⦿ Jay Rayner of the Guardian reviewed Radici, the new Islington Italian from Francesco Mazzei of Sartoria in Mayfair and, before that, L’Anima in the City. “Taglierini, fagioli and pancetta. That’s ribbons of a thin tagliatelle-style pasta, white beans and bacon, in a dense, starchy broth of such intensity and such conviction, you could be forgiven for […]

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Michel Roux Jr, from the cooking dynasty that has personified French cuisine in Britain for half a century, is to oversee an establishment serving traditional English food. The Wigmore bar, in Regent Street’s grand Langham hotel, will offer dishes inspired by the English pub and tavern, such as raised veal and ham pie and devilled lamb’s kidneys – although diners will […]

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⦿ Jay Rayner of The Observer reviewed Claude Bosi at Bibendum, welcoming the former Hibiscus head honcho’s arrival at Sir Terence Conran’s light-filled 1987 classic. “What emerges is Bibendum redux, a restaurant with a profound understanding of the simple virtues; of a classical repertoire which is robust enough to take a little refinement.” “The starters list is full […]

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The Duck & Waffle 24-hour high-rise restaurant in the City is launching a more casual spin-off, Duck & Waffle Local, in the new St James’s Market development behind Piccadilly Circus on May 3. The new branch is designed to be “fast and accessible”, with customers ordering at a counter overlooking the kitchen before being shown […]

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Hot New York chef Marcus Samuelsson is bringing his Scandified soulfood joint Red Rooster to London with a double opening in May. Red Rooster Shoreditch will be in The Curtain hotel and members’s club, with the adjoining Rooster Taqueria serving Mexican-inspired breakfasts, tacos and cocktails. Born in Ethiopia, Samuelsson was adopted by a Swedish family and grew up […]

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Ollie Dabbous has closed Barnyard, his casual dining restaurant in Fitzrovia, ahead the major shake-up he is planning with his business partner Oskar Kinberg (left in picture). This follows the announcement that their flagship fine-dining restaurant, Dabbous, will shut up shop this summer in preparation for what will be a “major undertaking” under a new […]

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High-rise dining in London has another venue with the opening of Bokan, on the 37th floor of the new Novotel at Canary Wharf. The cooking is modern European with a distinctly French slant. The open-plan kitchen is run by Aurélie Altemaire, formerly head chef at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in London, assisted by former Robuchon […]

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A couple who met in the kitchen at St John are opening their first restaurant, Sparrow, in Lewisham at the end of March. Terry Blake and Yohini Nandakumar say they will use seasonal British meat and vegetables and cook their favourite dishes – which gives them a pretty broad canvas. Between them they have notched up experience at Bao, […]

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Brighton grill specialist The Coal Shed is to open a branch in London at the new One Tower Bridge development on the south bank of the Thames later this year. It will be the first foray into the capital for restaurateur Raz Helatat, six years after he launched the original Coal Shed – described by this year’s […]

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