London : ZagatWire Archive

ZagatWire: February 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:14:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
All Star Lanes	Bloomsbury Pl.	London	020-7025 2676
Dune	11 Haymarket	London	020-7839 2424
Pacific Bar & Grill	320 Goldhawk Rd.	London	020-8741 1994
Thomas Cubitt, The	44 Elizabeth St.	London	020-7730 6060

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bentley's	11-15 Swallow St.	London	020-7734 4756
Origin Bar	24 Endell St.	London	020-7170 9200
Piya Piya	1 Olivers Yard, City Rd.	London	0845-262 5262
Spencer Arms	237 Lower Richmond Rd.	London	020-8788 0640
Ten West 161	161-165 Ladbroke Grove	London	020-8960 1702

Coming Soon

Beauberry House

The owners of L'Etranger are refurbishing the former Belair House space in Dulwich (Gallery Rd., SE21) and transforming it into a French-Japanese restaurant headed by chef Jerome Tauvron (formerly of L'Etranger). Named after a village in the Charolais region of Burgundy, it will feature a 600-bin cellar, year-round alfresco terraces (thanks to a special heating system), a bar open until 2 AM and a private upstairs dining area. Though planning approvals have delayed this project, it is now set to open in mid-February.

National Dining Rooms, The

Restaurateur Oliver Peyton (Mash, Inn the Park) is teaming with restaurant designer David Collins to open this British eatery serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea in the National Gallery's Sainsbury Wing (Trafalgar Sq., WC2). The classic interior (rich greens and natural tones, herringbone flooring) will be complemented by a menu emphasizing comfort food and simple dishes with clean flavours. In addition to the restaurant, there will be a bakery with a more casual all-day menu.

Pigalle Club

Vince Power of Mean Fiddler fame is opening this 1940s-style cabaret/supper club in the former ABC cinema in Piccadilly (215-217 Piccadilly, W1). Scheduled to open in March, it will feature an Ivy -esque menu, a 26-piece house band and major musical stars. Later in the evening, the venue will transform into a late-night lounge club with DJs.

Good Deals and Other News

Chef Honours

The Queen's New Year's Honours list has bestowed an OBE (Order of the British Empire) on Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck), Gordon Ramsay (Gordon Ramsay/68 Royal and others) and Alan Yau (Hakkasan and others) for their "valuable service" to the hospitality industry, which should enhance Ramsay's and Yau's stature when they open their planned restaurants in New York in 2006.

Balans

Visit www.balans.co.uk to print out a "buy one get one free" voucher. The two-for-one entree offer is valid Monday through Wednesday from 5–11 PM until 29th March 2006.

Club Gascon

Smithfield Market's shrine to foie gras is now nonsmoking.

Riccardo's

Is now open for all-day dining.

Sardo Canale

This Primrose Hill Sardinian serves a special Sunday set menu from noon till 10 PM (three courses; £23); it is available in addition to the regular à la carte menu and offers a weekly changing taste of the restaurant's specialities. Children are welcome, and there is a special menu for under 10s.

Savoy Grill

Following the success of its Sunday set lunch, this art deco destination is now offering it on Saturdays too (£25 for three courses; £18 for two). On Sundays, there is also a traditional roast menu running continually from noon until 10 PM (£25 for three courses).

Le Souffle
Michiaki
Pengelley's

ZagatWire: January 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:14:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Addendum	1 Seething Ln.	London	020-7977 9500
Annex 3	6 Little Portland St.	London	020-7631 0700
Entrecote Café de Paris	3A-3B Baker St.	London	020-7935 3030
Grill, The	Albemarle St.	London	020-7518 4060
Imli	167-169 Wardour St.	London	020-7287 4243
Yakitoria	25 Sheldon Sq.	London	020-3214 3000

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Annex 3	6 Little Portland St.	London	020-7631 0700
Cuckoo Club, The	Swallow St.	London	020-7287 4300
Scarlet Spice Bar	4 Crispin Sq.	London	020-7375 0880
Winchester, The	2 Essex Rd.	London	020-7704 8789

Coming Soon

Dans le Noir

Coming to Clerkenwell (30-31 Clerkenwell Green, EC1) is this dining concept from Paris that aims to enhance patrons' senses of taste and smell by plunging them into complete darkness (the staff is visually impaired and no movement will be allowed in the dining room without the assistance of a guide). The menu will feature French fusion cuisine – diners can read it, and place orders, in an illuminated lounge.

