Cornus

New yet familiar 

 

Seabass tartare, oyster cream, green apple and shiso

London is a city that never sleeps, and its food scene is no exception. The recent addition to its vibrant culinary map is Cornus. This contemporary European restaurant is already making waves, by the same group of people behind the much-loved French restaurant Medlar. Cornus’s menu is where the restaurant truly shines. It champions British ingredients while incorporating global influences. The dishes are familiar yet inventive, offering a fresh take on traditional British fare. The executive chef of Cornus is Gary Foulkes, who came from Michelin-starred Angler, and I am a massive fan of its seafood-focused menu.

The Ledbury

3 stars champion, at last!

Trout, raspberry, wasabi

The Ledbury, led by chef-owner Brett Graham, has established itself as a beacon of culinary excellence in London. The restaurant's philosophy is rooted in the use of the finest seasonal ingredients, with a focus on world-class yet relaxing service. Every dish is a testament to the creativity and precision that landed The Ledbury a third-Michelin-star in 2024 and became the No. 1 in 'UK's 50 Best Restaurants' from the trade media Restaurant magazine. I am a super fan and have been a regular, but the recent 24th visit is the first time since it became a 3-star venue.

Ikoyi

Impactful exotic flavours

mackerel, caviar and beetroot

Even since it first opened in 2017, Ikoyi has become a highly regarded fine dining restaurant with its unusual approach, blending African flavours along with an Asian touch with modern European techniques. It relocated from St James to the Strand in 2022 to a much bigger space with well spread out tables, and became a tasting menu only restaurant and soon it landed itself a second Michelin star. I never got the chance to experience what the buzz is all about so it is about time for me to set things right and give it a go.

Ibai

 Basque grill don

Grilled red prawns

London is always flooded with new restaurants opening, but sadly many have been poor and only a handful have impressed me over the last few years. The Basque-themed grill house Ibai is one of those. Open in the early summer of 2024, it has quickly become my opening of the year with its top-notch food offering. The menu is focused on simplicity and seasonal ingredients, a hallmark of Basque cuisine. Ibai prides itself on sourcing fresh, high-quality produce, much of which is imported from Spain to ensure authenticity. The result? A menu that offers bold, rich flavors with each dish showcasing the elegance of understated cooking. The below covered my 4th and 5th visits.

Donostia

The magic of Basque cuisine in London 

Iberico croquettes and crab pintxos

In the bustling neighborhood of Marylebone, a quiet gem awaits food lovers seeking a taste of northern Spain. Donostia, named after the Basque city of San Sebastián, is a sleek yet intimate restaurant that brings the flavors of Spain’s Basque Country right to the heart of London. Basque cuisine is renowned for its simplicity, yet it manages to be hearty and flavorful. The team at Donostia ensures that every dish retains the essence of Basque cuisine, with a local adaptation to make it more welcoming for the British palate.

Kima

 Fin to gill

Raw seabass in lemon and olive oil

Kima is a one-of-a-kind seafood restaurant that does something outside the box. It transports diners from the bustling city to the serene shores of the Mediterranean, where the fresh sea breeze mingles with the scent of fresh seafood. This elegant Greek seafood restaurant offers a contemporary dining experience, blending traditional flavours with modern culinary artistry. It has a fresh daily catch counter load with top quality fish, you would find wild seabass, and seabream as well as more rare fishes such as grouper and madai, and Kima has a unique way of serving fish.

Quality Chop House

Great British Meat Temple

Sunday lunch feast

Quality Chop House is an iconic restaurant that effortlessly blends history with modern culinary innovation. I always head back once in a while as at the heart of the Quality Chop House experience is its dedication to top-notch, fine-quality ingredients. The menu regularly features cuts from lesser-known parts of the animal, championing nose-to-tail dining, such as fish head and chicken liver. The restaurant prides itself on showcasing the finest British meats with simple old-school preparation techniques, with cast iron pans, a load of butter, and an open fire.

