The Best London Restaurant Openings This February
By Something CuratedHighlighting February’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. This month sees a number of culinary heavyweights, including JKS and Alan Yau, set-up new sites around the city, as well as the opening of Nigerian concept Chuku’s first brick-and-mortar home.
Hoppers, King’s Cross || Jyotin, Karam & Sunaina Sethi
From JKS Restaurants, and inspired by the home cooking and roadside stalls of Sri Lanka and southern India, the third incarnation of Hoppers will reside in Pancras Square in King’s Cross. Its terracotta-toned interiors takes cues from the much-travelled coastal journey from Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, to the Dutch colonised town of Galle, and will weave in iconic landmarks along the route. Alongside existing favourites, the menu will feature bar bites, seafood grills and beachside snacks, including black pepper curry leaf prawn skewers, quail kari, and sprat and brinjal pahe.
Pancras Square, Kings Cross, London N1C 4AG
Chuku’s || Emeka & Ifeyinwa Frederick
Following a series of popular pop-ups, Chuku’s is now opening their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Tottenham. Helmed by siblings Ifeyinwa and Emeka Frederick, the concept serves up Nigerian tapas, with a backdrop of contemporary art and an Afrobeat soundtrack, paying homage to the city of Lagos. Signature Chuku’s plates like jollof quinoa, suya meatballs and plantain waffles will be on the menu, along with new dishes from Northern Nigeria. Going permanent will also allow Chuku’s to showcase a full drinks offering, including the hibiscus-infused Zobo Sangria, a Palm Wine cocktail and Nigerian beers.
274 High Road, Tottenham, London N15 4RR
Padella, Shoreditch || Tim Siadatan & Jordan Frieda
Founded by Tim Siadatan and Jordan Frieda of Trullo in Islington, Padella is set to open a second site, complete with an in-house bakery, in Shoreditch this month. The original Padella opened in Borough Market back in 2016 and has consistently maintained long queues since, owing to a concise and economical menu of antipasti and fresh hand-rolled pasta, including the popular pici cacio e pepe and 8-hour beef shin ragu. The latest Padella site is set to offer a similar menu to the original, as well as some undisclosed new additions created especially for the east London operation.
1 Phipp Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 4PS
Mozzasando || Alan Yau
Alan Yau will launch Mozzasando, an Italian-infused katsu sando bar, in South Kensington later this month. Yau’s take on the sando comes in collaboration with Italian mozzarella bar group Obicà. The menu at Mozzasando will combine the popular Japanese snack, which is typically filled with a deep fried meat cutlet, with the flavours of the Milanese, a parallel Italian recipe for breaded veal or chicken. The sandwiches will be served with fries, which can be topped with beef ragu or nduja sauce. Yau refers to Frank Salvoni’s now-closed Britalian sandwich bar on Wardour Street as a point of inspiration.
96 Draycott Ave, Chelsea, London SW3 3AD
Townsend || Joe Fox
Whitechapel Gallery’s intimate dining space has been home to a number of exceptional chefs over the years, and it is now reborn as a modern British eatery. Named after the Whitechapel Gallery’s architect Charles Harrison Townsend, the kitchen is led by Joe Fox, of Petersham Nurseries. Celebrating seasonal British ingredients, dishes on offer include golden potatoes with egg yolk, Berkswell cheese, and winter truffle, as well as a roast venison with beetroot, wild cabbage and ale-braised onions. For dessert, there is Yorkshire rhubarb with pear sorbet and marjoram or ginger and treacle pudding with clotted cream ice cream.
77-82 Whitechapel High St, Shadwell, London E1 7QX
Feature image via Hoppers