Saran Rom

The imported furnishings at this Thai newcomer will replicate the banquet rooms of Vimanmek Palace, Bangkok's teakwood mansion. The Fulham space (Unit 1, Waterside Tower, The Boulevard, Town Mead Rd., Imperial Wharf, SW6) will feature two bars, dining areas spread over three floors and views of the Thames. Many of the menu's ingredients will be flown in from Thailand.

Good Deals and Other News

Late-Night London

In the biggest shake-up of the drinking laws since the end of the First World War, bars and pubs in England and Wales are now permitted to stay open after 11 PM. About 5,000 London venues are expected to take advantage of the newly relaxed regulations, with some – including Fabric, Meet and Turnmills – now licensed to serve alcohol 24 hours a day.

Patisserie Valerie

Its newest branch is located between Harrods and Harvey Nichols (34 Hans Crescent, SW1, 020-7590 0905) – a great location the next time you need a shopping break in Knightsbridge.

Villandry

Jamie Barber, owner of Hush, has purchased Villandry with a group of investors. The current staff will stay in place and former owner Martha Greene will remain on as creative director.

Vivat Bacchus

This basement restaurant has opened a ground-floor 120-seat wine bar boasting 12,000 bottles from around the world. The menu will include platters of charcuterie and daily changing dishes.

Momo (Selfridges)

ZagatWire: April 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:13:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Beauberry House	Gallery Rd., Dulwich Village	London	020-8299 9788
Dans Le Noir	30-31 Clerkenwell Green	London	020-7253 1100
Fish Hook	6-8 Elliott Rd.	London	020-8742 0766
National Dining Rooms, The	Sainsbury Wing	London	020-7747 2525

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bountiful Cow	1 Eagle St.	London	020-7404 0200
Cottons	70 Exmouth Mkt.	London	020-7833 3332
Doon	66 Trafalgar Sq.	London	020-7389 9808
Glass	9 Glasshouse St.	London	020-7439 7770
Paper	68 Regent St.	London	020-7439 7770
William IV	7 Shepherdess Walk	London	020-7490 1542

Coming Soon

Arbutus

Next month, Anthony Demetre (ex Putney Bridge) will open this smart, informal Soho restaurant (63 Frith St.) named after the trees that were once in abundance in Soho Square. It will serve a combination of classic and Modern European food and feature a pre- and post-threatre menu (three courses, £17.50) in addition to the à la carte offerings.

Sloane Square Brasserie

Tom Etridge (The Farm, Ebury, The Wells, The Waterway) will open this 120-seat French brasserie in the former Simply Nico space in Chelsea's Sloane Square Hotel, which is currently undergoing refurbishment. David Collins (Nobu Berkeley, Pétrus, The Wolseley) is designing the interior; scheduled to open this summer.

Good Deals and Other News

Cocoon

This Piccadilly Pan-Asian has introduced three different bento box selections available from noon–2:30 PM. The boxes are £16, £18 and £20 and include many of the restaurant's specialities, including rock shrimp tempura with yuzu aïoli and a bluefin tuna bonito maki roll.

Roussillon

A "Mini-Gastronome" menu is being launched on April 19th to encourage parents to bring their children out to restaurants and introduce gastronomy to young diners. At lunch on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, children under 11 will eat for free from a special seven-course menu that will change with the seasons and feature all major methods of cooking. The menu is available for a maximum of two children per adult, and will include items such as creamy potato soup with foie gras ravioli, slowly cooked beef en feuillete and bitter chocolate soufflé.

Savoy, The

The hotel is now offering "theatre tea" – a cross between a classic English afternoon tea and the more substantial hot dishes that constitute a British high tea – in the Thames Foyer (daily from 5:30–7:30 PM; £28 per person; 020-7420 2669).

Yo! Sushi

Harrods 102, a new convenience store across the street from Harrods, includes a branch of this Japanese chain (102 Brompton Rd.; 020-7730 1234), as well as selections from the Food Halls.