Hakkasan Hanway Place

Classic revisit

Peking duck

Tucked away on Hanway Place, Hakkasan might seem unassuming from the outside, but once you step inside, it reveals an ultra-modern and sleek atmosphere. The dark, moody lighting, beautifully carved wooden screens, and a mix of luxurious furnishings create an intimate setting. The menu is a carefully curated selection of modern Cantonese dishes that honor tradition while introducing innovative twists. I have been to Hakkasan a few times in the past and I found their strength is their signature dishes that bas been on the menu since they opened more than 20 years ago.

Niju

Japanese reboot 

Half Cobb Farm chicken ‘katsu’, shredded cabbage, tonkatsu

Nestled in the heart of Mayfair where the short-lived 20 Barkery used to be, Niji is a sophisticated Japanese restaurant that effortlessly blends tradition with modernity. Oversee my master sushi chef Endo San, the menu at Niji is a testament to the art of Japanese cuisine, featuring a range of traditional dishes with a contemporary European twist. While its press release mentions it has a focus on Japanese home cooking, I doubt an average Japanese household would cook lobster, wagyu, and turbot regularly. Over my 2 visits within the space of a week, I managed to try out a large selection of its menu.

Oma

A not-so-Greek Greek restaurant 

Txuleta sirloin, chimichurri and tomato salad

Nestled in the vibrant heart of London Bridge, Oma offers an inviting escape into the warm embrace of Greek cuisine with a creative take from chef-owner David Carter, who is also the mastermind behind the much-loved Smokstak and Manteca. While it markets itself as a Greek restaurant, you will find many not-so-Greek items on the menu. From Spanish steak to red prawns. The open kitchen of Oma adds a dynamic element, allowing diners to witness the culinary magic unfold. For my second visit, I opted for some new dishes that just launched for Autumn.

Lita Marylebone

High end stylish Mediterranean grill 

Baked lobster and cuttlefish rice

This is my second visit to Lita, the Mediterranean-themed grill house in Marylebone, which really impressed me with its appealing menu with a focus on Spanish and Italian cuisine. I am a fan of this stylish eatery which offers a refreshing escape from the city’s fast pace. The space feels intimate but not cramped, making it perfect for both casual get-togethers and special occasions.  While the price tag is fine dining level and just as expensive as many 1 Michelin-starred outlets in London, the cooking is high class and uses a lot of top-level ingredients, such as Galician rib steak and Cantabrian anchovies.

Lurra

 Basque cuisine in London

Galician octopus

Basque cuisine is perhaps the best European cuisine for me, but it is rare to find a good place in London that can do well. Despite Lurra being launched more than 9 years ago, I have yet to visit despite the appealing menu. Lurra's menu is a celebration of Basque cuisine, with a focus on grilled meats. The highlight of the meal is undoubtedly the Spanish rib steaks, a succulent Galician steak from old aged cows that are cooked over a wood-fired grill. For my visit with a large group, I was able to order most items on the menu.

Ibai

 Surf and turf king

1kg bone-in British wagyu ribeye

Ibai in St Paul is my no 1 London restaurant opening of the year so far. It offers a slice of the Basque Country with a contemporary twist. This elegant, dark warehouse vibe restaurant has quickly gained a reputation for its innovative approach to Basque cuisine. The open kitchen adds a lively touch, allowing diners to catch glimpses of the culinary artistry in action. Given that most of the dishes come out of its open-fire grill and that Ibai has an in-house steak aging room, the aroma of the space is just so inviting.

Nanyang Blossom

Malaysian themed feast

John Dorey with aged tomato chilli

Nanyang Blossom is a brand-new Malaysian-themed restaurant located in Knightsbridge. What sets this venue apart from the other Malaysian restaurants in London is that it has a much more upmarket approach, is far more creative, and does not shy away from using premium ingredients. Co-owner chef Daren Liew created a range of signature dishes you would not find elsewhere, with an innovative approach and Western influences. For my second visit, I opted for a chef-special bespoke menu, with most dishes coming from its alc menu, as well as Daren's signature offerings.

Whytes

Basque twist but is it better than OG?

