Looking forward: restaurant openings to whet the appetite 2018

Cult pop-up Roganic returns

Roganic is back. This is a big deal. If you’re unfamiliar with the original, when it first opened as a pop-up, Roganic was hailed as London’s answer to the world famous Noma – the Copenhagen restaurant that changed the way we think about plant-based ingredients and foraged food.

Kudu, Peckham

Peckham is fast becoming one of London's most buzzy foodie scenes, and the arrival of new neighbourhood spot Kudu is definitely one to watch. Not only does the South African inspired locavore menu read incredibly well, but one half of the team has serious restaurant heritage in her blood.

Bob Bob Cité: luxe Franco-Russian

We all love a handsome French chef with a mischievous smile. And Eric Chavot is revered among fellow great French chefs. Expect Franco-Russian haute cuisine and yes, those booths and press for champagne buttons will be there.

By Chloe. Covent Garden

Everything about By Chloe. screams NYC cool, from the full stop in its name to its determination to call itself ‘plant-based’ instead of just plain vegan. Both their burgers and mac and cheese are worshipped and desserts are fashionably pink and fruity.

Kettner's Townhouse, Soho

Georgian townhouse Soho institution Kettner's has been given a lavish makeover by the Soho House team, bringing the gorgeous old building back to life as a French restaurant using locally sourced ingredients, late night champagne bar and boutique hotel. Best news is that it won't be a private club.

Greyhound Cafe, Fitzrovia

One of Bangkok's most beloved dining spots is landing in London. The quintessentially Bangkok Greyhound Cafe is lauded throughout South East Asia – they have a whopping seventeen branches from Singapore to China – for their hip yet laid back style and modern take on Thai food.

Bluebird, White City

After 20 years in King's Road, Bluebird is spreading its wings with a new branch in the White City development on the former BBC Television Centre site. Executive chef Simon Gregory formerly ran Gordon Ramsay's restaurants: expect seriously good food and desserts too.

Sorella, Clapham

As fans of Clapham's The Manor, we're getting excited about it's big Italian facelift. Robin Gill transforms it into Sorella, with Dean Parker in charge specialising in Italian coastal cuisines. There will be lots of suitably sundrenched dishes to brighten up winter.

Plates, Shoreditch

Could Plates be the first plant based restaurant to win a Michelin star?

Chef Kirk Haworth certainly has the credentials and his sell-out pop ups over the past year have had vegans and non-vegans swooning at his exquisite plating and creativity.

Brigadiers, Bloomberg Arcade

BBQ Indian food and feasting roasts to share will be among temptations at The Gymkhana & Hoppers' folks latest opening.

Charred, smoked and grilled is the name of the game at Brigadiers, spectacularly inspired by an Indian army mess.

Brat, Shoreditch

Acclaimed ex-head chef of Kitty Fisher's, Tomos Parry opens his first solo restaurant, Brat, named after the old English word for turbot. Seafood cooked Basque style on open fire will be the focus and we're promised spectacularly tasty food.

This is likely to be one of the most sought after tables in the capital.

Din Thai Fung, London

Din Tai Fung are coming to London for what will be the first European outpost of their universally praised Taiwanese restaurants specialising in irresistible soup dumplings.

Could Taiwan be the new culinary cool?

Two of their restaurants in Hong Kong have Michelin stars yet they are highly affordable and accessible.

Scully, St. James’s Market

A great many brilliant things have been produced in Yotam Ottolenghi’s kitchen, from twice baked baby chicken with chilli and kaffir lime leaf salt, to the incredibly talented the Ramael Scully. We can't wait to try his first solo restaurant combining his Irish, Balinese, Chinese, and Indian heritage as well as his time in Australia. Expect truly creative dining with plenty of unusual spicing.

Hicce, London

Scandinavian, Japanese and British ingredients with modish techniques like curing, smoking and pickling will feature on the menu of Hicce (pronounced ee-che). This is the first restaurant of Pip Lacey – 2017 Great British Menu winner and ex-Murano Head Chef.

Hicce means current in Latin and so expect wood fire cooking too – very much the culinary mood of 2018.

Sabor, Heddon Street

Nieves Barragán and José Etura (ex-Barrafina) will open their eagerly awaited solo venture, specialising in regional Spanish cuisine. The upstairs dining room will be dedicated to octopus and pork. Expect an amazing sherry list and an all Spanish wine offering.