Mao Tai (Draycott Avenue)
Phene Arms

ZagatWire: March 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:13:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bountiful Cow	51 Eagle St.	London	020-7404 0200
Royal China Club	40-42 Baker St.	London	020-7486 3898
Saran Rom	Townmead Rd., Imperial Wharf	London	020-7751 3111
Upstairs Bar & Restaurant	89B Acre Ln.	London	020-7733 8855
White Hart, The	185 Kennington Ln.	London	020-7735 1061

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
All Star Lanes	Bloomsbury Pl.	London	020-7025 2676
Frankies at Criterion	224 Piccadilly	London	020-7930 0488
Thomas Cubitt, The	44 Elizabeth St.	London	020-7730 6060
Upstairs Bar & Restaurant	89B Acre Ln.	London	020-7733 8855

Coming Soon

Tom Aikens has just taken over the former Blenheim pub space in Chelsea (27 Cale St., SW3) around the corner from his fine-dining restaurant Tom Aikens. While not scheduled to open for a while (the space had been vacant for two years), the 90-seat brasserie, which has yet to be given a name, will feature an all-day menu and an open-plan kitchen. There will also be a 25-seat private dining room, a bar and a games room with billiards, snooker tables and plasma screens, plus a basement wine cellar with a cheese room. As if that weren't enough, Aikens also plans on offering cookery classes.

Good Deals and Other News

Smoking Banned

As of mid-2007, there will be a full ban on smoking in England, including at restaurants, pubs and private clubs. The landslide vote came after months of debate, and will bring England in line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Greenhouse

Executive chef Bjorn Van der Horst has left this New French to open his own restaurant (no details at this time). His replacement is Antonin Bonnet, formerly of the private club Morton's. Yvonnick Lalle, Morton's senior sous-chef, has been promoted to executive chef of that club. Both Morton's and the Greenhouse are owned by MARC.

Les Trois Garçons

This Classic French Eastender is now open for lunch as well as dinner.

Riccardo's

Now open continuously from noon–11:30 PM, this Chelsea trattoria has introduced an express lunch offering Tuscan tapas (all dishes £3.50) from noon–6:30 PM.

Rivington Grill

A second location has opened in the Greenwich Picturehouse Cinema (178 Greenwich High Rd., SE10, 020-8293 9270), and features a whitewashed dining room with a long timbered bar and mezzanine. If you want to combine lunch or dinner with a movie, you can see what's playing at www.picturehouses.co.uk.

Sam's Brasserie

This Chiswick brasserie has acquired eight new pieces of artwork from Sir Peter Blake, a regular at the restaurant who's famous for his paintings of urban realist subjects and a pioneer of the Pop Art movement. The series, titled "Pieces of Eight," includes imagery of objects with personal meaning to Blake such as a faded Union Jack, cinema adverts dating back to the 1950s and an old pen from the 1960s.

Villandry

The bar at this Marylebone Eclectic is now hosting a weekly Saturday jazz night with a special three-course menu (£20) offered at the 7:15 and 9:30 PM sittings; Giulio Risi and the Villandry All-Stars will play two one-hour sets at 8 PM and 10 PM (£5 cover charge for non-diners).

Windows on the World

This Classic French restaurant atop the Hilton Park Lane is currently closed for refurbishment. Keith Hobbs of United Design is remodelling the space to evoke the golden age of the 1930s; a May reopening is anticipated.

Fish Hoek
Wheeler's

ZagatWire: June 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:12:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Arbutus	63-64 Frith St.	London	020-7734 4545
Bar Shu	28 Frith St.	London	020-7287 8822
Galvin at Windows Restaurant & Bar	22 Park Ln.	London	020-7208 4021
L-Restaurant & Bar	2 Abingdon Rd.	London	020-7795 6969
Papillon	96 Draycott Ave.	London	020-7225 2555
Pigalle Club, The	215 Piccadilly	London	020-7734 8142
Rudland & Stubbs	35-37 Greenhill Rents	London	020-7253 0148
Tamesa@oxo 2nd fl.	Barge House St.	London	020-7633 0088

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Amuse Bouche	51 Parson's Green Ln.	London	020-7371 8517
Shed	17-20 Ironmonger Ln.	London	020-7796 4991
Tamesa@oxo	Barge House St., 2nd fl.	London	020-7633 0888
Village East	171-173 Bermondsey St.	London	020-7357 6082
Volstead	9 Swallow St.	London	020-7287 1919

Coming Soon

Butcher & Grill

Dominic Ford, former director of restaurants and food retail at Harvey Nichols, is opening this new restaurant in the space that housed Café Rouge in Battersea (39 Park Gate Rd., SW11). The menu will specialize in grilled meats, and there will be an on-site butcher shop; scheduled to open in late June/early July.

Gilgamesh

Named for the ancient Babylonian king, this Camden Pan-Asian (Camden Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd., NW1; 020-7482 5757) is set to open in June and will feature an open kitchen helmed by chef Ian Pengelley (ex e&o and Pengelley's), as well as a sake sommelier, a sushi bar and an oriental tearoom offering traditional Asian teas. The impressive setting will include a 40-ft.-high ceiling with a retractable roof, a lapis stone bar and hand-carved Babylonian scenes.