Baked red prawn tomato rice

Located in London Field, Whytes is a modern creative restaurant that is unlike any other, the chef-owner Mr Whytes rotates its menu once a month and changes it completely, from French to British and fusion theme etc. He enjoys taking a cuisine and adding his modern creative touch to give it a fresh feel. For August, Whytes is doing a Basque-inspired menu and that is music to my ear as it is my no1 European cuisine. The menu contains some small plates, followed by 3 large sharing dishes in ALC format. 

Story

 Story chapter 2

English Pea Custard, N25 Caviar

I recall when Story first opened back in 2013, it was the talk of the town and the hottest opening in London. The creativity and surprise element was so new and cutting edge for Londoners, I remember the wow factor from the beef dipping candle, which I had no idea was butter till the bread was served to me. Fast forward more than 10 years later, it got itself not 1, but 2 Michelin stars and Story has closed for almost a year as it went into a major revamp in 2023, before it reopened again in early 2024 with a brand new decor and menu. I was interested to see the progress and changes.

The Ninth

Mediterranean-themed offering

Spaghetti, Australian Winter Truffle & Aged Parmesan

The Ninth by Chef Jun Tanaka is a 1 Michelin-starred restaurant that offers Southern French cuisine with a strong Mediterranean influence. Spreading across 3 floors with a short selection of starters, pasta and main dishes to pick from. This is my second time at The Ninth, with the last visit dated back all the way to when it was opened, back in 2016. Given it has been 8 years since, I am sure a lot has changed so I went with open eyes. To best experience what The Ninth is all about, I opted for the Chef's choice menu.

Ibai

The new king of Basque cuisine

Galician rib

Spanish Basque is my no1 Western cuisine easily, but finding decent Spanish restaurants in the UK is challenging, and even harder when it comes to Basque cuisine. When I noticed Ibai, a new Basque grill house just opened in St Paul, I was excited about it. From reading the menu, it just has so many things that I would love to eat, from whole Galician beef ribs to red prawn tartare, it seems like Ibai does not shy away from using some really top-class ingredients and if cooked right, it would guarantee some top-notch dishes. I ordered most things on the menu and was looking forward to a long Basque feast.

Lita Marylebone

Top-notch classy grill house

Grilled 1.6kg Cornish turbot

Lita is a new grill restaurant that prides itself on turning out Mediterranean-style cuisine, with plenty of fire action using top ingredients sources from around Europe. What really caught my attention was its menu, as most of the dishes sounded so inviting, with plenty of Spanish/Italian elements (my fav European cuisine) and combined with some really top ingredients. When a restaurant decides to use Limousin sweetbread and Galician beef, you know it is a serious restaurant that wants to provide top-level dishes.

Kima

The finest Greek seafood in London?

2.4kg grilled wild Cornish turbot with Greek extra virgin olive oil

I have been on a mission lately to locate restaurants that serve a whole large fish in London, that is not an easy task as many places would only offer fish fillets as seeing a fish head on a dining table can still be offputting for some. After some online research, I came across a Greek restaurant called Kima that is all about seafood, and it has its own fish counter of daily fresh catch which the chef is able to serve in many ways, from raw, fish stew, grilled to steamed etc, this sounds just perfect for me, as cooking a whole fresh fish is no easy task so I was glad to find a place that has such a strong focus in fish cookery. The menu also contains plenty of other seafood items besides whole fish, all cooked in a Greek cuisine manner.

Nanyang Blossom

Impactful flavours from the Nanyang Ocean 

Grilled abalone salad with caviar and pumpkin

For some reason, London has yet to have an upmarket Malaysian restaurant in London, despite there are so many trending Malaysian restaurants, like Laksamania and Sambal Shiok. Nanyang Bloosom appears to attempt to change that. Located in Knightsbridge with Harrods just around the corner, Nanyang Blossom is a brand new restaurant by chef patron Daren Liew who was the head chef at the short-lived Duddells London and Blue Jasmine in Southhampton. Nanyang Blossom focuses on the rich flavours from the South China Sea, using plenty of spices and herbs to create an aromatic yet contemporary taste, and the menu itself contains plenty of upmarket ingredients, from crab, and lobster to Chilian seabass and Japanese wagyu.

