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10 of the best tasting menus to try in London right now

OpenTable February 17, 2020 Leave a Comment

A Swiss chef and restaurateur brings some of the best cooking in NYC to Mayfair, and a criminally underappreciated restaurant explores the casual side of formal British cuisine – here are some of the best tasting menus in London right now.

Davies and Brook
The new kid on the block, Davies and Brook is certainly one to sit up and take notice of. Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park (as featured in Netflix’s Chef’s Table if that’s a better indication of his status), has taken up the pans at Claridge’s. Things are looking and tasting quite a bit different from the famous hotel’s previous resident chefs – question is, is it better than ever before? The tasting menu is a great way to find out for yourself.
7-course tasting menu £145pp, £240pp with wine.

Kitchen Table
Probably not much like your average kitchen table, but you get the idea. At 20 courses and fewer than 20 covers per sitting, James Knappett and Sandia Chang invite you to their place for a dinner arrangement unlike any other, including a lot more theatre and a lot more sophistication.
12-course tasting menu £150pp, not including wine.

The Ledbury
The Ledbury falls into the rarely-used category of modern classic. Not only regarded as one of the best restaurants in London, the cooking and the experience at Brett Graham’s tribute to Brit-ish luxury has earned it a place on the list of the world’s best.
7-course tasting menu £165pp, £275pp with wine.

Ikoyi
Ikoyi’s not a restaurant that wants to fit under any particular label. But, over the course of its seven-part menu, you’ll become acquainted with the flavours of West Africa: Grains of Selim, berbere, duqqa, and friends.
7-course tasting menu £100pp, £175pp with wine.

Claude Bosi at Bibendum
Claude Bosi’s French-British menu is one of the most decadent among its counterparts – expect dishes like rabbit with langoustine and Cornish cod ‘à la Grenobloise’. A true bucket-list restaurant, this is fine dining at its finest.
8-course tasting menu £185pp, £300pp with wine.

Perilla
Slightly more on the casual end of the scale is this neighbourhood restaurant in Newington Green. It has a say-it-as-it-is menu, bringing together burnt onion soup, roast lamb shoulder, and whiting fried in beef fat with chip shop curry sauce.
5-course tasting menu £44pp, £84pp with wine.

CORE by Clare Smyth
Notting Hill Gate became a familiar stop for London food lovers in 2019, such are the new options in the area. Leading the reasons for a new visit is CORE, with up to seven courses based on British-sourced produce often inspired by chef Clare Smyth’s upbringing in Northern Ireland.
7-course tasting menu £125pp, £210 with wine.

Anglo
Not as hot on the lips of London’s food intelligentsia as perhaps it should be, Anglo in Farringdon is quietly putting out an eight-course tasting menu easily rivalling others at this price. A la bistronomie movement, Anglo’s all about British cuisine receiving the fine dining treatment, sans the tablecloths.
7-course tasting menu £60pp, £105pp with wine.

Native
Another taking on a British slant (clue was in the name), Native’s making full use of wild ingredients, underappreciated varieties, and widely forgotten techniques once so integral to our shores. The restaurant and its six-part menu is also big on mitigating wastage.
5-course tasting menu £65pp, £113pp with wine.

The Clove Club
Surprisingly few London restaurants have made it onto the official list of the World’s 50 Best, but this modern Shoreditch institution is a rare case indeed. Though open for seven years now, we’ll refer to the example it sets it for decades to come.
9-course tasting menu £145pp, £290pp with wine or £195pp with tea or soft pairing.

This is a guest post from freelance food journalist Hugh Thomas. He’s contributed to Foodism, Time Out, Great British Chefs, and is part of British Street Food’s small team of vigilant writers. Find him on twitter @hughwrites.

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Date Night Dining: 10 romantic restaurants to try in Sydney

OpenTable February 14, 2020 Leave a Comment

We recently revealed the 50 most romantic restaurants in Australia, showcasing some of the country’s top spots for date night dining. In Sydney, food-loving couples are spoilt for choice! From rooftop cocktail bars to neighbourhood gems, here are 10 of the most romantic restaurants to try in Sydney.

Nour
Nour gives classic Lebanese dishes a modern makeover, using a wood-fired oven to give meat and vegetables an irresistible smoky char. It’s a strong contender for Sydney’s prettiest dining room, too, with its pastel tones, blond wood, and huge windows that flood the room with sunshine. Save room for the white chocolate sphere with figs and pistachio cream.

Momofuku Seiōbo
Treat the foodie in your life to an unforgettable meal at Momofuku Seiōbo, David Chang’s first restaurant outside New York City. Each night, executive chef Paul Carmichael and his team serve a 10-course tasting menu inspired by the flavours of the Caribbean. If you’ve got a special anniversary coming up, this is a gastronomic experience worth splashing out on.