La Noisette

Chef Bjorn van der Horst (ex The Greenhouse) is partnering with Gordon Ramsay to open this French fine-dining restaurant in the former Pengelley's space in Knightsbridge (164 Sloane St.); the opening is scheduled for July 17th.

Good Deals and Other News

New Celebrity Chef Cookbooks

From preparation to presentation, Antony Worrall Thompson's Barbecues and Grilling (Kyle Cathie Publishers; £18.99) covers the basics, with valuable advice on cooking with gas and charcoal and a handy equipment review. The recipes – divided into chapters such as "On the Rack," "Skewers and Sticks" and "Veg Out" – hail from around the globe and include techniques for roasting, smoking, spit-roasting, baking and grilling. Meanwhile, Gordon Ramsay has just published his seventh cookbook, Gordon Ramsay's Sunday Lunch and Other Recipes from the F Word (Quadrille; £19.99), to coincide with the second series of the F Word television program. The book is divided into 25 menus that encourage cooking for friends and family, especially on Sundays; Ramsay will cook from the book at the "Taste of London" event listed above. Finally, Aldo Zilli is celebrating Zilli Fish's 10th birthday with the publication of his fourth book, Fish Cook (Jacqui Small; £16.99), containing 95 of Zilli's best fish recipes, plus tips to tell freshness.

Bluebird

The new Bluebird Epicerie (020-7559 1140), a continental-style gourmet traiteur, offers food and wine products including cupboard staples, prepared dishes, breads, cheeses, pâtés and fruits and vegetables. They will also pack hampers and picnic baskets ranging in price from £30–£100. Opening hours are 8 AM–8 PM Monday–Friday, 9 AM–7 PM on Saturday and 9 AM–5 PM on Sunday.

Bodeans

There is a new branch in Fulham at 4 Broadway Chambers, Fulham Broadway, SW6 (020-7610 0440).

Christopher's Covent Garden

The new ground-floor Martini Bar offers a monthly "Martini Masterclass" on the second Monday of each month. Barman Jeff Masson will teach a group of 30 how to mix, savour and appreciate the full range of martinis, from dirty to naked, Gibson to Churchill (time TBA; £12 per person, includes a martini from the 24-strong list; 020-7240 4222).

Clarke's

After 21 years of offering a set dinner menu, Sally Clarke has decided she is ready for a change. There is now a choice of dishes on her three- and four-course seasonal menus.

Fifth Floor Cafe

Is now open from 8 AM Monday–Saturday for breakfast. You can also shop in the Foodmarket at this earlier opening hour.

Fino

Owners (and brothers) Sam and Eddie Hart have just published their first cookbook, Modern Spanish Cooking (Quadrille Publishing; £20). The recipes explore the Spanish way of eating and drinking, from tapas to traditional entrees, and emphasize fresh, quality ingredients.

Floridita

Salsa lessons are offered every Saturday afternoon between 4:30–5:30 PM. The in-house salsa expert will teach for an hour, after which you can enjoy a cocktail at the bar (£35 per person, includes the lesson and a cocktail; 020-7314 4000).

Gaucho Grill

The 19 Swallow Street location has expanded into new, much larger premises at 25 Swallow Street, W1 (020-7734 4040), where a ground-floor wine boutique selling Argentinean wines, many exclusive to Gaucho, converts at night to a private dining area serving a wine-based set menu. There is also an adjoining wine bar featuring South American tapas dishes, a larger dining room and a supper lounge with live music. The original building will become an events venue.

Greyhound, The

New chef Marco Torre (ex Teca) is mixing Italian dishes into the Modern European menu at this eaterie, which is now more of a proper restaurant than a gastropub. The menu also boasts more affordable prices and recommended wines for each dish.

One-O-One

Sheraton Park Tower, home of One-O-One, has opened Café One-O-One adjacent to the restaurant. While the all-day outdoor cafe has operated during the summer months for the past three years, this is the first time that it will serve some lunch and dinner dishes from One-O-One.

Orrery

Allan Pickett (ex Aurora) has replaced chef Andre Garrett, who has left to helm the kitchen at the new Galvin at Windows.

