The Best London Restaurant Openings This December
By Something CuratedHighlighting this month’s most promising London food launches, Something Curated takes a closer look at what to try, as well as the chefs and proprietors behind the openings.
Bancone Soho || Claudio Melis & Stefano Cilia
Bancone, which opened in Covent Garden last year, is already expanding with a second site coming to Soho. Taking over the old Foxlow site, Bancone Soho will still have lots of counter seating, including one set around a big olive tree, with a cocktail bar and private dining room in the basement. Some of the signature pastas from Covent Garden, like those silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter and confit egg yolk will make the move over. Culinary Director, the Michelin-starred chef Claudio Melis, and Head Chef Stefano Cilia are also creating new dishes for the restaurant, including specials like crispy suckling pig belly and pan fried stone bass.
10 Lower James St, Soho, London W1F 9EL
Other Side Fried || Matt & Tommy
Burger operation Other Side Fried opens their first brick and mortar restaurant in Brixton, taking over one of the newly refurbished railway arches. Founders Matt and Tommy started the brand five years ago when they brought their fried chicken burgers to the Brixton night market in a converted food truck. Since then they’ve opened up their fast food restaurants in Pop Brixton, as well as having branches in Peckham, Camden and the West End. Designed as a 16 cover takeaway restaurant, the site will serve their classic fried chicken menu along with beer, plus a vegan burger.
Unit 14, Atlantic Road, London SW9 8HX
Barboun || Hus Vedat & Fez Ozalgan
Hus Vedat, the chef behind Horvada and the now closed Yosma, is opening Barboun in Shoreditch with Fez Ozalgan heading up the kitchen. The restaurant will be inspired by the Eastern Mediterranean with a focus on open fire cooking, so expect dishes like smoked aubergine with burnt tomato, grilled wild sea bass with fermented yoghurt tarhana, Anatolian spiced tomahawk steak, and monkfish with zhoug. As well as the restaurant itself being open all day, Barboun will also have a takeaway deli where customers can pick up produce like olives, cheeses, jams and yoghurt.
61-67 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3HU
The Melusine || Theodore Kyriakou & Wade Mundford
St Katherine Docks welcomes a new addition with the launch of a neighbourhood seafood restaurant. Founded by Theodore Kyriakou and Wade Mundford, The Melusine focuses on sustainably sourced food from the British Isles, serving small plates as well as grilled, poached and fried whole fish in a relaxed setting. The menu will change daily based on the day’s catch. Starters often include options like oysters, crab and monkfish from the raw bar, while the main menu of sharing plates features langoustines with jalapeno aioli, scallops with fava and charred spring onions.
Unit K, Ivory House, East Smithfield, St. Katherine Docks, London E1W 1AT
Wild Tavern || Marco Peri & Achille Panna
Landing in Chelsea, from the team behind Goodmans, Beast and Burger & Lobster, comes Wild Tavern. Dubbed as an informal neighbourhood restaurant with a focus on seafood dishes, particularly inspired by the Mediterranean, the restaurant plans to serve feasting plates of wild seafood, grilled meats and classic wines. Head chef Marco Peri comes here via Corbin & King’s Colbert, while Sardinian chef Achille Panna will support the project for its first six months.
2 Elystan Street, London, SW3 3NS
Feature image via Bancone