Donia

Fusion Filipino style

Pumpkin and squash lobster

Fusion is a dirty word in the chef world and is something not easy to pull off, so I usually try to avoid any restaurant trying to do fusion. When I first heard about Donia, a pretty new restaurant in Soho that does Filipino cuisine with a Western touch, it sounded like a minefield. However, there are hardly any Filipino restaurants in London and it is a cuisine that I would like to explore more, and after some very positive reviews from the press, plus the menu from its website looked appealing, I decided to give it a go. The menu is spread between snacks, starters, mains and desserts, a very Western-style approach.

Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine London

Traditional Cantonese feast

Roasted Chilian seabass in honey

When you look at the dishes from Imperial Treasure, you might find them not far apart from dishes you would encounter in Chinatown yet the price is far higher. Yet somehow it has gained a loyal following, especially in the Chinese community. The main reason would be that it uses far superior ingredients, they would use a whole prawn in a har gow instead of chopped-up prawn paste, and they would use Iberico pork for char siu instead of some random frozen low-price pork as an example. Everything all cooked in a very traditional Cantonese manner. 

Duck and Rice

 Beer and Chinese cuisine combo

Stir fry lobster in ginger and spring onions

Duck and Rice in Soho is a unique beast, you wouldn't usually associate pub food with Chinese food but this is what Duck and Rice is all about. The upmarket pub/restaurant offers plenty of premium beer, with a range of Chinese dishes that would work well with beer, such as Cantonese roasted duck and salt and pepper squid. I have visited once a while since 2016, and the below covers my recent 9th visit. It seems not a great deal has changed, with the menu more or less staying the same, with some dim sum and small plates which would work as starters, followed by larger dishes under the label 'chop suey'

Mei Ume

Premium Asian offering in East London

Grilled yellowtail collar

Located within the 5 stars Four Season Hotel, Mei Ume is somewhat of an unusual Asian restaurant, as it offers Chinese and Japanese cuisine under one space. As it is such a different cuisine between the two, it has two kitchen spaces to cater to each cuisine. I would say it is a Chinese restaurant at heart since it is led by a Malaysian Chinese chef Peter Ho, whose work experience came from the likes of Hakkasan and Mei Mei, all are Chinese restaurants. For my 7th visit, I revisited some signature dishes of the house as well as trying some new items.

The Midland Grand Dining Room Restaurant

Goodbye Mr Powell

Roasted chicken, wild mushrooms and riesling sauce

Since Midland launched in the early summer of 2023, it has become one of my go-to places for top-quality French cuisine. I have been there 4 times in total and not long after I have been for my 4th time, I discovered that Patrick Powell, the chef behind all the wonderful creations is leaving. This is a shame for me as Midland is one of my top French restaurants in London. Below is my experience from my 4th visit just before he left, I went for 2 courses only, mains and desserts:

Park Chinois

 Dim sum champion, so long

Pumpkin dumplings, scallop dumplings and xiao long bao

Without a doubt, Park Chinois is my No. 1 choice for Chinese cuisine in London, it has a really strong dim sum offering, as well as some high-class stir fry and seafood items, it is the whole package as far as food-wise. When the news broke out that the dim sum head chef Ming was leaving the business, it was sad news for me as I enjoyed so many of his creations over the years. For my 28th visit, I went pretty much full-on dim sum mode and ordered almost the entire dim sum menu, which in a way was a good tribute to enjoy Chef Ming's creation one last time.

Brooklands by Claude Bosi

 Class act within the poshest hotel in London

Canapes

Brooklands, located within the super luxury 5-star Peninsula hotel has been on my to-visit list for a whole. I enjoyed Chef Claude Bosi's cooking in the early days when he was still running Hibiscus in Mayfair. He has since opened Bibendum in South Kensington which I followed, and in late 2023, Brooklands launched and it landed itself 2 Michelin stars within 6 months, an amazing achievement but not one I was surprised given Claude is such a talented French chef. His Brooklands offering has a mixture of French and British flair, and I was interested to see what is it like vs his flagship Bibendum.

