Six Of London’s Best New Restaurants
Arros QD
Quique Dacosta at work on World Paella Day at Arros QD, London
Arros QD in Fitzrovia is Quique Dacosta’s (of three-Michelin starred Denia) first international restaurant and is a brilliant showcase of the Valencian chef’s unique style of cooking rice. When the restaurant opened a few months ago, Chef Dacosta said that he was “excited to bring part of our tradition and gastronomy to one of the most important capitals of the world. Paella is one of the best-known dishes around yet also one of the most mistreated – with this project, I am materialising a passion I have been nurturing for decades: to reinstate the rice culture from the eastern coast of Spain to its rightful home.” By “mistreated,” the chef means that the authentic Paella with rabbit,chicken and butter beans is rarely served while tourist versions of seafood paella abound. Arros QD devotes an entire section of the menu to rice with the traditional paella taking center stage of course, cooked over an open wood fire. The interiors are by Spanish designer Lazaro Rosa-Violan and Head chef is Richard de la Cruz who worked with Dacosta for five years at three Michelin starred Denia in Valencia.
Gezellig
Ravioli stuffed with octopus ragu at Gezellig
Gezellig (Dutch for “an atmosphere that allows good times to happen”) in Holborn, opened a few months ago in the large space that housed Lobster and Burger. The Grade II listed former Holborn Town Hall is a gorgeous large space with high ceilings and large windows. The dining room has been totally transformed from its Lobster and Burger decor, with pale green walls, dark tan leather banquets, and posters of musicians and gigs, many taken from the three owners’ personal collections. The three friends who own Gezellig, Wieteke Teppama, James Comyn and Graham Long, met working in some of London’s best restaurants. Striking decor and lovely atmosphere aside, the food here is also outstanding. Head Chef Graham Long began his career as an apprentice to Gordon Ramsay and Mark Sargeant and also headed up the kitchen at L'Autre Pied. His thoughtful seasonal European menu included one of the best ravioli dishes I’ve ever enjoyed the day we visited. The ravioli was stuffed with octopus ragù, red pepper and aioli. Other menu highights were herb crusted lamb, with roasted tomato and fennel and crisp sucking pig with anchovy. For dessert, the chef’s take on traditional peach melba was a riot of flavors and textures - fantastic.
This new offshoot of Pachamama in Marylebone also serves a creative Asian influenced Peruvian menu under Executive Chef John Javier. Expect tasty items like Sichuan fried chicken with Atacama sauce and seabass ceviche with soy tiger milk and nori. The restaurant has a popular twice-monthly event called “The Brunch Club” where guest chefs join Pachamama chef John Javier. When we visited we enjoyed a menu from Tom Anglesea, Head Chef at Laughing Heart in Hackney. Menu highlights included hot and numbing chicken salad and steamed stone bass.
The Standard
Isla at The Standard, London
As you'd expect with a Standard hotel, the food and drink offering at the new London property is exceptional. Executive Chef Adam Rawson’s street facing bar, Double Standard, offers casual dining plus draft beers and great cocktails, while his restaurant, Isla with a lovely terrace, features a seasonally-driven, coastal inspired menu. As Chef Rawson explains “Double Standard is like winter. It’s heavy and warm—stuff you want to eat when you’re drinking. And Isla (pronounced eye-lah), is healthy and super light with a big fermentation program.” Before joining The Standard, London, Adam Rawson worked under Gordon Ramsay, Nuno Mendes and Claude Bosi and also headed up the popular Peruvian restaurant in Marylebone, Pachamama. The menu items at Isla are both light and filled with a range of flavors. Ceviche and salmon with beets are fresh and nicely presented while the sea kale caesar salad in a creamy anchovy and parmesan dressing is sheer genius. Adding to the stellar food and drink offering is a third restaurant and bar on the tenth floor opening in October. The red elevator on the exterior of the building will whisk guests directly to the top to enjoy the building's 360-degree views and Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ live fire cooking inspired by his love for Spanish and Mexican flavors. No doubt this will become a destination restaurant for fans of Peter Sanchez-Iglesias' Michelin starred Casamia in Bristol. The tenth floor will also offer a bar and a rooftop terrace.
Hide
Hide, a three-story eatery in Mayfair London features a handcrafted spiral oak staircase
It’s no surprise that this restaurant and bar by Hedonism Wines and Ollie Dabbous received a Michelin star within its first six months. Hide continues to attract a legion of fans. Arranged over three beautiful floors with large windows overlooking Green Park, the first floor dining room features a tasting-menu while Hide Below is an inviting cocktail and wine bar with what is the biggest wine list in Europe, supplied by Hedonism Wines. New to the restaurant is a weekend brunch featuring tempura aubergine, cured organic salmon and the legendary Hide Croque Monsieur with truffle. Desserts are equally appealing with mango and pandan leaf sundae and clafoutis with lavender and creme fraiche. The food is stellar and do ask for a tour of the extensive wine cellar which had a bottle of the rare Mouton Rothschild ‘45 when we visited.
Mantl
Grilled octopus at Mantl, Knightsbridge
Mantl, a chic new restaurant in Knightsbridge, reinvents Turkish cooking with a menu that’s both sophisticated and satisfying. The menu features traditional cooking over hot coals with expertly prepared dishes like chargrilled octopus, feraye and pistachio lamb chops. Meat lovers should order the mixed pit with its generous offering of lamb, chicken and ribs for the ultimate meat feast.
Pachamama East
Pachamama East in Shoreditch, London