The only thing we love more than a new restaurant opening, is talking about a new restaurant opening. Here’s our guide to getting bluffed up on this month’s finest offerings. Life’s too short to go to the same restaurant twice:

Just Opened

1. For Italian: Enoteca Pomaio

What: Following an extended soft launch period, Italian restaurant and wine bar Enoteca Pomaio is now officially open in London’s foodie hub: Shoreditch. Go wild for fresh pasta, vino and creamy risotto.

Eat and Drink: The menu, designed by executive Head Chef Francesco Mastronardi, previously of The Four Seasons Florence and Milan, brings a real flavour of fresh, modern Italian cooking to the capital. Signature dishes include: bruchettas with truffle and quail eggs; wild boar risotto with broccoli and guanciale; mackerel nicoise with capers and fresh vegatables; and a new fresh pasta dish created everyday to reflect seasonality and the best possible ingredients. Desserts are also a winner – Tuscan chocolate served with salt flakes and cocoa, and marron semifreddo.

Gimme More: The carefully selected wine list was created by Luca Degl’Innocenti (Tuscany’s top sommelier in 2013 and Enoteca Pomaio’s restaurant manager) and is totally unique to London. It’s the first of any kind featuring Italian craft wines from small growers that are biodynamic, organic, sustainable and natural.

Where: 224 Brick Ln, London E1 6SA

2. For Seasonal Fare: Lupins 

What: Following the almighty success of their bespoke catering and pop-up restaurant company ‘The Cooking Collective’, Lucy Pedder and Natasha Cooke are embarking on their newest venture this month: opening the doors to their Lupins restaurant in Flat Iron Square, London Bridge.

Eat and Drink: The menu showcases a wonderfully imaginative range of small plates and snacks. The snacks array includes dishes such as sumac lamb scrumpets and pomegranate molasses, and cornmeal fried spring onions with smoked chilli aioli. The small plates collection includes dishes such as polenta crusted anchovies with a wild garlic and onion salad; sea trout, cucumber and seaweed butter; chipotle roast pigeon with charred baby gem and carrot; and spiced beef short rib with purple sprouting broccoli. To finish off the meal, indulge in dishes such as a plate of Neal’s Yard cheeses, or rhubarb with ginger, vanilla yoghurt and shortbread.

Gimme More: The drinks list is packed full of quirky and well-priced wines alongside a monthly changing cocktail. 75% of the list features natural, organic and biodynamic wines, from new independent wine company Smashing Wines based in Suffolk.

Where: 68 Union St, London SE1 1TD

3. For Indian Grub: Tamarind Kitchen 

What: The award-winning Tamarind Collection has opened a new restaurant, Tamarind Kitchen. The heartbeat of any Indian home is its kitchen; the place where family and friends come together to talk, eat and relax. Inspired by this idea, Tamarind Kitchen has brought a convivial Indian dining experience to the heart of buzzy Soho, complete with dishes from Tamarind Mayfair.

Eat and Drink: Tamarind Kitchen menus present a stunning array of fish, meat, game and vegetarian dishes — many of which arrive fresh from the kitchen’s authentic Tandoor oven. Starter dishes include Makai Kachumber, a vibrant corn and vegetable salad lifted by a chat masala dressing and Karara Kekda, soft shell crab with potato salad and homemade pickles. The flavour explosion continues with meaty kababs, such as the game platter, which serves tandoor-cooked quail, duck and guinea fowl on a bed of vermicelli.

Gimme More: The traditional South Indian alappuzha fish curry with kingfish and spiced with tamarind, mustard and curry leaves will rock your world

Where: 167-169 Wardour St, Soho, London W1F 8WR

4. For Doughy Delights: Quartieri Pizza 

What: Directly from those who know Naples best, Quartieri is an authentic Napoletana pizzeria – just opened in Kilburn. Inspired by a family recipe dating back to 1923 from the guys who brought Naples the famous Pizzeria Trianon Vomero, Quartieri uses flour and grain that has been milled in the traditional way, slow risen with minimal yeast creating truly authentic pizza from its homeland.

