Street was a foodie trailblazer when it opened in 2005. The buzz has moved on over the years, but it’s still a worthwhile, well-run venue with interesting food.

“A wonderful menu with a good choice of tapas to suit all tastes” again wins recommendations for this buzzy and good-value bar on Goodge Street.

‘A local restaurant that thinks big’ – this tightly packed Fitzrovia five-year-old inspires good vibes for its pan-Asian dishes, cocktails and saké.

The 25-seat terrace of this small Fitzrovia corner site – previously Bonnie Gull (RIP) – opened first at this April 2021 newcomer: the first spin-off from the well-known Brighton duo of the same name. The outside is actually a bigger space than the tightly packed 20-seat interior, open a month or so later. No survey feedback as yet, but Marina O’Loughlin from The Sunday Times gave its ‘topically brief’ menu (four choices for each course) from chef Jamie Halsall a thumbs-up.

“Assured and friendly service” is a particular plus at Will Lander and Daniel Morgenthau’s “low-key” but engaging corner site in Fitzrovia, whose “informal” but professional approach suits it to a simple business lunch but also to a “perfect, relaxed and unstuffy” meal with friends. There was the odd quibble about creeping prices this year, but practically all reports are of “inventive and surprising” cuisine that’s “always seasonal, unpretentious and utterly delicious”. Interesting wine options too (including reasonable corkage and the option to purchase and take home).

“The original Charlotte Street site is the best”, but, in fairness, all the branches are superb when it comes to Arjun Waney and Rainer Becker’s sleek Japanese-inspired group, where “a visit always feels like a treat: from the slick service to the buzzy atmosphere to the consistently good food”. Sushi and luxurious bites (for example black cod, yellowtail with ponzu and truffle oil), mostly from the robata grill, are the backbones of the menu. The odd report was slightly downbeat of late (“it was less good than normal, but to be fair they had just reopened post-lockdown with new staff”), but the dominant view remains that a trip is “always a lovely, fun experience” (and some regulars tip a stool at the counter as the best perches).

Chef Krishna Negi (who first made his name when he launched Tangawizi in Richmond in 2004) opened this Fitzrovian basement spot in October 2019, with a menu featuring ‘nano plates’ (small plates and sharing bowls) inspired by 1947’s partition of India. Some initial reviews on its cuisine have been very upbeat.

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”.