Read our guide to new restaurants that are opening in January 2015 or that opened at the end of 2014 that we haven’t already covered on the journal.
Zaika Kensington
Zaika reopened its doors at the end of 2014 with a menu of Northern Indian cuisine and a revamped look. The 120 cover restaurant on Kensington High Street is the sister restaurant to Tamarind of Mayfair.
Signature main dishes on the menu are Mahi Mussallam (oven baked fillet of sea bass, spinach, Awadhi sauce), Methi Murgh (chicken with ginger, onion, fresh fenugreek leaves), and Gosh Dum Biryani (goat biryani with Bhurrani raita).
Jinjuu, Soho
Korean-American chef and presenter Judy Joo will open Jinjuu in Soho this January. Expect the chef’s signature dishes of KFC – Korean fried chicken – and “Anju” snacks including Korean tacos and pajeon pancakes.
Seating 85 over two floors and a terrace, Jinjuu will open on 9 January on Kingly Street.
Babaji
Alan Yau, the man who started Hakkasan and Yauatcha, has opened his latest restaurant, Babaji, on Shaftsbury Avenue in Soho.
The 93 cover restaurant serves Turkish small plates with a large number of meze, pide (Turkish pizza) and dishes such as eggplant and beef tava and sumak and chilli chicken wings from the grill.
Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street
Comprising of two restaurants, a café/bar and four dedicated events spaces, Sky Garden will be a unique dining destination in The City.
Fenchurch Seafood Bar & Grill on Level 37 will be an all-day restaurant specializing in sea food, Darwin Brasserie on Level 36 is more of a brasserie serving European cuisine and the Sky Pod bar on Level 35 will be a more informal venue for lunches and snacks.
For other ideas for sky-high dining in London, read our guide to the best restaurants with a view.
SCOTCH Pop Up Bar at Brown’s Hotel
Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair will have a pop up Scotch Bar in the newly refurbished Library to celebrate Burns Night from 22 January to 8 February.
As a tribute to SCOTCH at its sister hotel, The Balmoral in Edinburgh. Whisky lovers will be in their element and will love the display of 40 whiskies.
Jago
Jago in Spitalfields is the first venture for Head Chef Louis Solley (formerly Head Chef of Ottolenghi, Notting Hill) and Hugo Thurston (formerly General Manager of Morito).
Jago’s menu reflects the chef’s East-London Jewish roots that ‘draw on the culinary heritage of the Ashkenazi diaspora… resulting in a modern offering of lighter, non-kosher and more global Yiddish fare’.
Seasonal highlights include Pickled herring, beetroot, yoghurt and dill; Salt beef and chrain; and veal cheek goulash, orzo & green harissa.
Murakami, Covent Garden
Murakami is a contemporary Japanese restaurant that is set to open on St Martin’s Lane in January. Murakami will specialise in sushi, sashimi and dishes from a robata grill.
Amaru, St Katherine’s Dock
On 5th January, the team behind Bravas Tapas – restaurateur Bal Thind and chef Victor Garvey – will launch Amaru in St Katherine Dock.
Amaru will serve light and healthy Japanese cuisine with a Peruvian twist. Ceviches, sashimi and salads take centre-stage on the menu at Amaru – as well as takeaway, Amaru will offer seating for up to 15 and alfresco dining on the dock in the summer months.
Stick’n’Sushi Greenwich
With successful branches in Wimbledon and Covent Garden, Sticks’n’Sushi will add a Greenwich location on 31 January. Expect the same cool, Scandi design and influences with an excellent sushi menu.
Chai Wu, Harrods
Chai Wu, a new modern 90 cover Chinese restaurant, will open on the fifth floor of Harrods on 18th January 2015. There will be a charcoal grill in the centre of the restaurant offering a view of the chefs at work.
To receive these emails direct to your inbox subscribe to the Bon Vivant Journal here. read some of our other restaurant reviews including Kouzu Japanese restaurant in Belgravia and The Cavendish in Marylebone.