Rowley's (Conduit St. location)

ZagatWire: May 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:12:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Amici Bar & Italian Kitchen	35 Bellevue Rd.	London	020-8672 5888
Saki Bar & Food Emporium	4 W. Smithfield	London	020-7489 7033

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bavarian Beerhouse	190 City Rd.	London	020-7608 0925
Dune	11 Haymarket	London	020-7839 2424
Play Room	10 Air St.	London	020-7734 9990
SIN	144 Charing Cross Rd.	London	020-7240 1900
White Hart	185 Kennington Ln.	London	020-7735 1061

Coming Soon

Mocoto

This Brazilian will open on the former site of Knightsbridge's Isola (145 Knightsbridge, SW1) in June; there will be a smarter restaurant in the basement and a more casual cafe/bar on the ground floor.

Papillon

Soren Jessen (Kilo Kitchen & Bar, 1 Lombard Street,Graze) is opening this 60-seat classic French restaurant in the Chelsea space that was once Mao Tai (96 Draycott Avenue, SW3); a sommelier from L'Etranger will help diners navigate the good-value wine list.

Scott's

This well-known seafood restaurant in Mayfair (20 Mount St., W1) has been bought by Caprice Holdings (The Ivy, J. Sheekey, Le Caprice, Daphne's, Bam-Bou and Rivington Grill). Set to reopen in August, it will have an art deco look and will include an oyster bar, private room and outdoor terrace.

Good Deals and Other News

Babylon

There is live jazz every Thursday from 7:30–10 PM.

Gordon Ramsay

Ramsay has created a new line of fine china and glassware for Royal Doulton. The "Gordon Ramsay for Royal Doulton" line will be used in many of his restaurants and features dishwasher/microwave-safe bone-china plates and dishes with elegant embossed edges; the 17-piece range will be available in white and platinum, with an additional accent plate in his signature aubergine color. Prices range from £12 for a mug to £19 for a dinner plate. An informal dinner collection, as well as cutlery, saucepans and oven-to-table ware, will be launched in 2007. To find a store near you, call 01782-404 042 or visit www.royaldoulton.com.

Roast

Breakfast is now served weekdays from 7–10 AM, Saturdays from 8–11 AM and Sundays from 9–11:30 AM. In addition to sausages and bacon, the menu offers a lobster omelet and oysters Kilpatrick (grilled with bacon and Worcestershire sauce). There are also cocktails like the Wakefield Triangle – champagne, rhubarb purée and vanilla syrup – and a premium tea range featuring Monkey Picked and Jing 15 Year Pu-erh teas.

Tamarind

The restaurant is now open for Sunday lunch, offering a three-course set menu for £24.50 (no à la carte menu on Sunday) from noon–2:45 PM.

Allium

ZagatWire: September 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:10:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Club Bar & Dining, The	21-22 Warwick St.	London	020-7734 1002
Hawksmoor	157 Commercial St.	London	020-7247 7392
High Road Brasserie	162-166 Chiswick High Rd.	London	020-8742 7474
Mews of Mayfair	10-11 Lancashire Ct.	London	020-7518 9388
Via Condotti	23 Conduit St.	London	020-7493 7050

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bar at Proud, The	Chalk Farm Rd.	London	020-7482 3867
Charles Lamb Pub & Kitchen	16 Elia St.	London	020-7837 5040
Dorchester Bar	53 Park Ln.	London	020-7629 8888
Parker McMillan	47 Chiswell St.	London	020-7256 5883
Powder Monkey	22 King William Walk	London	020-8293 5928

Coming Soon

Brasserie St. Germain

This forthcoming Farringdon brasserie and bar (89 Turnmill St., EC1) will draw inspiration from popular New York City bistro-boîtes such as Balthazar, Odeon and Pastis. Located in a 19th-century print house near Smithfield Market, the slick, contemporary space will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus brunch at the weekend, when it opens in October.

Tamarai

The owners of Chor Bizarre will soon debut this 110-seat Covent Garden restaurant (167 Drury Lane, WC2) offering a Pan-Asian menu encompassing dishes from China, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and Chettinad, South India. Extra benefits will include a late-night license and complimentary parking in the building.

Good Deals and Other News

Almeida

Complete a form available at the restaurant and receive a "Benefits Card" to be presented to the staff on each visit; discounts include 20 percent off lunch, 50 percent off wine on Monday evenings and a complimentary bottle of champagne on your birthday.

Gordon Ramsay at 68 Royal Hospital Rd.

