One of our favourite new openings of 2019, we were very happy to see Da Terra make it into the 2020 Michelin guide with a shiny new star and then gain a second in 2021. Da Terra offers blind tasting menus, so the only choice you have to make is if you want the short or long version – whatever you choose, it’s all absolutely knock-out brilliant, with each dish beautifully presented and perfectly cooked. There are too many highlights to mention but particular standouts were some of the early courses such as the Isle of Mull scallop, which had been very thinly sliced and served with apple and fennel sauce; the amazing ‘panzanella’ of sweet tomatoes and stracciatella cheese topped with a tomato consomme; and bone marrow and parsley with sourdough. The food at Da Terra is technical and accomplished but the restaurant never loses sight of delivering fantastic dishes that you actually want to eat. The playful touches and amazing service from Rafael, who serves many of the dishes himself, ensures that an evening here is fun as well as showcasing a very talented bunch of chefs in the kitchen.
LEROY
Despite earning a Michelin star, the Ellory boys decided to shut up shop in London Fields and open Leroy in Shoreditch. Luckily, the gamble payed off as Leroy one it’s own Michelin Star in the 2019 Guide. It’s got the same front of house and kitchen team but is more of a relaxed affair, influenced by the new wave of Parisian wine bars. The space is lovely, a sort-of triangular site with lots of natural light, a bar/counter area with high stools and an open kitchen. They offer a range of snacks and sharing plates on the menu, as well as cheese and charcuterie so it caters for all occasions – we’d happily pop in for the terrine, a plate of cheese, and a glass of wine at the bar anytime
DINNER BY HESTON
Since Dinner by Heston Blumenthal opened in 2011, it’s gained two Michelin stars and has gained a very respectable place at 36 on the World’s 50 Best List. This being Heston, there is some culinary magic involved in a lot of the dishes but it’s certainly more pared back than what you’d find at The Fat Duck. Although very modern, many of the dishes are inspired by historical British recipes, delving back as far as the time of Henry VIII. All this might make you think that Dinner by Heston is very hard to get in to and not exactly easy on the wallet, and you’d be right – but take our tip and get in there at lunch time (Mon – Fri) where you can have the set lunch menu for just £45, and you’ll have a much easier time getting a rezzie too.
PIED A TERRE
Even though Pied a Terre has been around a long time (26 years to be precise) it’s always kept things fresh by having a series of talented young Head Chefs in the kitchen, the latest of which is Asimakis Chaniotis who is just 27. We began with a light but richly flavoured starter, Isle of Mull scallops with yuzu, celeriac and autumn truffle and next was a lentil and root vegetable casserole with gammon, perfect for the cold dark nights in London. Of the two main dishes, beef with bone marrow, spinach and enoki mushrooms was our favourite but the Cornish plaice with courgette was also excellent. To round it all off we had a beautiful chocolate pavé with chilli and stem ginger.
Pied a Terre is a London classic but one that is constantly reinventing itself to stay relevant in the city’s ever changing restaurant scene. With great food, wine and service, long may it continue.
A WONG
Beloved of foodies everywhere for years, A Wong finally won a Michelin star in 2017 and in 2021 it earned a second, making it the first Chinese restaurant in the UK to hold two stars. This is not a place to indulge in the classics as Andrew Wong cooks up a creative storm of modern twists of dim sum – think rabbit and carrot puffs shaped like little carrots or wagyu tart with truffle. It’s fun, it’s delicious and even though it’s in Victoria you should still go there.
LYLE'S
Lyle’s has built up a stellar reputation thanks to its elegant, seasonal British food but if you don’t want to plan ahead, you can also drop in for small plates and a glass of wine from their bar snack menu (as long as one of the six bar stools are free of course). It is a changing menu, but if the mussel, garlic and spenwood flatbread or the smoked eel with cabbage and seaweed are on, they’re must-orders. It’s not exactly cheap, but as a Michelin-starred pit-stop it’s pretty perfect.
THE RITZ
London has its fair share of iconic, world-famous hotels but The Ritz arguably trumps them all. The grand Grade-II listed building on the edge of Green Park has been around since 1906 and as you step inside, it feels as though not much has changed since then, with its decadent furnishings modelled on the grand old hotels of Paris. Nowhere does this feel more true than the dining room with its chandeliers, thick curtains, painted ceiling and classical sculptures – there aren’t many dining rooms in London like it and although it’s not exactly the design-style of today, it’s an amazing place to spend an evening; a pure piece of dining escapism.
Despite its reputation for all things grand and luxurious, The Ritz never held a Michelin star until it was awarded one in 2016 under the stewardship of Executive Chef John Williams, who joined the hotel in 2004. John’s refined menus are befitting of the space, beautifully presented classic French dishes that still feel fresh and modern enough to hold their own in London’s innovation-hungry dining scene. We went by for dinner and selected the Menu Surprise, consisting of six seasonal courses selected by John Williams, which at £105 is by no means bad value by Michelin London standards.
