Restaurant radar: March 2024

Josephine

Claude Bosi and his wife Lucy are launching their first joint venture – a neighbourhood style French bistro in London’s Chelsea. Named after Claude’s late grandmother, Josephine will be ‘reminiscent of the traditional bouchons’ found in the chef’s hometown of Lyon. The restaurant’s menu will feature French bistro classics and regional Lyonnaise specialities such as soufflé au Saint-Félicien; sole Grenobloise; lapin à la moutarde; and ris de veau aux morilles (veal sweetbread in a morel mushroom sauce). Bosi has said he wants Josephine to be accessible and its pricing reflects this, with most starters priced between £7.50 and £9.50, mains starting from £21, and desserts around the £8-£9 mark.
315 Fulham Rd, London, SW10 9QH ​
https://josephinebouchon.com/​​

Arlington

Jeremy King marks his return to the London restaurant scene this month with the reopening of the former Le Caprice site under a new guise. Located in Mayfair, Arlington will serve old favourite dishes from the Le Caprice menu that have been updated for 21st Century tastes in an art deco dining room that has also been given an affectionate spruce including reinstating the mirrors behind the bar so diners seated there can watch the main restaurant behind without turning their heads. King previously ran and then owned Le Caprice through the 1980s and 1990s with his then business partner Chris Corbin. Watch out, as there’s more to come from King in the coming months.
20 Arlington Street, London, SW1A 1RG​
https://www.arlington.london/​​

Lita

The team behind Wild Tavern in Chelsea is partnering with Canadian-born restaurateur Daniel Koukarskikh and Irish chef Luke Ahearne for a new grill-focused southern Mediterranean restaurant in Marylebone. Lita takes its name from a shortened version of ‘abuelita’, an affectionate Spanish word for grandma, and will have an open layout with an exposed kitchen and open fire grill and is described as being ‘reminiscent of a grand chateau kitchen’. Ahearne is the former head chef at Corrigan’s Mayfair and has created a produce-driven, seasonal menu of food at the 80-cover restaurant.
7-9 Paddington Street, London, W1U 5QH​
https://litamarylebone.com/​​

AGORA

SMOKESTAK and Manteca founder David Carter will open a restaurant inspired by Athens’ street markets beneath his OMA restaurant in London’s Borough Market. Called AGORA, the restaurant will occupy the ground floor of the Bedale Street building and is set to open towards the end of the month. The restaurant – which takes its name from the Greek word for ‘market’ - is billed as a smaller, more casual sibling to the Greek islands-inspired OMA, which is expected to launch later this spring. Located on street level, guests to AGORA will be greeted by a two-metre charcoal rotisserie ‘souvla’ around which the menu will revolve, using whole animals such as native breed pork, lamb and chicken from Somerset and Cornwall.
2-4 Bedale Street, London SE1 9AL​
www.agora.london​​

Burgerism

The Manchester-based burger chain opens its fourth permanent site in the city in Denton in Tameside. The new burger spot will join it existing locations in Salford, Aldow Industrial Park in Manchester, and Gatley as well as a concession in Freight Island, and will serve the brand’s popular menu of stacked hamburgers and cheeseburgers as well as a range of chicken and vegan burgers as well as skin-on-fries and wings and dessert brownies.
https://www.burgerism.co.uk​​

These Days Aperitivo Bar

The modern aperitivo bar is opening a kitchen at its Bermondsey Beer Mile location on 14 March. The man behind the menu is chef Greg Weaver who has developed a modern European offer with an Asian influence that reflects his time spent with The Culpeper Group in London and in Sydney at Japanese fusion restaurant KISSUU. The small plates menu is designed to be ordered enmasse and shared around the table and will change with the seasons, with the exception of its signature dish popcorn cockles. Other dishes on the launch menu will include cured trout with bood orange ponzu; veal escalope with sauerkraut; and dark chocolate ganache with blood orange and sage. The space will have room for 52 diners with an outdoor terrace offering additional alfresco seating for 30 opening next month.
100 Druid Street, London, SE1 2HQ​
https://thesedaysdrinks.com/pages/these-days-bar​​

RTCafeGrill

Isle of Wight chef Robert Thompson will open the first of two planned restaurants within Royal Maritime House in Ryde this month. RTCaféGrill will be sited on the ground floor of the building and is described as being ‘a passionate celebration’ of the island’s produce. The casual all-day venue will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with dishes to include a grass-fed beef burger; linguini carbonara; and yellowfin tuna salad niçoise. Thompson will also relocate his eponymous fine dining Newport restaurant to the venue in the autumn.
Royal Maritime House, St Thomas Street, Ryde, Isle Of Wight, PO33 2DL​

Carmel

Middle Eastern grilling specialist Josh Katz is bring his success Carmel restaurant to Fitzrovia. The 95-cove restaurant will take the former La Rampa site just off Oxford Street on Market Place and will serve a large menu of eastern Mediterranean small plates and sharing dishes. Dishes will include monkfish crudo with sheep’s yoghurt and tomatoes; hanger steak with bone marrow, burnt onion and sour cherry molasses reduction; with flatbreads and fresh pasta also appearing. There will also be a breakfast offer that will include freshly baked pastries alongside heartier plates such as eggs Levantine with za’atar hollandaise, gravadlax and spinach; and a steak and egg sandwich.
7/8 Market Place, London, W1W 8AG​
https://www.carmelrestaurant.co.uk/​​