Morchella

Innovative flavours of the Mediterranean region

Salt cod churros

It is hard to look beyond Mediterranean cuisine for a summer feast with fresh flavors. Flavours from Italy and Greece etc provide some of the most attractive and colourful tastes. However, many restaurants that offer Mediterranean cuisine can fall into the trap of doing traditional things, but nowhere as good as the real deal due to not being able to source local ingredients at their peak form. Therefore, some innovative twists to take advantage of the best British ingredients is a welcoming change and in Morchella, a brand new opening has a short but interesting menu that I was more than happy to explore.

Mountain Beak Street

Upmarket BBQ but why the hype?

Lobster caldereta

2024 has been a great year for Mountain, a grill restaurant by chef Tom Perry who found success in Kitty Fisher, before launching his own restaurant Brat. Mountain has gained a Michelin star in the 2024 guide, as well as coming into no2 in the UK's best restaurant list from the much-respected trade press Restaurant Magazine. I have been to Mountain once when it was opened back in the summer of 2023, while the food was solid, I never really understood why it is packed with so much hype. However, there is one dish I enjoyed which is a lobster stew and that is the reason I went back.

Kitty Fishers

 Cozy yet classy British cuisine 

Whipped Cod’s Roe On Toast

When Kitty Fishers opened back in 2014, it was perhaps the most trending restaurant opening of the year. Back then it was headed up by chef wizard Tom Parry who has gone on to become a very successful restaurant operator with Brats and Mountain which both have a Michelin star. While Tom was in charge, Booking a table was mission impossible as his approach to modern British cuisine with a nod to traditional techniques was something pretty new and exciting back then. 10 years later, the menu hasn't changed much with British cuisine still at its core, using a range of fine local ingredients.

Galvin Bistrot

Classic for a reason

Chorizo croquettes 

I have been to the Michelin-starred Galvin la Chapelle a few times over the last few years, and somehow kept missing its sister joint Galvin Bistrot which is just next door to it. Unlike La Chapelle, Galvin Bistrot is a relaxing, casual French restaurant in the Bistro mood. What you see is what you get, no creativity or edgy concept, it just turns out classic French dishes in a refined manner, in a short alc menu format. Which sometimes is just what I appreciate, as when you dine with friends who are not overly keen on long hours tasting menu format and on a budget, French Bistro is always a great solution.

Sagardi

Tuleton steak in the UK

Cod fish omlette

When you think of top-grade steak, it is normal for most to think of Japanese wagyu to be the king of steak. However, I found while the texture of wagyu steak is excellent with a melting texture, I much prefer something more bold and savory in taste, which wagyu steak lacks. Therefore, the Spanish old cow 'Tuleton' steak is what I prefer. The cow aged up to 15+ years old before being slaughtered and offers a powerful creamy and beefy taste that no steak can match. The Rubia Gallega breed from the North Western of Spain is especially considered the finest. Not many London restaurants offer such a fine cut but Sagardi is one of them.

Roe

London opening of the year?

Cuttlefish fried toast, pork skin, sesame

The team behind Fallow has launched a brand new restaurant called Roe. Located in Canary Wharf and able to 500 covers thanks to its extremely large space, taking over the whole ground floor of an entire flat just off the Canary Wharf tube station. Given the location is not known as a dining hot spot. I found Roe is such a high-risk project, especially these days when more people work from home and some businesses decided to leave the area. Judging from the menu, the food has some Fallow elements but with the addition of flatbread and a few sharing dishes.

64 Goodge Street

 French cuisine, British style

Soupe au cresson & truffled Comté brioche

This is my second visit to 64 Goodge Street, a French restaurant by the same team behind the wonderful Quality Chop House. From my first visit back in 2023, I was really impressed with the quality of its take on French cuisine with a modern British essence, leveraging the best of British ingredients. Therefore, it was always worth a revisit. This time, I enjoyed lunch in its private dining room, which serves an ALC menu just like the main dining room. You are offered a number of choices from starters, mains and desserts, and you can add in snacks and sides should you wish.

