The Best London Restaurant Openings This April
By Something CuratedHighlighting this month’s most promising restaurant launches and culinary events, Something Curated takes a closer look at what to try, as well as the founders and proprietors behind the openings.
East
Mãos || Nuno Mendes
Chiltern Firehouse and Taberna Do Mercado chef, Nuno Mendes is set to open an intimate 14-seater dining space off Redchurch Street in Shoreditch. Mendes will launch the restaurant with James Brown to “provide a gastronomic experience for a discerning clientele.” Mãos sets out to offer its guests a unique dining experience inspired by the chef’s Portuguese heritage. 3 Chance Street, London E2 7JB
Leroy || Ed Thaw & Sam Kamienko
From the team behind Hackney’s Michelin-starred Ellory comes Leroy, a more casual French offering with a focus on wines and small plates. The restaurant takes over a new location in Shoreditch, while keeping all the same staff as its predecessor. The new space will be an opportunity for head chef Sam Kamienko to show off skills learnt in Paris through small plates and shellfish. The bar will also be cooking up treats with vermouth and armaro being made in-house. 18 Phipp Street, London EC2A 4NU
City
Ekte Nordic Kitchen || Soren Jessen
1 Lombard restaurant owner Soren Jessen plans to explore his Nordic roots through dishes such as, snaps-cured dill salmon, pickled radishes, onion and beet and Norwegian hazelnut cake with chocolate sauce, with the opening of his second restaurant, Ekte Nordic Kitchen. Located in Bloomberg Arcade, the glass-fronted structure will be composed of a bar, open kitchen, 60-seater dining area, and 20-seater outdoor space. 2-8 Bloomberg Arcade, London EC4N 8AR
King’s Cross & Clerkenwell
Poon’s || Amy Poon
Poon’s three-month residency in Clerkenwell is drawing to a close at the beginning of May. Founder Bill Poon opened the first location in Covent Garden in 1973 and earned the venue its fame and a Michelin star. Now, several years after its closing, his daughter Amy hopes to continue to “improve people’s perception and experiences of Chinese food” at the pop-up by serving home-style dishes with a modern twist. 131-133 Central Street, London EC1V 8AP
Two Tribes KX || Robin Pearson
Music studios and media companies already call Tileyard Studios home, and soon so will the new brew house Two Tribes KX. The 2,500 sq ft space in King’s Cross will include an expansive outside courtyard space. Expect plenty of entertainment from DJs and emerging artists, as Two Tribes plans to collaborate with Island Records to host live performances. Traditional cocktails and a range of beers on tap, as well as Patty & Bun and more, will make up the food and drinks options. Tileyard Studios, Tileyard Road, London N7 9AH
Central
Din Tai Fung || Yang Bingyi
The opening of Din Tai Fung in Tottenham Court Road will signify the Taiwanese chain’s European debut. The eatery, famous for its Xiao Long Bao (steamed pork dumplings), was founded in Taipei in 1980. Its London location will settle in a public square near the 34-story Centre Point Building. Aside from their signature dumplings, the eatery’s menu will include steamed chicken soup and steamed chilli-crab and pork buns. 101 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DB
HIDE || Ollie Dabbous
Ollie Dabbous’ launching of HIDE, in collaboration with Hedonism Wines and Oskar Kinberg, is one of the most anticipated openings of 2018. Dabbous’ Piccadilly eatery will be much more elaborate than his last, comprising three floors: a downstairs bar with private rooms, a ground floor with a-la-carte dishes and a bakery, and a top floor that overlooks Green Park. 85 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NB
Old Chang Kee || Sandra Leong
Since its opening in 1956, Singapore’s famous curry puff house Old Chang Kee has spread to 78 sites across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, and now London – marking its European debut. Londoners familiar with the curry-chicken-stuffed-pastry snacks from the restaurant’s pop-up in Kentish Town last year will be thrilled to know the chain is establishing a permanent Asian coffee shop in Covent Garden. 15a New Row, London WC2N 4PD
Bancone || William Ellner & David Ramsey
Seasoned restaurateurs William Eller and David Ramsey, and renowned chef Louis Korovilas, will bring affordable, authentic Italian dishes to William IV Street with the opening of Bancone. Head chef Korovilas, who previously cooked at Locanda Locatelli and Pied à Terre, will prepare a range of plates including: pappardelle with slow-cooked kid goat and rosemary ragù, lamb neck ravioli with spring vegetables and tagliolini, and more. 39 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DD
Stem || Mark Jarvis
Pigeon and coconut will be available on a menu in London for the first time with the opening of chef Mark Jarvis’ third restaurant; a two floor townhouse-looking food spot on Oxford Street. Dark tiling, granite tabletops, and verdant living wall will make up the dining area where guests will be served a unique combination of foods – smoked eel, celeriac, and white chocolate; pigeon, coconut, and salted peanuts. 5 Princes Street, London W1B 2LF
South
Deptford Bites Live || Grace Dent
Deptford Market Yard will welcome a new weekly food market, Deptford Bites, which will host a range of popular street vendors and musical performances. Popular vendors such as Oyster Boy, Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen, and Black Milk Ice Cream will serve their signature bites. Dent, Adrian Luckie from Mama’s Jerk, Sama Arshad from Deptford Esquire, and more culinary leaders will lead lectures on Deptford’s regeneration, gentrification, veganism, and more. Deptford Market Yard, SE8 4BX
An Evening with Pierre Koffmann || Pierre Koffmann
French chef Pierre Koffmann will take over Tate Britain’s Rex Whistler restaurant with a one-off dinner, following the closing weekend of The EY Exhibition: Impressionists in London. Guests can enjoy a four-course meal inspired by recipes from the “Classic Koffmann” cookbook, as well as some of his most famous dishes – Pied de Cochon and his Pistachio Soufflé. (27 April – book here) Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
Words by Ashley Barquin | Feature image via Poon’s