Restaurant Hubert
With its soft lighting and classic French menu, Hubert ticks all the boxes for a romantic dinner for two. After a glass of Champagne or two, choose from dishes like duck parfait, blanquette de veau, and bavette steak with Burgundy butter. Close your eyes and you could be in Paris!

KOI Dessert Bar
KOI is the perfect place to indulge your date’s passion for dessert. Chef Reynold Poernomo – who you may recognise from MasterChef Australia – serves an innovative seasonal tasting menu, plus a ‘just desserts’ option for diners with a sweet tooth.

Alberto’s Lounge
If your ideal date night involves great wine and plenty of pasta, this neighbourhood Italian should definitely be on your radar. If you can beat the locals to a table, you’ll be rewarded with dishes like cotoletta alla Milanese and paccheri with fresh seafood and guanciale.

Alibi
Treat your special someone to killer cocktails and plant-based plates at this quirky bar-restaurant inside the Ovolo Woolloomooloo. The menu was designed by world-renowned vegan chef Matthew Kenney, so expect creative dishes that are big on flavour. Don’t miss the kimchi dumplings with ginger foam or the squash blossoms with pine nut ricotta.

Nick & Nora’s
If you’re looking for a drinks spot with real wow-factor, this rooftop bar in Parramatta is hard to beat. Inspired by the glamour of the post-prohibition era, it’s an opulent space with Art Deco flourishes and uninterrupted skyline views. Pair your cocktail of choice with bar bites like smoked Wagyu carpaccio and crispy Szechuan prawns.

Osteria di Russo & Russo
This charming osteria is the sort of place every food lover dreams of having in their neighbourhood. It has a warm, laid-back vibe that encourages you to take time over your meal and appreciate the flavours. Expect modern twists on Italian classics, such as fried zucchini flowers with goat’s milk ricotta and saltbush gnocchi with sausage ragu.

Mjølner
This Viking-inspired restaurant in Redfern is the perfect setting for a date night dinner with a difference. With its meaty menu and impressive whisky collection, it’s exactly the sort of place that Thor might wine and dine a lady. After cocktails and oysters, get stuck into rotisserie corn fed chicken, roast pork belly, or their famous whisky-glazed short rib.

Peca
This elegant restaurant in Gledswood Hills serves a seasonal menu inspired by the flavours of the Adriatic coast. If you can resist their dry-aged Bistecca, we recommend the ‘Adriatic voće del mare’ – a stunning selection of fresh and grilled seafood for two to share.

Still looking for the perfect place to wine and dine your date? Visit OpenTable to discover more great restaurants in Sydney.

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The Hot List: 10 must-visit restaurants in Leeds

OpenTable February 12, 2020

They’re eclectic, they’re generous on the skyline views, and they’re among the best in the North. Whether you’re local or just visiting, here are ten Leeds restaurants you need to try.

Crafthouse
Crafthouse is British fine dining but with a few (welcome) digressions. Think butter roasted turbot, beer-braised pork cheeks, and truffled orzo pasta with mascarpone and spinach. It all takes place on the fifth floor of Trinity – yes, the views are as captivating as the menu. ‘Leeds needs these posh haunts just as much as it needs its independents,’ says Yorkshire Evening Post, and it seems the locals agree.

The Man Behind the Curtain
Let’s be honest. When thinking of Leeds, this is probably the first restaurant that comes to mind. Wild almost to the point of absurdity, TMBTC is performance cuisine – any preconceptions of long tasting menus are left at that: mere assumptions. Dinner here is, quite simply, fun, exciting, creative, and unexpected.

Issho
In Issho, contemporary Japanese cuisine is brought to Leeds by D&D, the same people behind Crafthouse (Issho also happens to be on a rooftop). Cocktails play delightfully on the Japanese theme (try their twist on the Bellini with ginger and lychee), as does the afternoon tea where pork bao buns, matcha chocolate delice, and green tea take the place of the usual suspects.

Kendell’s Bistro
Kendell’s is a French bistro taking things back to basics. Having done his time in Paris, chef-owner Steve Kendell more than knows his way round a duck confit and beef bourguignon. This is, in other words, a celebration of the dishes French families have been happily tucking into for centuries.

Tattu
There’s no doubt about it – Tattu is well-tuned for Instagram. But for more than its cherry blossomed-interior, go for dim sum, crispy duck, and black cod – the kind of modern Chinese cooking that saw the restaurant featured on our Fit for Foodies list in 2019.

Friends of Ham
Both hardcore and part-time beer, cheese, and cured meat enthusiasts are in good hands at Friends of Ham. Each part of this delicious tripod comes in various guises – there’s hot-smoked pig cheeks, Ogleshield raclette, and chorizo croque monsieurs, alongside classic cheese and meat boards. Ask a bartender and they’ll dig out a beer from the extensive cellar list to match.

