Two new restaurants from chef Robin Gill, a new Moët Champagne Bar at Harrods, a fine dining restaurant from Le Cordon Bleu, a couple of great new pubs and more.
Read our guide to the best restaurants that are opening in London this summer.
Maria G’s
Robin Gill opened a new restaurant, Maria G’s, in Kensington on 28th June.
Maria G’s takes inspiration from Italy’s broad cuisine, evolving throughout the year from southern dishes of the Amalfi Coast in the summer to northern specialities in the winter.
While Italian at heart, dishes will be centred around the best British produce.
The Pelican
The Pelican has been a pub in Notting Hill since 1870 and, following a full restoration, has relaunched as a pub and dining room.
Typical dishes on the dining room menu include: Raw beef with Gentleman’s Relish, Ham hock with egg mayo, Potted shrimp, Onglet and shallot, and Lobster and monkfish pie with lobster head gravy.
The pub offering is more casual with options such as mince on toast, Welsh rarebit, sausage roll and spider crab toast.
The dining room accommodates up to 48, while the pub/bar area can seat 40 (16 of those in a small section by the fireplace), and up to 24 on the outdoor terrace.
Zephyr
With two Peruvian restaurants to their name, the people behind Pachamama are trying something new.
Zephyr will be a restaurant and bar inspired by Greek culture and cuisine.
The Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar
The Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar on the ground floor at Harrods will be the first time that Moët has opened a Champagne bar in Europe.
With only 34 seats, this will be an intimate experience.
Aerial Rooftop
Aerial Rooftop is a new rooftop bar and restaurant on the roof of The Broadcaster in White City.
Light nibbles, sharing platters and rooftop BBQ classics are all available at Aerial Rooftop.
During the summer, the space will showcase a variety of drink collaborations, including East London Liquor Co. and Franklin and Sons.
Housed in the former BBC Television Centre, Aerial Rooftop joins The Broadcaster’s ground-floor pub, a first-floor dining room and a third-floor private bar, terrace and events space.
CORD by Le Cordon Bleu
Le Cordon Bleu has opened its first fine dining restaurant in London.
CORD by Le Cordon Bleu is an all-in-one concept that also incorporates a café and a cooking school.
Lina Stores Marylebone
The popular Italian restaurant, Lina Stores, has opened in Marylebone.
Lina Stores Marylebone has an all-day restaurant with an open kitchen on the ground floor, as well as a full Italian deli with takeaway salads.
Bar Daskal
This Spanish wine bar in the new Borough Yards development comes from the people behind Barrafina.
There’s a list of “first-class, classic Spanish wines” and tapas dishes to go alongside.
Bottle & Rye
Another one from Robin and Sarah Gill with the opening of a Parisian-inspired wine bar, Bottle & Rye, in Brixton.
The menu will pay homage to the all-day bistros of Paris with dishes that play on French classics, and the wine list will focus on minimal intervention bottles from across Europe.
Ochre
The National Gallery’s new restaurant, Ochre, is from the duo behind Muriel’s Kitchen who have transformed the space into a stylish, modern restaurant.
In charge of the kitchen is executive chef Alex Drayton, formerly of Texture and 28-50.
His menu showcases ‘the very best seasonal British ingredients, blending international flavours with modern European cooking’.
Isibani
London’s growing West African restaurant scene is getting bigger with new restaurant Isibani opening in Knightsbridge.
Set up by Anthony Douglas Chuka and Abdul Malik Abubakar, the duo are describing it as “a love letter to West African cuisine”
Isibani has 22 covers on the ground floor, 24 on the second, and a 16-cover roof terrace.
The downstairs restaurant provides ‘a more refined, fine dining experience’, with a more ‘relaxed and casual’ menu elsewhere.
Maddox Tavern
On the site that was most recently Brown’s restaurant in Mayfair, Maddox Tavern will open on 7 July.
The all-day British brasserie will feature the following highlights: English shellfish cocktail (lobster, crayfish, lemongrass mayonnaise); Venison carpaccio with pineapple chutney; and pan-fried foie gras with baby leeks & toasted brioche.
There is seating for up to 120, spread out through the different sections. There are four private dining rooms, seating from five to 12.
Bubala
Middle Eastern restaurant, Bubala, is opening its second restaurant on Poland Street in Soho on 11 July.
Inspired by the modern cafes of Tel Aviv, the new 50-seat restaurant will include an eight-seat counter-style bar with views of the open kitchen, as well as a downstairs private dining room due to open later in the year.
The fully vegetarian menu is designed for sharing and centres around the flavours of the Middle East.
Pascor
Pascor, a new ‘Levantine fire kitchen’, from former Palomar co-founder and Chef Tomer Amedi, opened in Kensington in June.
Dishes include challah with whipped za’atar butter and smoked tahini; samneh butter scallops with charred leek cream and merguez gremolata; kombu-wrapped halibut; and a duck breast salad of cucumber, pickled carrot, coriander and dukkah.
Weekend Brunch at The Aubrey London
The Aubrey at the Mandarin Oriental has launched a weekend brunch offering a selection of traditional Japanese brunch dishes paired with flowing Champagne or Sake.
Highlights on the menu include: Seasonal Mushroom Gyoza; Oysters, Sashimi; Crispy Baby Corn with black kewpie; Chicken Yakitori. For main BBQ Tonkatsu Beef Rib; Chicken Katsu Sando; and Tokyo Eggs Benedict.
Nusr-Et Steakhouse London
Nusr-Et Steakhouse London has launched a new 70-cover rooftop terrace in Knightsbridge.
Dishes on the menu include Beef Carpaccio and Burrata with basil pesto & Heirloom tomatoes, marbled Wagyu beef cuts, Prawn Tempura Roll, Salmon & Avocado Sushi.
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