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10 outstanding neighbourhood restaurants in south east London

OpenTable March 14, 2019 1 Comment

Never mind ‘worth the detour’, as most guides would state – these neighbourhood haunts are destinations in themselves. Locals love them and there are plenty of reasons why you might too.

Kudu
African comfort food kicked up a gear, via the European small plates method of dispense. That means chicken liver parfait with leek ash crackers, or braai (fire-grilled) lamb neck with smoked yoghurt. A year in the making, Kudu is proof that it doesn’t take long for a good restaurant to be firmly embraced by local eaters.

Marcella
Sequel to Peckham’s Artusi, Marcella brings soothing Italian, no-BS, and not-just-pasta dishes to Deptford. All complemented by Italian wines, cocktails and beer from nearby Villages brewery. Three-course Sunday lunches, at £20pp, are a heck of a steal.

Con Gusto
Housed in an eight-sided Grade II listed building in Woolwich, Con Gusto have done remarkable things with the quirky space. A menu of all-Italian comforts, including handmade pappardelle with beef ragu, roasted lamb rump with aubergine parmigiana, and affogato. As per the name, everything’s served ‘with pleasure’.

Pique-Nique
What else would you call your little restaurant in the middle of a park? A spud’s throw from London Bridge and the hustle and bustle contained within, Pique-Nique is a quiet and calming refuge from the beaten track. Their substantial croque monsieur is worthy of a trip on its own.

400 Rabbits
Pizza comes under so many different names in south east London, from Mamma Dough’s crispy John O’Goat to Theo’s queue-worthy Bufalina. None do it quite like 400 Rabbits, though, with their collaborations with London producers (their bone marrow and wild garlic number, with Up In My Grill, a highlight), and an impressive beer list including names like Burning Sky and Verdant.

Franklins
A beloved neighbourhood haunt on Dulwich’s food-centric Lordship Lane (which also includes the excellent cheesemongers, butchers, weekend lunch market, and Franklins-owned farm shop), Franklins has been going since the late nineties. Locals find it hasn’t changed all that much and that’s exactly how they like it.

Copper & Ink
Moustachioed MasterChef finalist turned MasterChef judge Tony Rodd leads this new but well received (and much needed) operation in Blackheath. You’ve got white-gloved server type restaurants, and you’ve got local boltholes. Copper & Ink sits right in the middle. Weekday lunch weighs in at a very reasonable £16.

Babur
Babur came to life in 1985, concerned about matching Indian cuisine – to use a broad term – with world wines. Here you’ll find dishes like Bengali mustard king prawns, Lucknowi chicken biryani, and wild mushroom and pea dosa.

The Camberwell Arms
Hailing from the Modern But Also Kind Of Traditional British school of thought, the team at The Camberwell Arms make more or less everything themselves, whether it’s the charcuterie or the white chocolate and cardamom ice cream. A proper gastropub – if, this being 2019, you’ll excuse the use of the word – and a go-to for traditional Sunday lunch.

Levan
Peckham – a major culinary draw in these parts – keeps getting better and better. Its newest addition comes in the form of a neo-bistro with an emphasis on European (especially French) hits, including the traditional apple tarte tatin, and the not-so-traditional Comté fries.

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.

St Patrick’s Day in London: 8 ways to celebrate

OpenTable March 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

Whether you’re watching the rugby, feasting with friends, or downing green shots, St Patrick’s Day in London is always a good craic. Here are some of the best places to celebrate this Sunday, from live music in Camden to Irish roasts in Shoreditch.

St Patrick’s Day at Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
Overseen by London’s favourite Irish chef, Richard Corrigan, this West End restaurant goes all out for St Patrick’s Day. They’re serving a family-style lunch on Saturday – 5 courses including smoked salmon and Irish stew – followed by the rugby and live music from 6pm. On Sunday, you can book a table for a post-parade brunch, followed by more live music.

St Patrick’s Day Festival at Trafalgar Square
Now approaching its seventieth year, London’s St Patrick’s Day festival showcases the best of Irish music, dance, food and culture. Festivities kick off at noon to coincide with the St Patrick’s Day parade which sees elaborate floats, marching bands and dance troupes making their way from Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square. Don’t miss The Massaoke Band on the main stage at 5pm – they’ll be getting the crowd going with a singalong including some Irish favourites.