Gordon Ramsay's star performer has reopened after a closure for refurbishment. Designer David Collins (Nobu Berkeley, Pétrus, The Wolseley) has created a simply elegant, quietly glamourous room in a palette of warm whites accented by rich silk velvet, cut mirror, chandeliers and dining chairs in oak and pearlescent hide. The highly innovative cuisine and presentation have also been bumped up a notch, and a vegetarian tasting menu (£ 85) has been introduced. In addition, the restaurant now takes reservations two months in advance.

Villandry

A free "Little People's Cookie Class" takes place every Saturday at 1 PM with the baker, Bassett Kader, and lasts about 40 minutes. While their parents dine, children make and decorate gingerbread cookies to eat on the spot or take away.

Manzi's

ZagatWire: August 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:10:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Butcher & Grill, The	39-41 Parkgate Rd.	London	020-7924 3999
C Garden	119 Sydney St.	London	020-7352 2718
La Noisette	164 Sloane St.	London	020-7750 5000

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Bedford & Strand	1a Bedford St.	London	020-7836 3033
Grand Union	102-104 Camden Rd.	London	020-7485 4530
Hawksmoor	157 Commercial St.	London	020-7247 7392
Mews of Mayfair	10-11 Lancashire Ct., New Bond St.	London	020-7518 9388
Mokssh	222-224 Fulham Rd.	London	020-7352 6548

Coming Soon

Bumpkin

Specializing in simple, natural food without the fuss, this Notting Hill restaurant (209 Westbourne Park Rd., W11, 020-7589 1200), scheduled to open in September, will present a British menu using ingredients from organic, Fairtrade or otherwise traceable sources. The three-storey building will house a casual all-day dining room and takeaway section on the ground floor, a more refined restaurant on the first floor and a private-dining space above.

Rex

In the autumn, Chris Corbin and Jeremy King (The Wolseley) will open this Modern European restaurant on the ground floor of Piccadilly's Rex House (4/12 Lower Regent St., SW1).

Theo Randall at The InterContinental

Mayfair's InterContinental hotel (1 Hamilton Pl., W1) is undergoing a major refurbishment, and will relaunch in the autumn with this new restaurant headed by Theo Randall (ex River Café). The food will be regional Italian.

Good Deals and Other News

Blue Print Café

This Design Museum eatery is offering a two-course lunch menu for £22.50 that includes a glass of wine and a complimentary ticket to the museum (for exhibition information, visit www.designmuseum.org).

deep

Temporarily closed for the filming of Gordon Ramsay's F Word television series, this Chelsea Harbor seafooder is now reopened and offering a Friday evening happy hour (buy-one-get-one-free drinks from 5–7 PM). There is also a sushi buffet on Fridays from 6–8 PM for £7.50 per person.

FishWorks

A new branch in Parsons Green features some outdoor tables and a fish counter for takeaway in the space that was formerly Tootsies (177 New King's Rd., 020-7384 1009).

Greenhouse, The

Recently appointed head chef Antonin Bonnet has launched a series of seasonal menus, including a three-course menu (£60; available at lunch and dinner), a weekly changing set lunch menu (£28 for two courses, £32 for three) and a seven-course tasting menu (£75). Among the new signature dishes are lamb sweetbread with mousseron mushrooms, gnocchi and salad burnet; Anjou pigeon with pomegranate and baby daikon; and fromage frais soufflé with hazelnut streusel and red wine ice cream.

Nobu Berkeley

Is now open for Sunday dinner and weekday lunch, and now takes reservations one calendar month in advance.

Quaglino's

To celebrate the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy, this French brasserie is offering a special package that includes a ticket to the show and a two-course lunch or dinner with a glass of champagne (£20 per person). The deal is valid until August 20th; quote "Summer Exhibition" when booking.

Sketch

In addition to offering a new breakfast menu (8 AM–noon), the Parlour is now serving a comfort-food menu (noon–10 PM) and afternoon tea (3–7:30 PM) Monday–Saturday (0870-777 4488).

Zetter

New head chef Diego Jacquet has worked in a variety of kitchens, including Spain's El Bulli and Aquavit in New York; he will bring a Mediterranean approach to the formerly modern Italian menu.