The Cocochine

 Club vibe fine dining

Tanera Island Barbecued Native Lobster, Crème Fraîche, Wild Cardamon, Red Wine Jus

The Cocochine is a very interesting restaurant that just opened in Mayfair. Unlike many new fine dining restaurants that only offer a tasting menu, The Cocohine is going the opposite and offers only a 3 courses ALC menu. Spread across 3 floors, the ground floor is the main dining room space while the second floor is a chef counter setting with the same menu. It also has a private dining room on the top floor that has a member club vibe. I suspect it is still fairly unknown to most, as it shows when I visited. Including my table, there were only 5 tables with diners on the night.

Agora

Greek-inspired street food joint

wildfarmed flatbread and chard borani

Agora's sister Greek restaurant Oma launched with a bang, it gathered some very warming, over the top positive reviews from the media. I personally enjoyed my Oma occasion, too, but when I visited Oma by having to walk past the busy and lively Agora on the ground floor, I was interested in giving it a go, thanks to its fire cooking and focus on meat. The only thing that put me off is a no-booking restaurant so I had to plan to arrive before 6pm to avoid the after-work crowds. At Agora, it is all about the fast pace and keeping things super casual, with a short menu of dips salad, flatbread, skewers and roasted meat.

Nest

 Pork season tasting menu

 Charcuterie and pork terrine

Nest is a one-of-a-kind restaurant, it is sister to the 1 Michelin-starred St Barts, and just like St Barts, it offers a tasting menu only but Nest does it to the next level. Every month, it offers a seasonal menu that would be completely changed vs the last one, and it focuses on one single ingredient so you would be getting multi-courses of dishes that use either the same animal or seafood. I had an excellent lamb-tasting menu back in April so it was good enough for me to return to sample its pork menu.

Oma

 Innovative Greek concept

salt cod xo, labneh

Since Chef David Carter opened Smokstak in Shoreditch back in 2016, I could tell he really understood the magic of fire cooking, his American-style BBQ meat was simple yet excellent. Since then, he went on to open the Italian concept Manteca in 2021; the meat dishes were again the star. Fast forward to 2024, he opened the Greek concept Oma, located inside Borough Market. What I learned from Manteca is that what he is good at is taking a cuisine's essence to enhance the flavours of his inauthentic take on the cuisine, and leverage top class ingredients and fire cooking. So I had high expectations of Oma.

Origin City

Modern nose-to-tail

Crispy brawn, malt vinegar mayonnaise + Quail Scotch eggs, brown sauce

I always admire restaurants that go to the next level in sourcing ingredients, working directly with farmers and fishermen etc to really understand the ingredients. Located by Smithfield market, Origin City has taken it to another level. The people behind it also have an animal farm in Scotland so all their pork, lamb, and beef are heritage breeds coming directly from their own farm. On top of that, they have their own oyster farm and vineyards in France so they have full control of most of their supply chain. The cooking is British themed with meat playing a central stage, open fire grill and using prime cuts as well as offals.

Nest

100% British with a single focus

Lamb ‘Kebab’ Lamb & Herb Fritter Cheese & Onion Tart

I have been to the Michelin-starred St Brats twice now in Farringdon. Besides the refined British cuisine, it is able to turn out, I really enjoyed their concept of using 100% British ingredients. This helps contribute to sustainability and ensures diners are getting the freshest ingredients. The same team behind also owned a much more casual restaurant in the name of Nest in Shoreditch. Once again 100% British ingredients only, but with each season focus on a single tasting menu using one type of meat/ vegetables. The latest Spring menu is all about lamb, with each course containing a certain cut of lamb to ensure Nest can get out as much as an animal. 

Noble Palace

Pimped up Cantonese lunch

Dim sum platter

Noble Palace has long been one of my to-go Chinese restaurants since it was opened 2 years ago. Easy to book, lovely well-spread space, and good service are not something you would normally associate with a Chinese restaurant, but Noble Palace has all of these factors covered. Of course, the food here isn't bad either. I especially enjoy the dim sum here; it is high quality and reasonably priced. For my 19th visit, I visited over lunch with some dim sum as well as some classic breakfast/lunch items you would normally find in a classic Hong Kong style Chinese joint.

