5 Things You Need to Eat in London This WeekBy Alicia Grimshaw
Looking for some amazing London restaurant openings and foodie news? You’re in the right place. Whether it’s a new pizza restaurant or a delicious burger, we’ve found the best food in the capital this week. Stop your Google searching now, here’s five things you need to eat in London this week:
1. For a New Pub: Be-Bop-A-Lula
Why: On the menu is classic diner and pub food, including little bites such as Little Richards, mini pork sausages in honey mustard, and Frikin Wings, coated in BBQ or Buffalo sauce. Other highlights include The Famous Elvis Sandwich, a sweet and savoury combo of toasted bloomer bread, mashed banana, peanut butter and bacon; Hound Dog, a Saveloy topped with fried caramelised onions; Be-Bopa-Burger, featuring aged Scottish beef, tomatoes, gherkins, and mustard; and the Chick Berry Burger – free range chicken breast in home-made jerk seasoning. For dessert, there’s a classic American pie or the James Brownie, both served with ice cream.
Where: 68-70 Green Lanes, Stoke Newington, London N16 9EJ
2. For New Traders: Giant Robot
What: Giant things are happening at Giant Robot with two new street food favourites joining the trader line-up, alongside Yum Bun and Thunderbird. Head up to the Canary Wharf rooftopia at Crossrail Place, and dig in to Burger & Beyond and Laffa – both pitching up at their third Street Feast market this year.
Why: Make a beeline for Burger & Beyond and try their brand-new mighty dish, the B.B.B (Bacon Butter Burger) – two 45-day aged beef patties with burnt butter mayo and crispy pancetta, only available at Giant Robot. Laffa are also bringing a brand new menu to the rooftop arena – perfect for a fresh and healthy Levantine lunch. Polish off the hummus bowl topped with slow-cooked lamb, or the Jerusalem spiced chicken mezze box with wild rice, tahini, harissa and sumac ‘slaw. They’ll also serving their epic trio of stuffed pittas – don’t miss the aubergine and goat’s cheese with a side of crispy halloumi fries.
Where: Garden Level, Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AR
3. For a New Collaboration: Patty & Bun x Flat Iron
What: Patty & Bun has teamed up with Flat Iron to create a seriously naughty burger special. Only on the menu until 22nd December, the Iron Burger is available at Patty & Bun Old Compton St and Flat Iron Golborne Road.
Why: This is a burger carefully crafted literally from field to bun, using Flat Iron’s own heard of Galloway cattle up in North Yorkshire and their in-house butcher who butchers the whole sides in their Covent Garden restaurant before combining selected marbled, flavoursome cuts (chuck, brisket, bavette), which is then grinded by hand in-house daily. A Galloway mince beef patty is topped with roscoff onions, fontina ‘goo’, dripping and truffle mayo, all stuffed into a shiny brioche bun.
Where: 18 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 4TN and 46 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PR
What: Serving the best small plates from around the world, stunning cocktails, a comedy gameshow brunch, DJs every night and a waterproof private dining room, Rascals, the zany restaurant and cocktail bar on Curtain Road is now open.
Why:This is not to say that the food and drink aren’t taken seriously at Rascals; Head Chef Heritier Nsemi has worked at the refined Royal Hospital Road and Petrus. At Rascals he has taken a more relaxed approach, creating a menu of indulgent, accessible plates of food. Think sticky pig belly with a Mezcal glaze; cauli cod waves; and the burrata surprise with tomato, and fig and rocket pesto. Desserts are not to be missed with the show-stopping melting chocolate ball pit, and Eton tidy.
Where: 97 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3BS
5. For a New Pop-Up: Bubble Bros
What: Ben Broad and Joe Bruce, the duo behind Bubble Bro, are taking their beloved prosecco van off-road to host a three-day Christmas pop-up on Columbia Road where everyone will be given the chance to be their own barman – taking hold of the taps and enjoy free flowing, unlimited bubbles.
Why: Openings on Tuesday (12th December) for four days only, attendees can channel their inner mixologist and take part in a spritz on arrival, learning to shake and stir from the experts before taking to the taps and turning on the unlimited bubbly. Pizza Pilgrims will also be on hand serving slices of a specially designed Christmas pizza, alongside their Pococello limencello which will be available for those who fancy honing their skills on the cocktail shaker.
Where: The Bubble Bros Christmas Spritz Bar, 1st Floor, 134 Columbia Road London, E2 7RG
We’re feeling lucky..
6. For a New Opening: Pizza Union
What: Pizza Union have brought their dough to the yard with their new Dalston opening. Banging out their signature superfast authentic and affordable Roman-style thin and crispy 12” pizzas, made using the highest quality fresh ingredients, hand rolled and fire-baked in Pizza Union’s traditional domed stone pizza oven, get down to this east London joint for a slice of the action.
Why: Expect classics such as the Margherita (tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil), and Fiorentina (tomato sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, egg, and fresh spinach), alongside favourites such as Calabria (tomato sauce, mozzarella, mascarpone, N’duja spicy sausage and rocket). Leave space for the outrageously delicious Dolce (dough ring with Nutella and creamy mascarpone), served alongside a changing selection of Italian gelato.
Where: 14 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London, E8 2JP
Second Photo Credit: Charlie McKay
We’re feeling super lucky..
What: The Chandon Bar has returned to Brixton Rooftop for the winter season, and it’s brimming with boozy delights. Decorated for the Christmas season with mistletoe and holly, the bar sells a range of cocktails plus the classic, fresh and fruity Chandon Brut by the glass.
Why: On offer is the Christingle – a light pairing between Chandon Brut Campari and clementine juice, and the Elffin Bubbly, a subtle blend between Chandon Brut, refreshing grapefruit and a couple of drops of angostura bitters – sure to satisfy all tastebuds.
Where: Pope’s End, Brixton, London SW9 8JH
Photo Credit: Jake Davis
And another for good luck..
8. For a New Residency: Mookrata
What: Fah Sundravorakul, founder of hot pot specialists Shuang Shuang, has opened a brand new pop-up, Mookrata, on Shaftesbury avenue, bringing a delicacy from his native Thailand to London for the very first time. Popular amongst locals in Thailand and drawing influence from China and Korea, Mookrata combines a traditional hot pot with a Korean barbecue.
Why: Traditionally shared between families and friends, diners are seated in groups around a hot pot of simmering broth, with the grill dome in the centre. Sliced meat including marinated pork, pork belly, black pepper beef and rib eye can be cooked on the grill, using tongs, while other meat cuts and vegetables such as Choi Sum, Julienne cabbage and assorted mushrooms are cooked in the soup. To complete the dish, choose from a selection of nam chim, spicy Thai dipping sauces of lime and chilli, hot and sour, and a special Mookrata sauce. All combinations are possible but recipe cards are also available to recreate Thailand’s traditional and most loved combinations.
Where: 64 Shaftesbury Avenue (entrance via Shuang Shuang), London W1D 6LU