Fina Estampa

ZagatWire: July 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:10:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Gilgamesh	Chalk Farm Rd.	London	020-7482 5757
Hosteria del Pesce	84-86 Lillie Rd.	London	020-7610 0037

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Alchemist, The	225 St. John’s Hill.	London	020-7326 7456
Island, The	123 College Rd.	London	020-8960 0693
Phoenix, The	14 Palace St.	London	020-7828 8136
Verve	1 Upper St., Martin’s Ln.	London	020-7395 1200

Coming Soon

Mews of Mayfair

Two traditional mews buildings in Mayfair (10-11 Lancashire Court, W1, 020-7518 9388) are being converted into this Modern British restaurant and lounge with embossed leather seating, silk embroidered wallpaper and antique crystal lights. Chef David Selex (formerly of The Grocer on Warwick and Sugar Club) will oversee the menu, as well as a chef's dining room decorated with oversized antique maps of the British Empire. There will also be a basement lounge evoking 1920s glamour and a ground-floor bar serving afternoon tea, light dishes throughout the day and a variety of signature cocktails, including a Moscow Mews (a variation on the Moscow Mule made with fresh ginger).

Good Deals and Other News

Aurora

New head chef Dominic Teague (ex L'Escargot) replaces Allan Pickett, who has moved to Orrery.

Bombay Brasserie

Newly appointed executive chef Jaspal Singh Arora (ex Taj Group in India) is updating and modernising the menu while retaining the traditional heart of the restaurant, now celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Circus

This recently refurbished eatery features a revamped menu and wine list, with lower prices to boot. The cuisine, now French bistro, includes the likes of moules marinière, steak tartare, roast poulet noir and grilled onglet steak. There is also a daily chef's lunch menu (£12.50 for three courses).

Green Olive

New head chef Carlo Salodini has updated the à la carte menus, which still reflect the modern Italian fare the restaurant is known for. There is also a set-price lunch menu (£16.50 for two courses). While the green exterior hasn't changed, the dining room now showcases a changing selection of art that's available for purchase.

Grill Room

Brown's Hotel has introduced a pre-theatre dinner menu with a selection of lighter dishes to ensure diners don't doze off mid-performance (Monday–Saturday, 6–7 PM; two courses for £25 or three courses for £30).

Pasha

This Gloucester Road venue was recently acquired by Tony Kitous, owner of Levant and Levantine, and has just emerged from a major overhaul. David Jones is the new chef direct from Casablanca, and Moroccan artisans have created authentic handcrafted furniture for the dining room.

Ping Pong

There is a new branch in Marylebone at 10 Paddington Street, W1 (020-7009 9600).

Roka

In celebration of summer, this Zuma sib is offering all-day dining, as well as Sunday lunch; the terrace is up and running too.

Villandry

Once again, this restaurant/food shop is offering gourmet picnic hampers for a variety of tastes, including the traditional Wimbledon hamper (£37 per person) featuring asparagus and mushroom quiche, cherry tomato compote and smoked mackerel pâté with toasted soldiers and gherkins, as well as the more globally flavoured Lord's Cricket hamper (£35 per person) and the Italian-influenced Ascot hamper (£25 per person). All come with a selection of English cheese and Tyrell's handmade crisps and require 48 hours notice.

The Grocer on Warwick
Poons (Leicester St.)
Tootsies (New King's Rd.)

ZagatWire: November 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:09:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Chelsea Brasserie, The	7-12 Sloane Sq.	London	020-7881 5999
Langtry's	21 Pont St.	London	020-7201 6619
St. Germain	89-90 Turnmill St.	London	020-7336 0949
Tamarai	167 Drury Ln.	London	020-7831 9399

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Mizu	25 Sheldon Sq.	London	020-3214 3000
Nova	312-314 King’s Rd.	London	020-7351 0101
Rake, The	14 Winchester Walk	London	020-7407 0557
Silver 17	Hanover Sq.	London	020-7629 2552

Coming Soon

Bungalow 8

NYC club queen Amy Sacco will sprinkle some of her celebrity pixie dust in London next year, when an offshoot of her hot boîte opens in the St. Martin's Lane Hotel (45 St. Martin 's Lane, WC2). Sacco is expected to oversee the opening, which is slated for March or April 2007.

