We’re well settled into the new year and for those of us whose new year’s resolutions included eating more good food, we’ve got the restaurants that you need to visit now listed below. London has always been known as a foodie city but sometimes it can be a little overwheming deciding exactly where to go.
From Italian restaurants right on the river menus to tucking into a Sunday roast at the Gladwin brothers’ Rabbit in Chelsea, we’ve got a bunch of best eats to add to your foodie bucket list. Whether you’re looking for a Jamaican food fix or a spot to grab a good bite to eat before a gig, we’re here to steer you down the right course.
Restaurants to eat at in London to kick off 2023
Cafe Koko, Camden
Friends, you may have noticed that Koko Camden has had quite the makeover – and that includes the newly-introduced Cafe Koko eatery. From simple yet delicious tomato bruschetta and aubergine parmigiana to start, followed by beef rigatoni if you’re a pasta person – there’s plenty to eat at this restaurant. We probably preferred the pizzas on the menu and would particularly recommend the ‘Lambrechts’ with goats cheese, shawarma lamb, coriander and garlic yoghurt plus the plant-based ‘Hope and Anchor’ with fennel sausage, artichokes, superstraccia and pesto.
Riding House Cafe, Bloomsbury
We’ve all enjoyed many a brunch at its Fitzrovia and Victoria locations and the Riding House Cafe’s newest digs in Bloomsbury are also worth a visit. Keeping with its traditional decor, it’s a great spot to dine with friends and family – as well as having bar seating which is ideal for remote working come midweek.
The pea fritters and malted deep dish pancakes are both ever-dependable, with a special mention going to the breakfast ramen and the selection of skewers (panko halloumi, shimp and scallop, to name a few).
Ruya, Mayfair
Ordinarily, we prefer our Middle Eastern restaurants classic but Ruya bears quite a bit of tradition in its fancy Mayfair restaurant. We enjoyed every plate and are already planning our next visit. The biggest shout outs go to the ‘antep fistiki rafik’ (feta cheese, goat curd and pistachios), as well as the infamous truffle cheese pide. The roasted bone marrow with slow cooked beef and hummus was also delicious, as were the lamb cutlets with smoked aubergine.
You’re going to want to make sure you order the popular cocktails Ruya is known for – the Nazar Sour cocktail, featuring cardamom-infused vodka, rose syrup, pear and blue curacao.
El Takoy, Central London
Tucked away on the lower ground floor of 3 Henrietta in Covent Garden is El Takoy. Bringing all the atmosphere of your favourite tiki bar, the cocktails are great and quickly-made at this cosy restaurant. Must-order dishes include the lamb barbacoa tacos, tuna and caviar taquitos, Hawaiian cauliflower popcorn and pork chicharon bao buns – with drinks recommendations inclduing the spiced mango daiquiris and pina coladas, which complement the aforementioned plates so well.
Morty & Bob’s, multiple locations
Who remembers these guys from Netil House? Well if you’ve been craving those grilled cheese sandwiches, you’re in luck – because the restaurant sites in King’s Cross, Shepherd’s Bush and the new one in Kensal Rise all feature them on the menu. You’re going to want to order the flat iron steak, too. Slightly pricier than the namesake restaurant but totally tasty and served with a refreshing and zesty chimichurri sauce.
Leave room for dessert as words can’t quite describe how chewy and gooey the brownie was, topped with sweet carrot and served with ice cream and don’t even get me started on what I’d probably call the best tiramisu I’ve ever tasted. The French toast is an absolute beast (size) but super light and fluffy and if you like biscoff, it’s your idea of heaven.
Rabbit, Chelsea
Our first time to Rabbit in Chelsea – we’ve previously dined at the Gladwin brothers’ other restaurant, Sussex in Soho. With similar dishes on the menu, we were excited to be reunited with the loves of our life: the marmite eclairs, as well as trying the meaty and fresh cod cheek bites and steering clear of a January cold, thanks to the seaweed broth – packed full of goodness.
