Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionals—and your views, too.




 

News for Restaurants in London
September 2009 Archive

Search / Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Culinary Events / Wine Events /Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive


RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Good news for fans of Mark Hix's thoroughly down-to-earth, skilled cooking. The chef behind Hix Oyster & Chop House in Farringdon is about to open a new Hix in the space that was the short-lived, though highly commendable Aaya. Hix, 66-70 Brewer St., London W1, 020-7292 3518.
 
The relatively new branch of Marylebone's Villandry, Villandry Kitchen in Holborn, gives the business area a topnotch bistrot and café with all-day dining in a smart, rustic space. Try the likes of duck rillette with baguette and chutney, a charcuterie plate or a similar one of cheese, stone-baked pizza and salads as well as more substantial steaks or duck confit. Mon.-Fri. 8am-11pm, Sat. 8am-9.30pm, Sun. 9am-10.30pm. Villandry Kitchen, 95-97 High Holborn, London WC1, 020-7242 4580.
 
What was the Notting Grill of Antony Worrall Thompson is now, yes, another gastropub in Notting Hill. The Clarendon is smart with an airy downstairs dining room, an upstairs cocktail lounge and a good terrace. A sure hand in the kitchen delivers pan-fried jumbo prawns with aïoli, potted ham hock terrine, roast pork with black pudding, steaks and grilled tuna. Nothing startling, just very good fare. Mon.-Fri. noon-12.30am, Sat.-Sun. 10am-12.30am. The Clarendon, 123a Clarendon Rd., London W11, 020-7229 1500.
 
TV chef Jamie Oliver has just opened the first London branch of a small nationwide chain, Jamie's Italian. And it's in the corporate heartland of financial London---Canary Wharf. It's all a bit, well, casual like Jamie himself. And it's very good, serving home-style Italian cooking that's reasonably priced. Mon.-Fri. 11.30am-11pm, Sat. noon-11pm, Sun. noon-10.30pm. Jamie's Italian, Unit 17, 2 Churchill Place, London E14, 020-3002 5252.
 
It may be getting late in the year for alfresco dining, but if London gets an Indian summer, then The Crabtree, the latest gastropub in Hammersmith, might be packed. Just downstream from The River Café, this large, pleasant spot has great views from the extensive garden. With a good menu and friendly staff---what more could a diner want? Mon.-Fri. Lunch & Dinner, Sat. noon-10pm, Sun. noon-9.30pm. The Crabtree, 4 Rainville Rd., London W6, 020-7385 3929.
 
The Lower East Liquor Bar & Bistro brings a touch of Manhattan to Canary Wharf. Very near the river, the views are great in the buzzing, noisy space. There's a big circular bar and a surrounding bistro with a menu that runs from steak tartare to monkfish, steaks and American desserts like cheesecake. It's open 7 days a week, from breakfast to late. Mon.-Fri. 7am-10.30pm (Fri. to 2am); Sat., Sun. 10am-10.30pm (Sat. to 2am). Lower East Liquor Bar & Bistro, 28 Westferry Circus, London E14, 020-7536 2862.
 

News Bytes

Oyster Classes at Le Bouchon Breton
There's an ‘R' in the month, so it's the oyster season again. Celebrate and learn more about the succulent mollusk at Le Bouchon Breton in Old Spitalfields Market. The sessions take place on the last Friday of the month (except December) from now to March, at 6.30pm. Each master class features ten different varieties of oysters, paired with a glass of Champagne and wine. Learn how to open them (without cutting off a finger) and learn all the subtle differences, discover how to spot a bad oyster and watch a cookery demonstration. £60 per person. Le Bouchon Breton, Old Spitalfields Market, 8 Horner Sq., 1st floor, London E1, 0800 019 1704.
 
The Art of Dining
Fine art and good food have always gone together, so expect the Friday and Saturday nights at the Wallace Collection to be popular. The opening of Damien Hirst's new collection, No Love Lost: New Paintings by Damien Hirst, has prompted the glorious gallery to put together a private view and dining package every Friday and Saturday evening from October 14 to January 24, 2010. Try either the 3-course £45 meal or go for the £55 feasting menu in the restaurant, surrounded by sculptures. It's an evening of vichyssoise velouté courtesy of the chef, and formaldehyde, courtesy of the artist. The Wallace Restaurant, Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1, 020-7563 9505.
 
Heinz Beck Comes to The Lanesborough
Refurbishments are all the rage in London, many in hotels with the 2012 London Olympics in mind. The Lanesborough, A St. Regis Hotel is right up there with the latest incarnation in its gloriously stained-glassed Conservatory. Just re-opened as Apsleys - A Heinz Beck Restaurant, this is the chef's first restaurant outside Italy. Expect the likes of sea bass cannolo with celery and melon and slow braised veal cheek. The Menu del Giorno at £26 at lunch is a steal. Apsleys - a Heinz Beck Restaurant, The Lanesborough, A St. Regis Hotel, 1 Lanesborough Pl., London SW1, 020-7333 7254.
 
Chef Shuffle

Check back soon for more news.


Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for London to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Aroma, R.I.P.

Check back soon for more news.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook
? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.


View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in London

Current News View archived news: January 2020 | November 2019 | September 2019 | April 2019 | January 2019 | December 2018 | October 2018 | August 2018 | July 2018 | June 2018 | May 2018 | March 2018 | January 2018 | December 2017 | October 2017 | September 2017 | August 2017 | April 2017 | December 2016 | November 2016 | October 2016 | July 2016 | May 2016 | April 2016 | March 2016 | February 2016 | January 2016 | December 2015 | November 2015 | October 2015 | August 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 | March 2015 | January 2015 | December 2014 | November 2014 | October 2014 | May 2014 | April 2014 | March 2014 | February 2014 | December 2013 | November 2013 | October 2013 | August 2013 | July 2013 | June 2013 | April 2013 | March 2013 | February 2013 | January 2013 | December 2012 | November 2012 | October 2012 | September 2012 | August 2012 | July 2012 | May 2012 | April 2012 | March 2012 | February 2012 | January 2012 | December 2011 | November 2011 | October 2011 | September 2011 | August 2011 | July 2011 | June 2011 | May 2011 | April 2011 | March 2011 | February 2011 | January 2011 | December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | September 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009 | September 2009 | July 2009 | June 2009 | May 2009 | April 2009 | March 2009 | February 2009 | January 2009 | November 2008 | October 2008 | August 2008 | July 2008 | June 2008 | May 2008 | April 2008 | March 2008



VALENTINE'S DAY WINES

Add wine to the celebration of love, curated by GAYOT´s Wine & Spirits Editor.

Check the list.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

For a rosé bubbly Valentine's Day celebration.

Get the recipes.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDSOver the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.