New restaurants are coming to a London neighbourhood near you and we promise you’ll want a taste of them. From Korean sticky chicken to fresh seafood, these are the launches you need to know about
1Bouillabaisse, Mayfair
Founder of new Mayfair haunt Bouillabaisse, Kurt Zdesar, has drawn inspiration for his new restaurant from sun-drenched lunches in small fishing villages near Venice, encounters with fisherman in Greece and Spain, and far-flung corners of the UK. Determined to follow sustainable fishing practices, the menu features the likes of Hebridean barbecued langoustines with fresh basil and white balsamic reduction; snow crab cakes with salsa verde; lobster and white fish ravioli, and the signature Bouillabaisse of prawns, seabass, clams, mussels, gurnard and lobster. Meanwhile, the wine list is selected from worldwide coastal vineyards, chosen to enhance the flavours of seafood. Bouillabaisse is split across two floors and will feature a large chef’s table for up to 20 guests that will lead into the centre of the open kitchen on the lower ground floor. Interior design was overseen by Jordan Littler, who has mixed textures of distressed wood, copper, and brass with black brick. The main restaurant walls will be flanked with gently lit water tanks filled with fresh seafood, with a striking frosted glass bar.
4 Mill Street, London, W1S 2 AX; bouillabaisse.co.uk
Camino opens on Bankside, Southwark
2Camino, Bankside
Camino Bankside opens in June in Southwark with a more relaxed offering than some of the Spanish tapas bar’s other locations. The layout of the new restaurant is designed to complement the laid-back eating and drinking vibe – pull up a pew at the open kitchen, bar and jamón counter or south-facing terrace. The use of natural leathers, grained timbers and Spanish tiles are a testament to the colourful country Camino hails from, while (aptly-named chef) Nacho Del Campo has created an equally patriotic menu. You’ll find the likes of pan-roasted whole octopus tentacle with purple potatoes, paprika and olive oil; black rice with cuttlefish, squid ink and alioli; charcuterie and artisan cheeses, and a whole roasted Segovian style suckling pig, slow roasted with white wine, onions, garlic and herbs. Spanish brunch will also be served at weekends and cured meats from the jamón counter can be ordered to take away.
5 Canvey Street, The Blue Fin Building, London, SE1 9NA; camino.uk.com
Mommi brings Japanese and Latin flavours to Clapham
3Mommi, Clapham
Sushisamba first alerted us to the joys of Japanese/Latin flavours fused together and now Mommi Japanese-Latin Raw Bar + Grill is bringing it Clapham. Expect rainbow plates of mostly gluten- and dairy-free ceviche and sushi, alongside hot dishes like pork belly with sweet potato and salsa. There will be Peruvian breakfasts at the weekend, served with Bloody Piscos – something we’re interested in trying – and the wine list focuses on South American bins, while the Japanese drinks come in the form of craft beers. And Mommi will have the first in-house sugar-cane juicer in London. Adding an extra element of fusion to the party, Australian photographer Ben Watts’ (brother of actress Naomi) pictures will decorate the restaurant’s walls, along with a specially-commissioned mural by Melbourne street artist RONE.
44 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UR, wearemommi.com
Sketches for Tom Oldroyd’s new restaurant in Islington
4Oldroyd, Islington
If Russell Norman is the brawn behind uber-successful restaurant group Polpo, then Tom Oldroyd has to be the brains. Having worked with Russell as his Chef Director for five years, including on the opening of the original site in Soho, Tom is now going his own way, with the opening of his first solo restaurant, Oldroyd in Islington. Sticking to what he knows best, this is going to be a relaxed neighbourhood restaurant with a daily-changing menu of small plates featuring locally-sourced ingredients – sound familiar? Well if it ain’t broke…
Oldroyd, 344 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 0PD; OldroydLondon.com
Halva, the sleek new Fulham bakery
5Halva, Fulham
Although it technically opened at the end of May, we’re still including Halva in our June round-up because it sounds so darn delicious! The independent bakery and café on the Fulham Road, sells pretty-as-a-picture bread, pastries and cake all handmade on site, lovingly kneeded by pastry chef Lila Sarhang Zade, who has trained in France – the land of the pastry – before coming to England. Halva is open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea all of which are served in simple but stylish surroundings. Choose from breads scattered with chia seeds or made with honey sour doughs, flaky croissants and sweet pastries, or just grab a coffee on your way to work.
