December's best new restaurant openings
London restaurant openings slow in December as the capital prepares for Christmas.
Still, this month has a fine crop, including an eatery doing pizza very differently
Bonnie Gull Soho, restaurant
The seaside one:
Their tagline is London's freshest fish, but these theatrical small plates burst with playful innovation.
Why go?
For Bloody Marys with oysters on top, and an ultimately nostalgic blast of British seaside culture.
Read more ...Ceru, South Kensington
The Eastern Mediteranean one:
The bright and flavourful food of the Levant, in a luxury setting.
Why go?
For the signature 5-hour slow-roasted lamb, cooked with 12 spices. Or the new £9 speedy lunch menu, with high quality food, fast.
Read more ...The Gate restaurant, Marylebone
The vegetarian one:
The Gate restaurants in Islington and Hammersmith are some of the best vegetarian restaurants in London, and now they're getting a third location to add to the collection.
Why go?
The Indo-Iraqi founders are influenced by French and Italian cooking styles, so there's a mix of cuisines sympathetically blended.
Read more ...Antipodea, Kew
The Neighbourhood one:
Brew Café's five London locations are renowned for best quality coffee and all-day food in a relaxed setting.
Why go?
Their sixth project Antipodea, due to open this December, is a spin-off that follows a similar concept in an adorably repurposed old post office in Kew village.
Read more ...Radio Alice pizzeria, Hoxton Square
The hip one:
Wood-fired pizza at Hoxton Square's rustic new all-day socialising spot.
Why go?
'Berbere' pizza is order of the day. That's pizza with a wood-fired base, crispy and soft in equal measure, with the toppings added afterward.
Read more ...Jamavar London, Mayfair
The luxurious one:
The Jamavar group have five successful restaurants in India - and now they're bringing their award-winning formula to Mayfair for their first international opening.
Why go?
Head chef Rohit Ghai has worked for the award-winning JKS restaurant group before (Gymkhana, Trishna).
Breddos Taqueria Clerkenwell
The family one:
It's great to see tacos being taken seriously - especially these ones, which are from award-winning street food favourites, Breddos Tacos.
Why go?
To keep on top of Clerkenwell's burgeoning foodie hub. And for tacos so authentic they're made on a mill imported from Mexico.
Read more ...