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Highlighting March’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.


NASI Economy Rice || Mandy Yin

Following the success of restaurateur Mandy Yin’s acclaimed laksa concept Sambal Shiok, she is now opening a new Malaysian takeaway spot next door on Holloway Road, named NASI Economy Rice. It is positioned as a completely separate format to Sambal, dubbed by the creator as “a community-minded quick lunch and dinner option for students and local residents.” The menu is inspired by Malaysian economy rice stalls, offering stir-fries, braises, and curries, including nasi campur, and Malaysian chicken curry with potatoes.


Wildflower || Adrian Martin

Wildflower is the debut UK restaurant of chef Adrian Martin, housed in Camden’s new eco market on Buck Street. Situated within a shipping container, Wildflower rethinks fine dining with an intimate space that marries sustainability and refinement. The seasonally changing menus are inspired by Adrian’s Irish heritage and will focus on using locally sourced produce, with every dish championing a foraged ingredient. Wildflower will also make full use of Buck Street’s communal Garden Terrace, where they will grow herbs and greens to be used in the kitchen.


Six by Nico || Nico Simeone

Scottish-Italian chef Nico Simeone is launching a revolving restaurant concept on Fitzrovia’s Charlotte Street, named Six by Nico. The Glaswegian native proposes an ever-evolving six-course tasting menu that will change every six weeks, with each iteration following a different theme. No two menus will be the same, moving between diverse international-inspired dishes and off kilter concepts themed around a place, idea or memory. The new 80-cover space features cosy interiors designed by Glasgow-based interior design practice Severino.


Akoko || William JM Chilila

Fitzrovia is getting a new West African restaurant conceived by chef William JM Chilila. Located on Berners Street, Akoko, which means ‘time’ in Yoruba, offers an innovative menu combining British ingredients and West African spices. Having previously worked at Galvin at Windows and Orrery, Akoko is Chilila’s first solo project. The menu includes popular West African classics like smoked jollof rice, and grilled beef suya with caramelised onion and confit tomato, alongside more novel dishes like barbecued baby aubergine maafe and smoked goat consommé.


Larry’s || Matt Bushnell, Nicholas Balfe & Mark Gurney

Following the popularity of Salon and Levan, co-founders Nicholas Balfe, Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell are set to open a new concept, Larry’s, in Peckham. Larry’s will be open all day, with an offering of coffee and fresh pastries for breakfast, hefty sandwiches inspired by New York’s Italian-American delis for lunch, and a brief and inventive menu of sharing plates for dinner. As with its sister restaurant, Levan, Larry’s is named after 1970s dance music pioneer and DJ Larry Levan, and will stay open late into the night, playing music from its vintage Celestion Ditton sound system.



Feature image via Nico Simeone

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