 

 

 

Eat and Drink: The menu is divided into four sections; antipasti, la storia (the classics), la innovazioni (Quartieri specials) and of course dolce. To start, a selection of frittura are on offer including crocchette and arancini as well as bruschetta and buffalo mozzarella with tomato. Moving onto the pizzas, you can choose a classic such as Marinara or Puttanesca, or a pizza inspired by modern Naples like the Costiera Amalfitana made with lemon or Crema di Pistacchio. Pizzeria Trianon Vomero is not only famous in Naples for the taste, but also the size of the pizza. To finish, a selection of sweet pizzas, as well as artisan gelato from Gelupo in London, and cheeses from Campania.

Gimme More: The drinks list is a carefully curated selection of Italian wines, beers and soft drinks. The wine has been selected from independent wine makers in and around the Naples region. Quartieri have worked closely with a vineyard located beneath the Vesuvius volcano to create their own red and white wine. 

Where: 300 Kilburn High Rd, London NW6 2DB

5. For a Permanent Site: Dandy 

What: Daniel Wilson and Andrew Leitch, the duo behind the popular Dandy Café, the successful shipping container pop-up restaurant in London Fields, have opened a new permanent restaurant site on Newington Green. The menu takes inspiration from Dan and Andy’s travels, using seasonal produce from trusted suppliers.

Eat and Drink: Dishes on the menu include shawarma-spiced lamb belly, baba ganoush and cauliflower; burnt onion broth, spring leaves and hay-smoked labneh; and radicchio with blood orange and miso. The restaurant uses a selection of top quality produce across the board, focusing on seasonal ingredients, speciality coffee, beer and natural wines.

Gimme More: Dandy comprises 50-covers inside, with a further 30 on the terrace for al fresco dining.

Where: 20 Newington Green, Mayville Estate, London N16 9PU

Opening Soon

6. For Japanese: Machiya

What: Aaron Burgess-Smith and Tony Lam, the people behind critically acclaimed Kanada-Ya are launching a new restaurant concept, Machiya, named after the eponymous townhouses that once typified the traditional city scape of Kyoto. Opening on 18th April, the all-day Japanese restaurant will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a wide variety of menus aiming to please every palate.

Eat and Drink: The lunch and dinner menus are centred around homely and traditional Japanese dishes, some of them relatively new to London including Gyukatsu, a panko-crusted wagyu steak lightly fried until rare then finished cooking by the customer on their own shichirin (small Japanese charcoal grill). Meanwhile, the ‘Don’-style dishes are worth a look if you are eager to try non-mainstream Japanese dishes new to London, with specialties such as Truffled Omu Rice – chicken stock braised rice on a thin Burford Brown omelette, and Gyudon – beef strips cooked in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, sugar and Sake.

Gimme More: For breakfast, guests will have the choice of kobachi, Japanese tapas-style dishes that will change daily (such as sesame dressed spinach, Hijiki seaweed salad, tamago yaki), hotcakes (Japanese pancakes but fluffier and more soufflé-like), and Machiya’s take on the ever so popular avo toast using thickly sliced Japanese milk bread and crushed avocado dressed with yuzu iuice and furikake seasoning.

Where: 5 Panton Street, London

7. For Street Food: Giant Robot

What: If you regularly frequent Dinerama, Hawker House or Model Market – this new opening is going to set your world on fire. Giant Robot is a brand new, seven-day-a-week street food arena, opening at Crossrail Place in Canary Wharf. Turning on the power on Wednesday (12th April), Giant Robot brings together a line-up of some of London’s best street food, a tiny tapas bar from José Pizarro – Little José – plus two brilliant bars, creating an eating and drinking rooftopia in E14.

