Restaurants

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Whenever visiting a celebrity chef chain restaurant, there’s always a surrounding air of trepidation. It’s highly unlikely, of course, that the chef in question will be on hand to oversee everything that goes on within the kitchen, as well as giving the diner a chance to sample some of the cooking that they’ve witnessed on television. It is, however, likely that the restaurant will be absolutely filled with self-promoting portraits that adorn the walls,...

Photo: David Loftus By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Since opening its doors in 2003, The Wolseley has become a celebrated Central London dining institution. Taking the place of a 1920s car showroom, The Wolseley Car Company, which was later acquired by Barclays Bank. Perched beside The Ritz Hotel, on Piccadilly, the restaurant has become so famous that there’s a downstairs shop selling all types of merchandise that’s emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo, as well as celebrated food writer A.A....

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Alike many of life’s joys, Greek food is one of those things that I often forget just how much I truly adore. As is the case with all cuisines, Greek can be executed remarkably awfully, yet when perfected; Greek food is absolutely sensational. Plump Kalamata Olives dressed in local Olive Oil, Tzatziki (a Yoghurt and Cucumber-based dip), dried Oregano used as a third seasoning, subtle Feta Cheese, an almost magical use of Filo Pastry,...

Located upon the 40th floor of London’s Heron Tower, Duck & Waffle isn’t just the highest restaurant in the UK, it’s also one of the most popular amongst London’s foodie elite. Open 24 hours a day, it’s still incredibly difficult to book a table for two. Arriving a little earlier than planned, we begin our visit at the already bustling bar area, taking a seat with a glass of Wine before being whisked away into the dining area and seated...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Opened as the second restaurant within The Shard – the skyscraper that still divides opinion between Londoners – back in 2013, Hutong is now perched on floor 33 above Aqua Shard (owned by the same company). As well as the view, as is often the case with this type of skyscraper inhabiting restaurant, the location of London’s first Hutong, based on the Hong Kong original, has contributed to the venue’s popularity, although the building...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food The term “gastropub” has become a little tricky and somewhat controversial. Coined in 1991 by David Eyre and Mike Belben, proprietors of The Eagle pub in Clerkenwell, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the term as: “a pub, bar, or tavern that offers meals of high quality”. However, ever since the phrase came to being over 20 years ago, far too many of the UK’s pubs have (wrongfully) rebranded themselves. Let’s face it, if every single pub...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food With plenty of exciting restaurant openings constantly taking place across the Capital, here’s our pick of the best new restaurants arriving in London over the coming month. Austen’s Smokehouse – Kensal Rise It’s no secret that DJ Yoda loves his food. Now, for the first time ever, the artist will be bringing his love of BBQ to Kensal Rise for his first restaurant opening. Set to open its doors later in the month, the 80-cover restaurant set across...

By Emma Silverthorn, @HouseOf_Gazelle Don’t go to Umami for the ambience - the restaurant is on the first floor of a Crowne Plaza Hotel - and though ‘Smooth Jazz’ was advertised, the music sounded more like muzak to me. The décor is certainly aiming for stylish contemporary but could be better described as corny. And on the Friday night that we went the hotel had been taken over by a loud wedding party, so drunken guests provided the night’s entertainment. Bluntly:...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Having visited Mr Ramsay’s relatively new Heddon Street Kitchen, as well as Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa (the competition that’s situated just next door) to Bread Street Kitchen, in recent months, I find myself very excited to finally sample what’s on offer at BSK, having enjoyed my trip to the restaurant’s little sister situated in Central London. Arriving at Gordon’s corner of One New Change (the shopping centre that’s located mere metres from St. Paul’s Cathedral)...