St Patrick’s Day music trail at Camden Market
Camden Market is hosting an all-Irish music trail this Saturday with six acts performing around the market, including a headline gig at the Dr. Martens Boot Room. Some of the market’s street food traders will be serving special St Patrick’s themed dishes – don’t miss Chin Chin Labs’ four-leaf clover ice-cream on a chocolate potato cake with chocolate stout sauce. If you fancy a sit-down supper, you can dine nearby at The Cheese Bar, Porky’s BBQ, or new rotisserie joint Kuku Riku.

Two Pubs, One Saint – The Water Poet and The Crown and Shuttle
Two of Shoreditch’s favourite Irish-owned pubs have teamed up for six days of St Patrick’s Day celebrations, including Irish gin masterclasses and all the Six Nations rugby action on Saturday. On the day itself, there will be Guinness by the bucketload and live music at both pubs, plus pies and oysters at The Crown and Shuttle and Irish roasts at The Water Poet. Be sure to book ahead!

The Big Guinness Weekender at Brigadiers
Brigadiers have planned a weekend of live sporting action, Irish music, free-flowing Guinness, and their famous Sunday roasts with an Indian barbecue twist. Visit on Saturday to watch the rugby while tucking into their match day menu or book a table for Sunday lunch with a side of football, whisky boilermakers, and music from the Stomping Boondocks. Their exclusive St Patrick’s Day starters – masala prawn cocktail and hot Goan sausage oysters – are a must-try.

Taste the Greatness of Northern Ireland at Borough Market
From 13-23^rd March, Borough Market are showcasing award-winning produce from Northern Ireland in their glass-fronted Market Hall. You can stock up on everything from biltong and bacon to oysters, craft beer and gin. The market is usually closed on Sundays but they’re opening on the 17^th for a family-friendly St Patrick’s Day celebration. Expect face painting, cookery demos, Irish dancing, and plenty of good food and drink.

St Patrick’s Day afternoon tea at Brigit’s Bakery
For one day only, Brigit’s Bakery will be serving a St Patrick’s themed afternoon tea including pistachio macarons, chocolate cupcakes, and a shamrock-topped baby Guinness verrine. The bakery is in Covent Garden, just a stone’s throw from the festivities in Trafalgar Square. The themed tea is also available on their bus tours, but you’ll need to be quick to book a seat.

St Patrick’s Day at Boisdale
If the West End crowds are too raucous for your taste, why not celebrate in style at Boisdale in Canary Wharf? They’re showing the rugby, pouring perfect pints of Guinness all day long, and there’s live music from Irish duo Acoustica from 8pm. Their St Patrick’s Day menu – 2 courses for £29.50 – includes hearty Irish dishes like boiled collar of bacon with colcannon and parsley sauce, Guinness braised sausages, and Baileys cheesecake.

Whatever your plans this weekend, visit OpenTable or use our app to find the perfect place to dine out.

Bars for bookworms: 5 library bars to try in London

OpenTable March 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Whether you’re dating a bibliophile or just want to catch up on your latest novel, these London library bars are the perfect place to combine your love of books and booze.

Scarfes Bar
Named after British artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe, the Rosewood’s opulent bar is a haven for culture vultures and cocktail connoisseurs. There’s a roaring fire, velvet armchairs to sink into, and bookshelves filled with over 1,000 antique books – what more could you ask for? If the answer is something to nibble on, you’re in luck. Bar snacks like black pudding Scotch eggs and Devonshire lamb chops are served until midnight, plus the superb Holborn Dining Room is right next door.

The Drawing Room at BFI Bar & Kitchen
At the BFI’s Benugo-run restaurant, a faux bookcase leads to a secret cocktail bar with book-lined shelves and comfy armchairs. It’s the ideal spot to unwind with a book while you sip film-inspired cocktails like the rum-based Casablanca or the tequila-spiked Trainspotting. If you’re bringing a date, why not stick around for a movie or stroll along the river for dinner at Skylon?

Martini Library at The Arch London
At The Arch hotel near Marble Arch, you can enjoy expertly made cocktails and afternoon tea in the elegant Martini Library. There are plenty of reasons to linger, from the bookcases lined with lifestyle books to the strategically placed ‘press to refresh’ buttons to summon more drinks and snacks. You can stay for dinner at the hotel’s modern British restaurant, Hunter 486, or dine nearby at Bernardi’s or Roti Chai.