Eat and Drink: Joining Little José will be three of Street Feast’s favourite street food traders – Yum Bun, BOB’s Lobster and Thunderbird – the new one-stop chicken shop from wing kings, BBQ Lab. The venue will also feature a 360° island bar serving killer cocktails, as well as a 38-tap container bar with draught beers and craft cans. Grab a growler of Sierra Nevada or Frontier and go sharesies with your mates.

Gimme More: Head down after work for fantastic cocktails, wonderful wines and craft beers. Stop off at Little José for a glass of sherry and an order of crispy fried squid boca with aioli and sensational spicy prawn fritters with lime mayo. Then make a move to Thunderbird and share a pile of chipuffalo wings with a side of fries drenched in awesome sauce.

Where: Giant Robot, Crossrail Place, London E14 5AR

8. For Meat and Fries: Saucy Chip

What: From festivals to Fitzrovia, the gourmet chip sensation Saucy Chip have found a permanent home in London’s iconic Jerusalem Bar and Kitchen. Hot off the heels of three years of successful trading out of their distinctive red, white and blue Citroen H truck at the UK’s biggest music festivals, Saucy Chip are officially opening  on Monday (24th April).

Eat and Drink: The menu served for lunch and dinner at Jerusalem Bar and Kitchen is full of their music festival favourite’s including their five signature gourmet chip dishes, such as the indulgent kick ass chilli cheese chips with 100% spicy beef chilli topped with Cheddar cheese and Sparkenhoe red Leicester and their signature chips, taking inspiration from a northern chip shop classic, smothered in a homemade Katsu curry sauce. Also making an appearance on the menu will be the saucy chick burger, a crowd pleasing buttermilk marinated spicy chicken burger on a glazed buttermilk bun topped with a homemade spicy peri peri and garlic mayo, and drizzled with a devilishly hot Caribbean sauce.

Gimme More: New additions to the menu will include the light and crispy fabulous fish balls made with smoked haddock and cod, a sort of British homage to the Spanish croquetas served with a homemade cajun inspired aioli.

Where: Jerusalem Bar and Kitchen, 33 – 34 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JN

9. For Coffee: Shot Espresso

What: Fulham’s favourite coffee brand, Shot Espresso, will be launching their fourth and largest site in Victoria’s latest development, Verde SW1. Come for pastries, sublime coffee and classic brunch dishes.

Eat and Drink: Joining the flurry of new foodie openings in the area, Shot Espresso is the first specialist coffee opening in the area: an exciting new independent cafe and deli bar, offering artisanal Allpress coffee, Antipodean-style breakfasts, brunches and grab-and-go Italian style lunches all served up by an array of expert barista.

Gimme More: The vast 85-cover café will feature a bar and coffee counter, seating area and outdoor area.

Where: Victoria, London SW1

10. For Wine and Small Plates: Comptoir Café & Wine

What: Restaurateur and sommelier Xavier Rousset brings his latest venture, Comptoir Café & Wine, to the streets of North Mayfair on Grosvenor’s London estate this month. Offering all-day dining of seasonal food, artisan coffee and a wine list curated by Rousset himself and sold in the shop downstairs, Comptoir Café & Wine will be an impressive and welcoming destination for weary shoppers and local residents alike.

Eat and Drink: Comptoir Café & Wine will bring together seasonal ingredients and quality suppliers with the sense of home-from-home familiarity. Serving early morning breakfast signature dishes from Eggs Benedict to home-made granolas, through to ceviche, salads and hot dishes until the late hours; Comptoir Café & Wine will serve as the go-to for breakfast meetings, lunch stops and relaxing evenings.

Gimme More: The wine shop will also incorporate an intimate space for private tastings and events suitable for up to 30 people standing or 12 seated, making it an excellent spot to enjoy a quiet glass in London’s busy West End.

Where: Comptoir Café & Wine, 21-22 Weighhouse Street, London W1