5 Things You Need to Eat in London This WeekBy Alicia Grimshaw
Your time is precious. And so are pizzas. From a new oyster deal to two exciting new openings, we’ve found the best things to eat in the capital this week. Have a good’un, folks:
1. For a Greek Celebration: Hungry Donkey
What: Hungry Donkey will once again be celebrating the Greek day of Tsiknopempti on Thursday (16th February). The restaurant will be serving its spit-roasted ‘pay by the kilo’ souvlas for groups to share with a selection of traditional sides to enjoy.
Why: At Hungry Donkey customers are able to order meat by the kg served with a seasonal salad, selection of dips and warm Greek pita bread. In keeping with the Hungry Donkey ethos, all of the meat comes from free-living animals including Cotswold White chicken, Blythburgh pork and Devon and Cornwall lamb supplied by award-winning butchers, Aubrey Allen. The restaurant has always put a strong emphasis on responsibly and locally sourced ingredients in a bid to keep the restaurant as sustainable as possible.
Where: 56 Wentworth St, London E1 7AL
2. For a Valentine’s Day Special: Eat First x Just Eat
What: Just Eat have teamed up with one of their restaurants on the platform, EatFirst, to create a special tasting menu for Valentine’s Day. The menu has been created by EatFirst’s Chef Benn Hodges, formerly of Roka and The Ivy, to create a takeaway tasting menu that takes customers through a food journey of ‘love and passion’ using well-known aphrodisiacs such as chilli and chocolate.
Why: The special V-Day menu includes buffalo burrata to start served with heirloom tomatoes, black olives, basil and rocket, dressed with extra virgin olive oil infused with vanilla, lemon zest, and basil, and served with grilled rosemary and sea salt focaccia. Other courses include; duck ragu pappardelle braised overnight with virgin Sicilian green olives, and roasted squash salad with tomato jam. The final main course is aged flat iron steak marinated in pepper and ginger, chargrilled and served pink. And lastly, flourless chocolate cake served with a fresh vanilla cream.
Where: Order online
3. For a New Opening: Greenwood
What: Barbers and brews, Six Nations and shuffleboard, or bubbles and brows – welcome to Greenwood, the brand new multifaceted venue from ETM Group in London’s hottest new food quarter, Nova Food. Featuring beers by the tankful, fantastic food, a premium sports lounge and in-house grooming courtesy of Sharps Barber and Shop and blinkbrowbar, Greenwood draws inspiration from 1970’s college common rooms and libraries.
Why: Open all day from 8am, seven days a week and directly opposite Victoria station, Greenwood offers a versatile all-day menu, bursting with British produce. Drop by for a morning coffee, a leisurely breakfast, business lunches, or a pre-theatre bite. Greenwood’s large clay oven dispenses thin and crispy stone-baked pizzas with a delicious array of toppings as well as heartier fish and meat dishes. Small plates, including seabass tostada with avocado or creamy salsify and artichoke croquettes, sit alongside perfectly-cooked steaks and salad jars while decadent desserts come in the form of fried apple pie with cinnamon ice cream and Oreo cheesecake with blondie crumb.
Where: 170 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5LB
4. For Another New Opening: TWID
What: TWID (That’s What I Do) Restaurant & Bar has just opened in Battersea Reach, offering a concise menu of sharing plates and a drinks list including cocktails, served in an eye-catching theatrical dining room with live opera singers performing every evening.
Why: Menus have been created by Tom Ilic, and feature a choice of four meat, four fish and four vegan or raw choices of plates ideal for sharing, all of which will change regularly. Expect dishes such as scallops served with kale, raspberries and hazelnuts; duck with pickled cauliflower, apples, raisins; or quinoa stuffed mushrooms served with a superfood salad, pine nuts and basil. Desserts are all raw, dairy and gluten-free, and include a take on strawberry cheesecake and a dessert drinks such as Mozart Dry chocolate vodka.
Where: TWID, 228 York Road, Battersea, London SW11 3S
What: Quo Vadis have just announced the arrival of Pie and Oyster Mondays at lunch and dinner in the restaurant and the members’ club, starting from Monday (13th February).Every Monday for the foreseeable future, the Great Dame of Dean Street will offer its Pie of the Day and Oysters, both at 50% off. There will also be a matched wine or ale to the pie on offer, which will too be half price.
Why: The Pie of the Day has become something of a favourite amongst Quo Vadis guests, seemingly embodying the restaurant’s approach to unaffected good dining that bolsters the spirit and delights the palate. Oysters are chosen from the best of the suppliers’ offerings that day and keep things elegant.
Where: 26-29 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 3LL
