About Time You Discovered: London’s Hottest New April OpeningsBy Alicia Grimshaw
This April, work your way through the best new restaurants to hit our fine streets: Burmese cuisine, ice cream sandwiches and a venture from a foodie duo. Here are some of the latest cool cats in London:
1. For Ice Cream Sandwiches: Yolkin
The Lowdown: Street food favourite Yolkin are heading to Chinatown, opening their first pernanemt site on April 16th. Your peepers may have seen founder Sammie Le’s sensationally photogenic ice cream macarons on Instagram, and even without a filter they taste as good as they look.
Eat and Drink: If you’re a Yolkin fan, you’ll now be able to get your favourite flavours available in scoops, delectable soft serve, milkshakes, and of course, Sammie’s signature colourful macaron ice cream sandwiches. Using free-range eggs, the macarons are baked to perfection, before being filled with a range of gently pasteurised, preservative-free, homemade ice creams. Yolkin’s inventive flavours are inspired by the fusion of South East Asian and British comfort flavours that Sammie grew up with, having been born to Chinese Vietnamese parents in Hong Kong, and grown up in South London.
Where: 24 Rupert Street, Chinatown London W1D 6DQ
2. For Healthy Dishes: Chucs Serpentine
The Lowdown: Chucs have had a busy year: after opening in Harrods only last month, the classic Italian inspired restaurant is launching a fourth site in The Magazine, Zaha Hadid’s landmark extension at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery.
Eat and Drink: Open for breakfast and brunch through to lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, the diverse menu at Chucs Serpentine created by Group Head Chef Carlos Martinez and Executive Chef Alessandro Verdenelli, includes a number of dishes exclusive to the restaurant, including Pastarelle fritti, macadamia and dried fruit salsa for breakfast, and pea and mint risotto with Reggiano and micro watercress, and green harissa lamb rump, mint gel and cucumber for lunch. Verdenelli’s new offerings will sit alongside a number of Chucs Italian classics, such as Bigoli Cacio e Pepe and yellow fine tuna tartare with baby gem.
Where: Chucs, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, West Carriage Drive, London W2 2AR
3. For All-Day Dining: Wellbourne Brasserie
The Lowdown: Acclaimed chefs Ross Gibbens and Michael Kennedy are the duo behind Wellbourne Brasserie in White City Place, opening on 16th April. The pair have worked in some of the UK’s leading kitchens including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Launceston Place, The Square and The Vineyard in Berkshire, and more recently Ross was Head Chef at Dabbous and Michael his Sous Chef.
Eat and Drink: The menu will include the likes of homemade crumpets served with Wellbourne Brasserie’s own hot smoked mackerel for breakfast and mains such as veal holstein – hen’s egg, lilliput capers and smoked anchovy. The team have imported a specialist Mibrasa charcoal oven from Spain and there will be a variety of dishes cooked over hot coals such as the 50 day salt aged Simmental beef and wild juniper, and Ross-on-Wye green asparagus, sunflower seed praline and salted butter.
Where: Westworks Building, 195 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FQ
4. For Burmese Cooking: Lahpet
The Lowdown: After a successful year-long pop-up in Hackney, founders Dan Anton and head chef Zaw Mahesh are opening their first bricks and mortar site in Shoreditch on April 6th. Bringing their unique Burmese cooking to E1, the guys will be using the very best Burmese and British produce available, using locally supplied fish, meat and vegetables.
Eat and Drink: Lahpet directly translates from Burmese as ‘tea’ and this is reflected in the restaurant’s signature dish, tea leaf salad, which incorporates umami-packed pickled tea leaves into a unique texture-laden salad. Another highlight of the menu is the home-made Shan tofu: made from scratch on-site using split peas, and the taste is unlike any other tofu found in London. From distinctive salads, vibrant curries and fresh seafood to noodle-based dishes and bold desserts, the menu at Lahpet is designed to be shared.
Where: Lahpet Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6JW
5. For Beer and Street Food: Two Tribes KX
The Lowdown: King’s Cross is welcoming a new boozy arrival with the opening of Two Tribes KX on April 9th; a brewhouse and taproom, uniting craft beer with cutting-edge music and the best street food. This innovative multipurpose venue will brew one-off beers, serve hand-stretched pizzas, and provide small batch spirits from local suppliers, as well as offering a packed schedule of cook outs, intimate gigs, DJ sets and one-off parties.
Eat and Drink: During the day, Two Tribes KX will provide a unique spot where people can kick back, try eclectic beers on tap and tuck into tasty pizza with friends. People can also hold meetings, book brewery tours or privately hire the venue, and with a huge open courtyard area, Two Tribes KX will take alfresco drinking and dining to the next level. Working with some of the best names in street food, such as burger legends Patty & Bun, Two Tribes KX is set to host summer cook outs and all-day bashes.
Where: Tileyard Studios, Tileyard Road, King’s Cross, London, N7 9AH
6. For an Overnight Stay: The Principal London
The Lowdown: The Principal London will open its doors on Monday (16th April) after an extensive restoration paying homage to the building’s illustrious history. Aside from the 334 bedrooms and suites, the hotel also houses Fitz’s cocktail bar, an all-day dining restaurant, and a coffeehouse and bar.
Eat and Drink: Fitz’s cocktail bar (named after Fitzroy Doll and designed by Russell Sage Studios with a glitter ball hanging from the ceiling) is decorated in sumptuous fabrics, dark wood panelling and includes original features such as the large fireplace with stained-glass window above it. Neptune, an all-day dining restaurant, features an innovative approach to the classic oyster bar and a new style of British caviar service, swapping out traditional blinis for freshly made waffles with house-cultured Jersey cream. And finally, Burr & Co coffeehouse and bar will be open from 7am serving Caravan coffee, tea, pastries and breakfast items to eat in or grab-and-go, while the all-day menu includes soups, salads and sandwiches.
Where: 8 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5BE
The Lowdown: Hedonism Wines and Ollie Dabbous are the driving force behind HIDE, a new three-floor restaurant opening this month. Located at 85 Piccadilly, the eatery boasts incredible views over Green Park and offers a relaxed and holistic setting in which to savour seasonal cooking at its best, complemented by the UK’s most comprehensive wine list.
.Eat and Drink: Located on the ground floor, “Ground” will offer an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner, as well as afternoon tea and breakfast. Reflective of Ollie Dabbous’ signature style and lightness of touch, dishes will be simple, seasonal and refined. Here an open bakery will also serve freshly baked breads, cakes and viennoiseries. Guests choosing to eat in “Above”, on the mezzanine, will enjoy a tasting menu and set lunch, showcasing the very best seasonal ingredients. Finally the bar “Below” will offer a selection of Hedonism’s finest and rarest spirits, along with a cocktail menu from Oskar Kinberg.
Where: 85 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NB
8. For Fried Food: Slim Chickens
The Lowdown: With London’s love for American comfort food ever-growing, Slim Chickens’ new restaurant will no doubt be welcomed by the chicken loving community. Already a hit in the US, Slim Chickens are opening their first eatery outside of the UK on James Street later this month.
Eat and Drink: The menu will feature Slims’ famous chicken tenders, wings and chicken sandwiches as well as quintessential Southern sides including mac ‘n’ cheese, Texas toast and fried pickles. In addition to these tasty mains and sides, the menu will feature the franchises famous dipping sauces, including siracha, garlic, honey bbq, with the addition of one exclusive sauce, creamy garlic parmesan, that will only be available at the Bond Street site.
Where: 35 James Street, London, WC2E 8PA