Nancy Spain’s

Opening in time for St Patrick’s Day, Irish Pub Nancy Spain’s will be pouring pints of Murphy’s - rather than current London drink du jour Guinness - from 15 March. Located on Shoreditch’s Curtain Road the ground floor pub will be a traditional Irish boozer, complete with live music from acoustic guitarists four times a week, while downstairs will be home to Nancy’s Kitchen that will host a monthly-changing guest chef series. Details of the first chef residency are yet to be revealed so watch this space.
128-130 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3AQ ​
www.nancyspains.co.uk​​

Unlock

Napoli-born siblings, chef Arianna and restaurateur Giovanni Izzo, have chosen Hackney Wick for the location of their first London restaurant. Called Unlock, the 75-cover pizzeria and bar will serve a small selection of appetisers such as nerano parmigiana; il crocché (fried cheese and potato balls); and meatballs with fries and cheddar sauce alongside a larger pizza menu divided into classics and artisanal options. Pizzas will include the classic margherita DOP topped with Fior di latte, pacchetelle and fresh basil; and the artisinal truffle cream, mortadella DOP, burrata from Andria, hazelnut crumbs, and fresh basil.
1 Monkwood Way, London, E3 2EG​

NIJU

It’s all change at Creative Restaurant Group Mayfair restaurant 20 Berkeley Street with the modern British restaurant reopening under the group’s culinary director Endo Kazutoshi. NIJU will be a Japanese grill and sushi bar with Chris Golding as head chef alongside David Bury as head sushi chef following the departure of 20 Berkeley Street’s executive chef Ben Orpwood. NIJU will offer katei ryori-style cooking, meaning ‘home cooked food’ in Japanese that is being billed as ‘informal yet decadent’.
20 Berkeley St, London, W1J 8EE​

The Market Inn

Wiltshire-based Chickpea Group is back in its hometown of Salisbury for its latest venue. The Market Inn is located in the town’s market square and will have 60 covers inside and a further 80 outside. The menu will be overseen by executive chef Harry Russell, who has created a pared back offer of ‘classic pub bangers’ that will include handmade pies, which are made at group’s dedicated pie room in nearby Wilton; and fish and chips with curry sauce. There will also be a menu of hearty bar snacks, including scotch eggs; and Westcombe cheddar and cider rarebit.
16 Butcher Row, Salisbury, SP1 1EP​
https://www.chickpea.group/​​

A Braccetto

Italian restaurant group Spaghetti House, which is approaching its 70th anniversary, will unveil its new ‘next gen’ neighbourhood Italian restaurant designed for the younger generations of people living, working or visiting London. Roughly translated as ‘arm-in-arm, A Braccetto will serve classic regional dishes including ‘fresh and artisan’ pastas, ‘lightweight’ Romana pizzas and seasonal specials.
242 Earls Ct Rd, London, SW5 9AA​
https://www.a-braccetto.com/​​

Vivi

The family behind popular south Liverpool restaurant Cucina Du Vincenzo will open a second venture nearby later this month. Vivi will be located a few doors down from the original restaurant on Woolton Road and serve small plates and pizzette. The kitchen will be headed up by founder Vince Margiotta’s daughter Gabriella, who was a contestant and semi finalist on MasterChef The Professionals in 2022.

Azteca Ome

Chelsea-based Mexican restaurant Azteca is extending its presence in the capital with the launch of Azteca Öme on Clapham’s Battersea Rise. The Mexican-Japanese restaurant will build on age-old cooking methods from both Japan and Mexico but with a modern twist using locally-sourced British ingredients. Highlights of the menu will include raw dishes such as tiradito of bream, seaweed crumb, cancha and ponzu; and trout ceviche with jalapeño dressing, lime and chicharron; as well as a selection of tacos and grill dishes.
5-9 Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1HG​
https://aztecalondon.com/​​

TT Restaurant and Rooftop

Cocktail bar TT is reopening its Kingsland Road venue as TT Restaurant and Rooftop, with former Oren head chef Sam Lone in charge of the kitchen. Food will be served across two floors in the newly-renovated rooftop and brand new ground floor restaurant and will focus on live-fire cooking with dishes designed around a bespoke asado-style grill and wood fired oven. Expect a hearty menu that will include starters such as smoked ox cheek croquettes; house pickles; and focaccia with hummus followed by larger dishes that will include dry-aged ribeye with chimichurri; lamb shoulder a la plancha with roasted garlic yogurt; and barbecued mackerel with pickled chilli hot sauce allow ingredients to shine.
17B Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AA​
https://ttliquor.co.uk/roof-terrace-london/​​

Rucola

Also opening on the rooftops of London this month is Brooklyn-founded restaurant Rucola, which will be located at Covent Garden-based private members club The Conduit London. Rucola will serve a plant-forward, eco-conscious menu of dishes influenced by northern Italian cuisine with menu highlights to include the fisherman’s stew; roasted cauliflower panzanella (pictured below); balsamic and globe artichoke; purple aubergine with oat milk ricotta and fregola; and barolo-braised pork cheeks as well as a selection of pizzas, risottos, and homemade pastas.
6 Langley Street, London, WC2H 9JA​
https://www.theconduit.com/rucola/​​