Ox Club
Ox Club has been around since 2016 and, in that short time, it’s become a real local favourite. The set-up is casual but erudite – it may have its fair share of blackboards and exposed brick, but the food is cleverly designed, committed to balance, and a pleasure to look at.

Stuzzi
Stuzzi is an Italian deli-café in Harrogate. In 2019, the team behind it set up a restaurant in Leeds city centre. Expect a daily changing selection of freshly made pasta and reasonably priced sharing dishes, from beef and mortadella meatballs to fritto misto with caper and herb aioli.

HOME
HOME’s £75 ten-course tasting menu has emerged as a great way to splash the cash for those special occasions. Bringing together home-like hospitality with expertly cooked British produce, HOME also has a perfect pairing in the two chefs running the show – Mark Owens, who honed his art at Le Gavroche and The Star at Harome, and former MasterChef contestant Elizabeth Cottam.

Bulgogi Grill
Korean BBQ goes DIY at Bulgogi. Kick things off with sushi and dumplings, before searing meat (beef, pork, duck) and seabass on the grill. Once it’s cooked, enjoy it the traditional Korean way – wrapped in lettuce with rice and spicy dips.

Visit OpenTable to discover more great restaurants in Leeds.

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Valentine’s Day in London: Last-minute tables for every kind of couple

OpenTable February 7, 2020

With Valentine’s Day only a week away, it’s time to stop weighing up your options and book that all-important table for two. Visit OpenTable to find a date night hot spot in your area or check out some of our top picks below.

For couples who love… West End wow-factor

The Betterment – Splash out on turbot, fillet of beef, and red velvet cake at Jason Atherton’s newest restaurant. (£85pp)
Boulevard Brasserie – Enjoy classic French dishes and fine wine at this Parisian-style bistro in the heart of Covent Garden.
Leicester Square Kitchen – Sample modern Mexican and Peruvian small plates and a glass of Champagne for £75pp.
RedFarm – After a stroll around Covent Garden, head to RedFarm for Pac Man dumplings and cheeseburger spring rolls.
Haymarket Wine House – Treat your date to a 3-course dinner while a singer performs West End show tunes. (£35pp)

For couples who love… dinner with a view

Le Pont de la Tour – 5-course dinner overlooking the river? Or boozy Valentine’s brunch? The choice is yours!
The Summerhouse – Enjoy 4 courses and a glass of Champagne for £70 at this canalside restaurant in Little Venice.
Northbank – Head to Northbank for fruity Love Potion cocktails, special sharing dishes, and views across the Thames.
Blueprint Café – Choose from roast duck or butter-poached turbot, followed by tart tatin to share. (£45pp)
Butlers Wharf Chop House – Tuck into oysters and beef Rossini at this riverside chop house with views of Tower Bridge.

For couples who love… something a little different

BaoziInn – This Soho hot spot is turning its delicious dumplings and steamed buns pink for one day only. Don’t miss out!
Maitre Choux – Sweeten up your date with eclairs, heart-topped chouquettes, and rosé Champagne. (£84 per couple).
ZIMA – Never tried Russian food? Then head to Soho for Russian zakuski (appetisers), caviar, and vodka inufsions.
Feng Shang Princess – Enjoy a 3-course Chinese feast at this ornate floating restaurant on the Regent’s Canal. (£45pp)

For couples who love… keeping things casual

Pizza East – If you just want to unwind with pizza and Negronis after work, this Shoreditch fave will hit the spot.
Humble Grape – Catch up over small plates, V-Day specials, and superb wines at this cosy bar-bistro in Battersea.
Tenshi – Always packed with local foodies, this Upper Street gem is a top spot for sushi, tempura, and katsu curry.
KraPow E5 – Laid-back vibe, full-on flavour – KraPow’s Thai street food residency is a fuss-free date night favourite.
Cheeky Chicos – Fancy a night of tacos and tequila in Clapham? A few margaritas will definitely get the party started.

For couples who love… flavours from around the world

Cinnamon Bazaar – Spice things up with modern Indian dishes and a sparkling Cupid’s Potion cocktail. (4 courses £50pp)
Meson Callejon – Recapture the romance of Spanish holidays with tapas and paella at this hidden gem in Islington.
Romulo Café – Try something new this Valentine’s, like Filipino family recipes at this restaurant in South Kensington.
Zheng – Savour the flavours of Malaysia, from fragrant beef rendang to spicy sambal prawns, at Zheng in Chelsea.
Crockers Folly – Enjoy a Lebanese feast in the stunning surroundings of this former gin palace in St John’s Wood.

Tables available at time of writing, but filling up fast!

Visit OpenTable to find the perfect restaurant for Valentine’s Day in London.

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