The London restaurant scene is never short of new openings and intriguing pop-ups to enthrall foodies from near and far.
Perhaps you follow a few hungry bloggers or have a favourite critic that gives you a heads up on the latest and greatest places to eat in our great capital. No? Then you might want to check out some of these …
Merchants Tavern | Shoreditch
The newest opening from Angela Hartnett (a Gordon Ramsay protégé now making her own waves in the culinary world) is this modern bar and brasserie in East London.
With a touch of ‘vintage’ appeal the faded surroundings exude Shoreditch-cool while the bar serves twists on classics, an Armagnac, cognac and rum Old Fashioned is a delicious example, alongside original but similarly spirituous drinks with forward-thinking flavours, from amaro to herbal flavours, Campari and absinthe.
Private dining in the ‘Storeroom’ will be opening soon too.
The Apartment | Hoxton
The Hoxton Hotel & Grill are well loved fixtures of the neighbourhood and they’ve recently opened the aptly named ‘Apartment’, a quirky new event space.
It has the look and feel of a lived-in city abode with a smart yet welcoming dining room and relaxed playroom plus a kitchen with it’s own fully stocked bar.
There are five rooms that can either be hired individually or together as a whole apartment takeover anytime between Monday-Friday 6.30pm – 1.30am and all day Saturday and Sunday.
The modern décor, flexible layouts and AV equipment makes the Apartment great for dinners and drinks parties.
Steam and Rye | City of London
Opening late November 2013, Steam & Rye is a new one-stop destination venue by London entrepreneur Nick House, co-founder of (Mahiki, Whisky Mist and Bodo Schloss). Teaming up with British model Kelly Brook, they have created a spectacular space harking back to a bygone era, encapsulating America’s Gilded Age, a time of glamour, decadence and idealism in the old Bank of New York building in Bank, the heart of the City of London.
Steam & Rye contains four main elements. The Main Hall and Station Gardens are modelled on New York’s Grand Central Station and offer an over-whelming assault on the senses. The room features a beautiful sculpted bar, a stage, living clock, and its very own Eastern Pacific Steam Train Dining Carriage. Mirroring the land that was opened up by the mighty railroads, Steam & Rye will feature classic Americana fare including USDA Grain-fed beef from Greater Omaha, BBQ spare ribs & beautifully flavoured steaks cooked on the Josper Grill. Additionally, crab cakes, clam chowder and smoked pulled pork give a hint of what’s to come, all prepared by a team led by celebrated chef Andrew McLeish (of Michelin starred Chapter One, Kent).
Beamish’s study is our favourite room – great for private dinners of up to 20
Steak Secret | Mayfair
There isn’t much that the JW Steakhouse team don’t know about steak, and whatever that is it isn’t worth knowing, so throw yourself into a world of secret codes and undercover missions at their new #SteakSecret nights.
Sleuths and secrets aside this is one hell of an experience – a 7 course authentically American menu devised by head chef Julian Ward, coupled with delightful Bourbons from their extensive bar offering.
Guests enter via a disused entrance on Upper Grosvenor Street (all is revealed in an invite after inputting a unique code found via twitter) and are escorted through the bustling kitchens to the private dining room where delicious cocktails await before the eating begins in earnest.
Depending on your preferred dates there is possibility to book a private group up to 12 guests.
AD12 at T42 | City of London
Tower 42 supplies the views (it’s hard to beat the London skyline from such a height) whilst Michelin starred chef Anthony Demetre brings his contemporary bistro style to this twelve week pop up.
Whether you’re a fan of Demetre’s own restaurants (Arbutus, Wild Honey and Les Duex Salons) or sampling his cuisine for the first time, the daily changing menu is sure to please – from squid and mackerel ‘burger’ with Cornish razor clams to crisp pigs head with potato purée and pickled turnip or the excellent rabbit saddle and shoulder with roast carrot and autumn greens the menus are pure class.
With a selection of private dining spaces to accommodate a variety of group sizes, this is a sure fire hit if you’re looking for the wow factor when entertaining clients.
Get in quick before they close on 20th December though!
Hoxley & Porter | Islington
This petite venue (the entire restaurant seats just 30) has all the charm and glamour of the roaring 20s – think Gatsby and you’re pretty much there.
The decor borrows from the likes of the Orient Express, with vintage suitcases adorning the walls and art deco features including fabulous graphic print wallpaper.
Named after an intrepid explorer, “Hoxley” and a priceless diamond, “Porter”, the venue is full of surprises, not least in its inventive cocktail menu including concoctions such as “Whatever Doesn’t Kill You” a colour changing cocktail garnished with an absinthe coated scorpion if you’re feeling brave?
Groups can book out a section of the restaurant, but if you don’t like to share you might want take it exclusively (subject to minimum spend).
The bar is stocked to the brim with exotic rums and classic gins – so if you want a little extra to tempt your guests the bar team are happy to talk you through their favourites.
LeCoq | Islington
Sometimes simplicity is best; we’ve all watched Masterchef the professionals, marvelling at their wild and wonderous dishes, maybe you’ve even managed to get a reservation at the Fat Duck and sample some of Heston’s crazy creations, but you can’t deny the simple pleasure of a good roast chicken right?
LeCoq offers a weekly changing set menu with a choice of rustic dishes and their signature rotisserie chicken. Passionate about the quality of the food, they source all their birds from Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, a farm that breeds slow-growing traditional chickens in a free range environment.
They do deviate from the glorious chooks on Sundays though with classics such as suckling pig, beef shank and whole sea bass if you fancy something different.
Founding sisters Ana and Sanja are happy to tailor menus and experiences for groups and have an understated private dining space complete with barn style lamps … cluck cluck.
Hixter | City of London
We don’t have much to tell you yet, other than sharing our excitement that the outstanding Mark Hix’s Restaurants Etc are adding to their extensive portfolio with Hixter opening later this month.
The 5,000 sq ft restaurant will open on the site of the former Sushinho on Devonshire Square in Bishopsgate, London in November.
Commenting on the choice of name, Hix said: “It arose from a conversation that a journalist thought they overheard at a party one night, and kind of escalated and developed from there. We were looking for a name that would sit well across a group of restaurants that will take on the concept of chicken and steak that has been so well received at Tramshed in Shoreditch. The site is a hugely exciting acquisition for us, we’ve been looking to open a site in the City for some time and this site meets our criteria on many levels.”
The ground floor restaurant will have a 100-cover dining room, and diners can choose either a whole Swainson House Farm roast chicken for 2-3 to share, including chips for £25, a 250 or 500g Glenarm mighty-marbled steak at £20 and £40, a 1kg porterhouse at £69 or kilo rib steaks coming in multiples of 250g all served with chips and Bearnaise.
Pied Nus | Bond Street
A refreshing pop-up where the ‘less-is-more’ approach really rings true, the menu strips back traditional dishes, giving diners fresh and simple combinations with the only the best of flavours.
The menu is made up of smaller dishes designed to be shared in the relaxed atmosphere and pared down surroundings. As you may have guessed from the name, David Moore, restaurateur and owner of Michelin starred restaurants Pied à Terre and L’Autre Pied, is behind the concept and believes that simple food when executed perfectly can be exquisite.
The small restaurant can seat just over 30 and has a small ‘nook’ area at the rear for groups of up to 12.
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Effective Event Solutions organises group bookings, private dining reservations and bespoke food and drink experiences for a variety of clients. Get in touch with our team today and we promise to please even the fussy eaters and the been-there-tried-everything guys.