771 Fulham Rd, Fulham, London SW6 5HA; halvabakery.co.uk
READ: THE BEST BREAKFASTS IN FULHAM
6The Farm Girl Café, Notting Hill
Healthy Australian cooking are three things we’re confident that the residents of Notting Hill can get on board with. New restaurant The Farm Girl Café promises just that when it opens in the smart west London neighbourhood. Breakfasts are full of jumbo oats and chia seeds, it’s all beetroot salads and vegan BLT’s – how you wonder? Two words. Coconut Bacon – for lunch, plus there will be avocado with almost everything. As is the Australian way, the interiors will be easy and breezy, with a cool, light vibe, turquoise tiles and bespoke graffiti for a bit of edge.
59 a Portobello Road, W11 3DB, thefarmgirl.co.uk
JUBO’s famous fried chicken will still be on the menu at its Islington restaurant
7JUBO, Islington
You can judge a restaurant by its pop-up and JUBO’s in Shoreditch has been running for two years, make of that what you will. Now the Korean experts are heading to Exmouth Market and this time it’s permanent. Not straying from what it does best, the folk behind JUBO will be serving its famous fried chicken with crunchy coatings, plus there will be a selection of ‘Anju’ – drinking food – and ‘Banchan’ – side dishes – developed by chef Heung Kook Lee. There’s steamed buns, kimchi fried rice and barbecued pork. Flavour-wise, think spicy, tangy, sweet and very more-ish.
50 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QE; jubolondon.com
8Kricket, Brixton
We may have mentioned our excitement about the opening of Pop Brixton so any excuse to write about it and we’ll jump at the chance. Joining the south London foodie hotspot next month is Kricket – an Indian restaurant serving small plates and cocktails. Food comes courtesy of Will Bowlby who learned his Indian cookery skills in Mumbai before mastering the modern techniques of London’s Cinnamon Kitchen. With Kricket he will be combining the best of British seasonal ingredients with authentic Indian recipes and spices. The menu lists bhel puri with raw mango, sev, tamarind and yogurt; samphire pakoras, with wild garlic mayonnaise, date and tamarind chutney, and Vindaloo bavette with coriander, cassava chips and burnt onion.
Pop Brixton, 53 Station Road, SW9 8PQ. @kricketbrixton
Granger & Co’s healthy antipodean cooking comes to King’s Cross
9Granger & Co, King’s Cross
If the queues at the Notting Hill and Clerkenwell outposts of Granger & Co have finally got too much for you make your way to King’s Cross for Bill Granger’s latest restaurant opening in June. Once just known for being a train station, King’s Cross is fast becoming one of London’s hottest food destinations, seeing in one great launch after another. Following Granger & Co’s blueprint of casual, fresh dining, the all-day menu will be brimming with comfort food and a nod to good health. There are almond milk chia seed pots with berries, pomegranate and coconut yoghurt for breakfast; zingy salads like raw tuna and avocado poke with brown rice for lunch and shrimp burgers with jalapeño mayo for dinner. Interiors are inspired by Bill’s favourite Italian railway station in Florence and the post-war Italian bars in Melbourne. Expect a melange of colour from stunning terrazzo pink floors, olive green leather banquettes, classic 70s table lamps and walls crammed with artworks.
7 St Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG; grangerandco.com
The Fever Tree Garden at The National Theatre
10Alfresco gardens at the National Theatre, South Bank
Among a series of alfresco pop-ups that The National Theatre’s restaurants and bars will be a Fever Tree garden at The Green Room with bars where guests to become the mixologists and create their ideal G&T pairing from a specially curated gin list featuring a range of gins including Sipsmith, Jensen’s Bermondsey Dry and Hendrick’s. The pop-up will also have a barbecue on the go, with pork or chicken souvlaki in flatbread, hotdogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. There will also be a new rooftop Prosecco Bar at The Terrace Restaurant, where guests can sip Jascots Wine Merchants’ new Vino Vispo sparkling wine and cocktails next to a stunning backdrop of the River Thames. Lastly, there will be riverside seating at The Understudy and Kitchen serving craft beers, wood-fired pizzas and ice cream.
The National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX; nationaltheatre.org.uk