The Library Bar at The Lanesborough
For a dose of old-world glamour, head to The Lanesborough for drinks at one of London’s most celebrated cocktail destinations. You can perch at the bar and enjoy cognacs dating back to the 1770s or find a cosy corner to read and enjoy live music from their resident pianist. If you’re feeling peckish, you can order upscale bar snacks or dine in style at the award-winning Céleste.

The Library Bar at The Ned
Tucked behind a sweeping curtain, this intimate bar has over 30 Champagnes to choose from, as well as classic cocktails and a martini trolley. It’s a suitably luxurious spot for drinks before dinner at one of the hotel’s many restaurants. The catch? You’ll need to be a member or a hotel guest to drink here.

Still looking for somewhere to indulge your passion for booze and books? Check out the library room at Tooting’s Gorringe Park pub or go for cocktails at BYOC City where the walls are lined with over a thousand books. If you’d rather eat than read, The Cinnamon Club is the obvious choice – the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are a nod to the building’s previous incarnation as the Old Westminster Library.

Flavour of the month: 10 new restaurant openings in London

OpenTable March 6, 2019 Leave a Comment

London’s restaurant scene continues to flourish. Now and in the imminent future, a lunchtime hot spot gets another iteration, Islington discovers 14 varieties of sausage, and an Angela Hartnett protégé sets up in Marylebone.
Kanishka
North East India’s cuisine is a rich one, containing dried or fermented river fish, bamboo shoots, rice, less masala than neighbouring regions, and particularly meat-heavy dishes. Atul Kochhar’s latest venture, Kanishka, looks to translate the region’s bountiful street food to Mayfair.
Barullo
Following up his highly-praised ventures Rambla and Sibarita, Victor Garvey’s is set to open a new restaurant in the City. Spanish-influenced dishes, from the sherry-brined fried chicken to the toasted coconut ice cream, sound promising indeed.
Myrtle
London’s last notable restaurant opening with an Irish slant was Nuala in January last year. This one, led by Dublin-born Anna Haugh (who’s cooked in some of London’s most famous restaurants), promises an enlightening take on Irish-European cuisine.
Xier
Neapolitan chef Carlo Scotto was first employed in a professional kitchen at the age of 13, eventually falling under the wing of Angela Hartnett. With his own concept, Scotto wants to take external influences (namely Japanese and Scandinavian) and marry them with the best of British produce.
Gloria
Taking Italian to the max with 2am closing times, 3,000 wines, a 10-layer lasagna, and enormous cheese wheel pasta is Gloria, a new arrival from Paris. The 1950s-style Italian trattoria hopes to introduce a bit more variation, and a bit more colour, to Shoreditch.
Bambusa
Bambusa, set to open on Charlotte Street in March, will be an all-day South East Asian-inspired café from the team behind Roti Chai. There’s an emphasis on breakfast and lunch – from blending their own coffee, to a build-your-own-tray affair with shoyu chicken, sushi rice, kimchi jackfruit, and the like, for lunch.
Adam Handling Chelsea
Already behind five restaurants and cafes, and at only 30, Handling adds to his growing empire. His latest, in Chelsea’s Belmond Cadogan Hotel, aims to build on what made his others great – elegance and sustainably sourced ingredients. And, overseeing the hotels’ entire food and drink operation, from room service to afternoon tea, he has 90 staff to help him do it.
Lucknow Social
Dum Biryani – a Soho restaurant best known, perhaps, for its affordable weekday lunches – launches its follow up, Lucknow Social, this spring. Lunch specials will feature heavily too, as well as biryanis and kebabs galore.
X-Upper
The already plentiful Upper Street, or ‘Supper Street’ should you wish to call it, is joined by another player. This time, it’s all about proper sausages. The X-Upper team toured 14 European cities to find the best variety of bangers, which, if their tastes are anything to go by, include bratwurst, Cumberland, Italian Romagna, and Polish kielbasa.
Orasay
Perhaps one of the year’s most anticipated openings comes from the duo behind St Leonards and Brunswick House. Now open in Notting Hill, the restaurant has a seafood focus – expect razor clams, crab, langoustine, and oysters, to name a few. Other dishes though, such as shallot tart with aged Comté and black truffle; and Tamworth cop with white beans, look like early hits.