LA DAME DE PIC
Anne-Sophie Pic has five Michelin-stars across three restaurants already to her name. Her London opening, La Dame de Pic, shares its name with her Paris restaurant and she couldn’t have picked a more stunning location for it; the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel at Trinity Square. The building used to the Port of London Authority back in the day and the whole place is very grand indeed. La Dame de Pic itself is no exception, with big windows, high ceilings, and glamorous art deco design touches. And now she has another two Michelin stars to her name with her London restaurant, which added a 2nd star with the 2020 guide. The food too is sophisticated and beautifully presented, mixing a classic French style with some more unusual ingredients and Japanese influences (Pic lived and worked in Japan for a while). We loved seeing British ingredients such as Cornish crab given a different treatment, served here with sobacha and dill panna cotta, Corsican clementine and discs of crunchy celeriac
HAKKASAN
Sister to Yauatcha, Hakkasan also knocks out some beautifully refined Chinese food at its two locations in Mayfair and Hanway Place. It loses minor points for the permanent nightclub soundtrack but the cooking more than makes up for it. Again, you could spend a small fortune if you go for dinner but check out the Dim Sum Sundays menu available from midday until 6:45, which is £62 per person and includes a bottle of champagne to share, two cocktails each, a banging selection of dim sum and a main course too. A pretty civilsed way to spend a Sunday we think.
HELENE DARROZE AT THE CONNAUGHT
Helene Darroze took up residence at The Connaught way back in 2008, securing two Michelin stars within three years of opening and she added a third in 2021 after a big refurbishment. The restaurant serves fine dining food with French flair, each dish beautifully presented (and instagram worthy!). Each course is cleverly thought out and perfectly executed, both in terms of flavour and texture. Fresh crab and avocado was topped with salty caviar; rich foie gras came with a thin disk of fruit jelly; and coco bean was served alongside meaty cubes of eel and shimeji – a small Japanese mushroom. Lobster was accompanied with asparagus, seaweed and botargo and then came the juicy sweetbread with more asparagus, morel mushrooms and white wine. If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate, want to treat yourself or just fancy a blow out this place needs to be on the list.
TRISHNA
Michelin-starred Trishna takes you on a journey through India with plates inspired by the south coast, rich seafood dishes from Goa and a range of puris, bhajis, behls and idlis, and you can go for seafood, veggie or meaty tasting menus. This is anything but your average curry house and is one to save for a real treat.
GYMKHANA
Widely considered to be one of, if not the, best Indian restaurant in London, Gymkhana is looking better than ever after a refurbishment following a fire. There’s new artwork and photographs on the ground floor level, and a more substantial remodelling in the basement, which has seen the bar moved and a more colourful design adopted. The menus still feature many of the Gymkhana classics, as well as a few new dishes and cocktails, so there’s plenty of reasons to visit again even if you’ve been before. The kid goat methi keema was always one of the most hyped dishes at Gymkhana and it’s still a must order – scooping up the rich minced goat meat and piling it on to the soft buttery pao buns is a joy to behold. Another one of Gymkhana’s most famous dishes, the muntjac biryani, is still here and again it’s one you won’t want to pass up. The pastry crust is broken upon table-side, revealing a steaming bowl of rice and chunks of muntjac deer – it’s a heavy dish but it’s served with pomegranate and mint raita which helps add a bit of freshness. Whether you’re a long time fan of Gymkhana or you’re yet to visit, the refurbishment of the space is the perfect excuse to visit. It’s certainly pricier than your average Indian restaurant but the cooking is exceptional, and fully worthy of it’s Michelin-star status. A five star experience all round.
HIDE
- Monday: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Ollie Dabbous’ Hide was one of the most hyped openings of 2018 and it lived up to all the talk by winning a Michelin star within six months. Hide is split into three sections, with Below, a cocktail bar and wine cellar in the basement: Ground, a ground floor restaurant with a more casual vibe and a weekend brunch offering; and tasting menus on the top floor called Above. The food is of course inventive, skilful, and delicious with dishes like ‘Nest Egg’, an eggshell filled with a creamy concoction of yolk, smoked butter & mushroom and squab pigeon cooked over charcoal with quince miso. And we must mention the wine list which is one of the biggest in Europe. This is thanks to the partnership with nearby Hedonism wines. Not only is there a huge selection of wines in the restaurant’s own cellar but the list expands to roughly 6,000 bottles when you take into account Hedonism’s stock. The whole thing is so big, it’s stored on an iPad and if you want a bottle from Hedonism, they’ll whip round and get it for you.