Hunan

 Small plates tasting menu the Chinese way

Bamboo chicken soup

Despite Hunan having been around in London since 1982, I never managed to pay a visit which is such a crime. The small family-run restaurant near Sloane Square is not your typical Chinese restaurant. It doesn't have a menu, you let the chef know what you like and dislike, and then you would be offered a blind tasting menu of around 12 to 18 dishes depending if it is a lunch or dinner setting. This, of course, is great for people who really understand Chinese food or are open to trying something new. The food offering, while it does contain some Cantonese elements, it has a wide range of other regional essences, and the chef has a habit of adding chili.

Camille

 Comforting French cuisine in London Bridge

Grilled red mullet in curry sauce

I have been on a mission to discover quality French food in London. For me, places like Otto, 64 Goodge Street and Midland Grand Dining Room are some of the best you can find in the capital. However, for something more simple, rustic and casual, I would prefer somewhere that has a bistro vibe that offers more hearty, comforting food. Camille appears to tick that, the recently opened French bistro in London Bridge. What I like about Camille is that it appears willing to use underrated, cheap ingredients such as pig ears, tripes and ox tongue, using classic French techniques to home in some rustic flavours.

Quality Chop House

 Meat Temple of London

Pollock head in miso butter

Not a lot of places I would head back to often, but Quality Chop House is a rare beast. The British meaty restaurant is all about big chops, cooked in a traditional manner with an open fire and cast iron pan, loaded with plenty of butter. I always would pay a visit every once in a while to enjoy a meaty treat. For my 9th visit, I opted for some big chops action as usual, as well as trying some new dishes from its starter selection.

Ormer Mayfair

Hidden gems in Mayfair

Canapes

I first encountered Ormer back in 2016 when it just opened, it was headed up by Shaun Rankin, a talented chef who has a Michelin star in his Jersey restaurant. 8 years later, many things have changed, with head chefs coming and going. In the last 3 years, the platform belong to Sofian Msetfi. A British chef with Moroccan heritage who appears to have a habit of mixing Japanese elements into his modern European-style cuisine. Ormer landed a Michelin star in the 2024 guide and I was interested to see how much has it changed since my last visit. The restaurant offers a tasting menu and for dinner occasions only.

Endo at the Rotunda

The London sushi benchmark?

Trio of tuna

I rarely splash my cash on Japanese fine ding as it is the most expensive cuisine in London, and most places would set you back more than £250 per person when factor in service. For that very reason, I would need to make sure if I do go for Japanese, it has to be worth my dosh and my time. I had an excellent meal at Roketsu in 2022 which specializes in kaiseki cuisine, but also a really underwhelming sushi meal at Roji. Among the foodies' community, Endo is supposed to be the peak of sushi in London and I would love to test that theory. It serves an omakase blind-tasting menu only, you would not know what to get till you get there.

Galvin La Chapelle

 Classic French charm revisit

Dorset crab raviolo Dashi “beurre blanc”, braised fennel, Baerii caviar & trout roe

I have been eating my way around London for over 10 years, seeing so many new restaurants opening and closing at such a fast pace. I got to a point where now I understand it is not always about the next hot new opening, why wouldn't you want to visit amazing, reliable places that would guarantee you great food and a good time? Lately, I have been going back to places that I have enjoyed in the past. Galvin La Chapelle is one of those places that I always wish I would visit more often as I had some great memories there, so once I found out it had a revamp back in early 2024, it was a good excuse to head back.

Sollip

Modern European cuisine with a light Korean touch

Dongchimi

I have to admit the Michelin star guide does have an impact on me when searching for a place to eat. Without it, I would never have come across Sollip, a 1 starred restaurant run by a Korean couple in London Bridge. I have never had upmarket Korean food in London before, nor have I come across a modern European restaurant with Korean influences, so I was eager to see what Sollip could bring. It is a tasting menu only venue, with a short one for lunch and a longer one for dinner.