These Hot New Restaurants Just Opened
Whilst August was slower on the uptake when it came to restaurant openings, September has been alive with new locations throwing open their swing doors, causing members of the public to shout hey, hey good looking, what’ve you got cooking?
So, here are all the places spoiling us rotten when it comes to choosing an away from home eater. From British produce at The Montagu Kitchen to a bar with a sole dedication to David Bowie. There’s been something for everyone to enjoy this month and beyond.
Hotel Café Royal
When David Bowie came to throw a retirement party for his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, in the 1970 he chose the notorious Café Royal, the central London haunt of celebrities and creatives and now in honour of both Bowie and Ziggy Stardust, Hotel Café Royal is opening a new bar, Ziggy’s.
The bar is a playful tribute to the singer with cocktails inspired by both Bowie’s life and his famous album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ with each drink named after a lyric from the record. We’ve got our eye on the Tiger on Vaseline, inspired by the 70s classic the Piña Colada but with a modern twist of Cachaça, Tanaka spiced rum, roasted pineapple juice and lime juice and topped with homemade coconut and white chocolate foam. If you’re a fan of martinis, then you would have made a good drinking buddy for Bowie who had a particular penchant for them and so Ziggy’s has created the Femme Fatale which also links with sushi you’ll find in Laurent (the first-floor restaurant adjacent to the bar). It’s made using Japanese liqueur sake and French aperitif Byrrh and topped with a single rose petal.
Throughout the room there are a curated selection of images of David Bowie by his official photographer, Mick Rock, who worked with Bowie in the last years of Ziggy’s career. Alongside popular and familiar pictures of Ziggy, there’ll also be more intimate photographs, some of which have rarely been seen before. The opening of Ziggy’s is part of a big year for Hotel Café Royal, in June they saw the opening of Laurent, The Green Bar has just launched a new cocktail menu and in November Albert Adrià who has just been voted The World’s Best Pastry Chef will be opening his first permanent site outside of Spain, Cakes & Bubbles.
Where: 68 Regent Street, Piccadilly, W1B 4DY
Website: www.hotelcaferoyal.com
Old Compton Brasserie
From gloom and war emerged baby booms, ‘mod’ fashions and mini-skirts, and it’s without a doubt that the 60s are worthy of a recap, which is why Old Compton Brasserie, n the heart of Soho is sure to stir up the nostalgia. The artsy drinking and dining space seeks to relight the sixties Soho fire, equipped with pop paintings of Twiggy and Kate Moss, and in true houndstooth and mod style, there’s an abundance of colour throughout the space.
Holding hands with the theme is a curated cocktail list, by The Talented Mr Fox, which will feature The Paul Raymond, an ode to the King of Soho made with champagne, strawberry, white chocolate and more and the Regina Fong which pays homage to the female impersonator who made an impact in the 60s. On the food front, it’s British munching on the menu, from the ol’ classic ham, egg and chips to start your morning off and lazy meet-up meals of pigs in blankets with creamy mash and onion jus.
As Twiggy once said “the sixties were a time when ordinary people could do extraordinary things” and we think Old Compton Brasserie is going to rejuvenate us with that bit of the extraordinary.
Where: 36-38 Old Compton Street
Website: www.oldcomptonbrasserie.co.uk
Corinthia London
The instantly recognisable, Michelin-starred chef, Tom Kerridge has opened his first London restaurant this September, with an equally recognisable ‘does what it says on the tin’ restaurant, Kerridge’s Bar & Grill.
After announcing last year that his plans to open a restaurant at Jumeirah Carlton hotel had fallen through, another hotel stepped up and now, the restaurant will occupy the previous home of Corinthia Hotel’s restaurant Massimo. Updating their own designs, David Collins studios gives the restaurant a new look, with a dark green and burgundy colour palette, a rotisserie bar where diners can watch large joints of meat, fish and some root vegetables roasting; fridges where meat supplied by Tom’s own butchers, The Butcher’s Tap in Marlow will hang, and walls will be adorned with art work.
The bar sits behind a partition of antique mirrors, here you’ll find burgundy leather banquettes, a marble bar and an extensive list of English wines, Champagnes, ales and lagers on tap which you can see in a bespoke glass cellar as you enter the restaurant. Looking for something a little more intimate? Check out the Private Dining Room which will seat 18 and let you watch the chefs at work. As far as the menu goes, it’s grilled based and inspired by The Coach in Marlow with the rotisserie menu featuring a daily changing dish. And we know that it will be Nick Beardshaw taking on the role of head chef, who has worked with Tom for a number of years, both as a sous chef at The Hand and Flowers and as head chef of The Coach.
Where: Whitehall Place, Westminster, SW1A 2BD
Website: www.corinthia.com
The Montagu Kitchen
The Churchill relaunched The Montagu Kitchen under the direction of British Executive Chef, Mark Sainsbury. The restaurant is inspired by the gardens at Chartwell – the private home of Sir Winston Churchill, in Kent and serves seasonal food using local suppliers and British produce. Those who are excited for London Restaurant Festival can indulge in a curated menu throughout October, featuring cured Sussex salmon to start, marmalade pork belly, raspberry Bakewell tart and much more.
Where: 30 Portman Square, W1H 7BH
Website: www.themontagurestaurant.co.uk
Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration
Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration is an exciting new venue from the Mr Fogg’s Collection with everything from a vintage train carriage, to a map room and fully automated mechanical mixology machine. Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling, the founders of Inception Group, announced that they were launching three new bars to join Mr Fogg’s Residence, Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour and Mr Fogg’s Tavern earlier this year!
All inspired by the intrepid explorer, the first, Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals opened in June in Fitzrovia. And whilst everyone knows about Mr Fogg’s what about Aouda? The Indian princess he rescues and marries? She’ll was given her own bar in Broadgate Circle, Mrs Fogg’s and finally this month, Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration launched just off the Strand. The bars come thanks to OakNorth who provided the growth capital.
Arguably the most entertaining bar group, the new additions will join the likes of 80’s club Maggie’s, speakeasy Barts and 1940’s themed Cahoots.
Where: 1A Bedford St, WC2E 9HH
Website: www.mr-foggs.com
Pittabun
Pittabun, is the third venture from Greek chefs Georgianna Chiliadaki, Nikos Roussos and their UK partner Andreas Labridis. The restaurant holds 40-covers and has a takeout and casual Greek food vibe. Food includes savoury and sweet stuff homemade pitta buns, fresh salads and more…best enjoyed with a cold beer!
Where: 4 Newburgh street Carnaby, W1F 7RF
Website: www.pittabun.com
Rotunda Bar and Restaurant
Rotunda in Kings Cross had a refresh and opened with a 50% off soft launch before opening fully on the 24th of September. Highlights include meat from their up-north farm, a huge meat fridge display area, a new bar and outdoor terrace and a new varied menu with meat highlights.
Where: Kings Place, 90 York Way, Kings Cross, London N1 9AG, United Kingdom
Website: www.rotundabarandrestaurant.co.uk
