The Best London Restaurant Openings In January
By Something CuratedHighlighting January’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.
Ampéli || Oren Goldfeld
Joining Charlotte Street’s abundant food offering this January, Ampéli takes inspiration from the modern wine-focused restaurants of Athens, with a menu comprising both Greek and Eastern Mediterranean dishes paired with native wines from across the Greek mainland and its islands. The kitchen is helmed by Head Chef Oren Goldfeld, previously of Nopi, and the menu features dishes like braised cuttlefish with orzo and Moroccan red pepper sauce; short rib stew with quince and date molasses; and some sweet poppy seed loukoumades.
18 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2LZ
Bar Douro || Max Graham & Sean Marsh
Max Graham, founder of Portuguese wine bar Bar Douro in London Bridge, will open a second restaurant at the 1 Finsbury Avenue development at Broadgate in January. Head chef Sean Marsh’s menu is set to be sharing focused, with snacks, small plates and large plates all on offer, as well as the group’s much loved pasteis de nata. The wholly Portuguese wine list will boast one of London’s largest selections of wines from the country. Graham works closely with independent winemakers, importing several wines not presently available in the UK.
1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PF
Muse || Tom Aikens
Occupying an intimate 25-cover space in a renovated mews property in Belgravia, Muse comes from chef Tom Aikens, who has returned to London’s fine-dining scene after a five-year absence. The new project is spread between two floors of a characterful house, with each level featuring an open plan kitchen that allows diners to see the kitchen team at work. Australian interior designer Rebecca Korner has designed the space. The restaurant will serve a changing tasting menu, with Aikens drawing on his childhood memories and beyond to inspire the seasonal dishes.
38 Groom Place, London SW1X 7BA
Baraka
Turkish restaurant, Baraka, is set to open in January, and will serve Anatolian cuisine with a focus on open flame Mangal cooking and traditional recipes from across the Ottoman Empire. In Turkish culture, the term Baraka translates to an old wooden home. Customarily, it was where people socialised, lived and ate. The restaurant’s menu will include mezze plates such as hummus with lamb, pine kernels and mixed herbs; hand rolled pastry filled with warm feta cheese and herbs; and 12 hour marinated aubergine, mixed pepper, onion baked in tomato sauce.
1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PF
Oklava Bakery + Wine || Selin Kiazim & Laura Christie
Selin Kiazim, head chef and co-owner of Shoreditch’s modern Turkish grill Oklava, is transforming her Fitzrovia restaurant Kyseri into a bakery and wine spot. Along with Laura Christie, Kiazim will open Oklava Bakery + Wine in late January on Grafton Way. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a weekend brunch, the bakery draws on influences from Kyseri, the original Oklava in Shoreditch and Oklava at Arcade, Tottenham Court Road, showcasing diverse recipes. Alongside bakes, expect pasta plates, such as beef and sour cherry manti, and pide specials.
64 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DP
Feature image via Oklava