We were actually in Chelsea to try Rabbit’s famous Sunday roasts. While we were initially gutted that the lamb had sold out (the only downside to leaving a roast dinner that late in the day), it turned out to be for good reason as it allowed us to try the pork (not our first choice) which was surprisingly meaty compared to others we’ve eaten elsewhere. The beef was perfect, as expected, and those fluffy Yorkshire puddings certainly did not disappoint.
El Norte, Mayfair
Part of the restaurant group behind Kensington’s Zuaya and Como Garden, El Norte provides fine dining tapas to the streets of Mayfair. As well as a stunning decor, diners will be pleased to hear than their favourite small plates are on the menu, as well as some larger dishes, too. From delightfully creamy croquettes to a perfectly-cooked Iberico pluma, most of the dishes on El Norte’s menu impress both tummies and tastebuds. There’s also a unique cocktail list and extensive wine list – plus a proper party atmosphere come Friday nights.
‘O Ver, St. James
An Italian restaurant offering up the hearty classic dishes we all know and love, ‘O ver takes pride in using the unique ingredient of pure sea water, which is extracted from the purest areas of the Mediterranean. The use of less sodium and more minerals in the restaurant’s cooking means that the food is lighter and easier to digest – so we can enjoy all the pizza with fewer food babies at the end of the meal.
The bruschetta, made with toasted bread made from pure seawater and served with Sicilian “Datterino” tomatoes, garlic, oregano and fresh basil is the ultimate refreshing starter, with which you want to begin your meal, while the parmigiana di melanzane (Neapolitan-style aubergine parmigiana) offers a more indulgent treat. The beef and pork meatballs with parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and pine nuts were exceptionally tasty, while the fusillo pasta with Tuscan pork sausage, white wine and porcini mushrooms was another crowd-pleaser. Pizza-wise, we opted for the ‘Capricciosa’, with Roman grilled artichokes (the dream), Italian cooked ham and black Gaeta’s olives. Zero bloat afterwards, too. We’re sold on sea water pizza.
Pulia, Shad Thames
It’s not secret that London is spoiled for choice when it comes to Italian food. That being said, we are never disappointed to come across a new eatery in which to indulge. In addition to classic dishes such as burrata, lasagne and ‘nduja pizza, Pulia also boasts some more authentic plates you may not have sampled before. We enjoyed bruschetta with sliced pork loin, cacioricotta cheese and grilled artichoke; fresh orecchiette pasta with turnip greens, creamy anchovies and chilli; and cuttlefish stuffed with breadcrumbs, parmesan and parsley – the latter of which was a firm favourite.
Mostrador, Shoreditch
Meaning ‘counter’ in Portuguese, Mostrador prides itself on setting out a gorgeous table full of various salads for lunch each day. From bulgar wheat to squash and sweet potato and probably the best vegetable tart I’ve ever eaten, they’re all fantastic choices for a quick and light lunch.
Should you wish to indulge a little more, you can enjoy an octopus starter, as well as spinach and ricotta gnocchi with pesto, before moving onto beef cheek, squid risotto and other main courses. Finish off with with a dreamy dulce de leche flan for dessert.
Ma Petite Jamaica, Camden and Shoreditch
If you’re craving a bit of the Caribbean, head to your local Ma Petite Jamaica (either in Camden or Shoreditch) for your Jamaican jerk fix. First things first, order a pitcher of rum punch for the table – strong but not too sweet, this (combined with the reggae tunes playing) will transport you to your other island life. Food-wise, for starters we recommend the barbecue spare ribs and pepper shrimp wholeheartedly.
The jerk wings were finger-lickingly tasty – but the sauce was almost a jerk barbecue glaze. Delicious, but perhaps not the spicy jerk seasoning one might be expecting. Don’t fill up too much on your first course as the mains are worth saving room for: the brown stew chicken and oxtail stew with rice and peas were both hearty and flavoursome, while the jerk salmon was surprisingly good, too. The jerk chicken was a little dry but still did the job – and we definitely recommend adding fried plantain, roti (to mop up all that stew broth), callaloo and coleslaw as side dishes.
mapetitejamaica.com
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