Trinity

This month, chef Adam Byatt will open this Modern European in Clapham Old Town, marking his return to the neighbourhood where he launched his first restaurant, Thyme. Taking over the site that was Polygon near Clapham Common (4 The Polygon, SW4), the 60-seat newcomer will feature a relaxed atmosphere and an open kitchen. Byatt will maintain his role as executive chef of Origin

Good Deals and Other News

A Boom In Chef's Books

There are a rash of new cookery books hitting the shelves. Giorgio Locatelli's Made in Italy (Fourth Estate; £27.99) features family stories as well as 200-plus recipes. Meanwhile, Mark Hix, chef director of Caprice Holdings (Le Caprice, The Ivy and J. Sheekey), has published British Regional Food (Quadrille; £25), which features recipes for 130 British dishes both modern and traditional. Soon-to-be 40-year-old Gordon Ramsay's autobiography, Humble Pie (HarperCollins Entertainment; £18.99), should give some insight into what makes the celeb chef tick. Tom Aikens' new book is Tom Aikens Cooking (Ebury Press; £25), with 200 recipes graded according to difficulty and organized by type of food. Lastly, Nobu West (Quadrille; £30) is Nobu Matsuhisa's first book with Mark Edwards, head chef of Nobu London; it showcases recipes of 120-plus Westernized dishes.

Armani Café

This restaurant has reopened now that the refurbishment of the Knightsbridge Emporio Armani store (191 Brompton Rd., SW3; 020-7584 4549) is complete; it now features slick, black decor and a central coffee bar.

Fifth Floor Cafe

The new health-conscious kids' menu at this Harvey Nichols eatery was designed with the help of Annabel Karmel, a U.K. expert on children's nutritional issues. Available at lunch and dinner, the menu features dishes such as plaice goujons with two sauces, a mini-burger made from 100% organic beef and vanilla or chocolate ice cream with hot chocolate or toffee sauce, as well as complimentary juice, milk or mineral water. Harvey Nichols is also conducting a nationwide search for the new face of its chocolate drink. The successful child (between two and five years old) will adorn the new packaging and receive a family trip to the Valrhona Chocolate Factory in France. To enter, submit a photograph of your little darling with chocolate on his or her face by December 15th; visit www.harveynichols.com for full information on how to enter.

FishWorks

A new Chelsea branch boasts a takeaway fish counter (212 Fulham Rd., SW10; 020-7823 3033).

Galvin at Windows

Has introduced a new à la carte breakfast menu including specialities such as two duck eggs with cèpes and foie gras and a buckwheat crêpe filled with bacon, eggs and Emmentaler cheese. Egg dishes, pancakes, waffles and French toast round out the menu, served weekdays from 7–10 AM and Saturday and Sunday from 7–10:30 AM.

Gilgamesh

This Pan-Asian newcomer is now offering a weekly changing eight-course tasting menu on Monday evenings (£40 per person plus 12.5% service). In addition, the restaurant recently debuted The Babylon Lounge, open nightly till 3 AM, some evenings with live music.

Grill, The

A live jazz trio now performs at Sunday lunch (12:30–2:30 PM). The three-course set menu (£39.50 per person) includes half a bottle of house wine and dishes such as roast rib of beef off the trolley, as well as a selection of brunch-style items.

Odette's

Recently acquired by Vince Power, this Primrose Hill hangout has just emerged from a refurbishment by designer Shaun Clarkson (Pigalle Club and Cheyne Walk Brasserie). New head chef Bryn Williams (ex Le Gavroche, Orrery and Galvin at Windows) will offer light, modern French and British fare, with a set lunch menu (£18 for two courses; £22 for three) in addition to à la carte choices. The restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Wizzy

ZagatWire: October 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:09:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Atami Restaurant & Bar	37 Monck St.	London	020-7222 2218
Hoxton Grille, The	81 Great Eastern St.	London	020-7739 9111
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon	13-15 West St.	London	020-7010 8600
Wallace, The	Hertford House, Manchester Sq	London	020-7563 9505

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Club Bar & Dining Room	21 Warwick St.	London	020-7734 1002
Hoxton Grille, The	81 Great Eastern St.	London	020-7739 9111
Pearl	252 High Holborn	London	020-7829 7000
Prima	14 New London St.	London	020-7264 1240

Coming Soon

Barrafina

In December, the owners of Fino will open this Soho tapas bar (54 Frith St., W1; 020 7813 8010), where the casual setup will feature a mere 25 counter seats, a no-reservations policy and hours from noon to midnight. The Spanish menu will offer simpler, more affordable fare than the Fitzrovia flagship, including seafood cooked on a "plancha," the traditional Spanish grill.

Mimosa Bar & Restaurant

Opening in November in Belgravia's new Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel (sister hotel to the Jumeirah Carlton Tower) is this bistro-style Mediterranean (21 Lowndes St., SW1) with alfresco dining, plus a tapas and meze option during the day. The bar's cocktail list will include house specialties such as a mimosa peach martini and a bloody mimosa.

Scott's

This well-known seafood restaurant in Mayfair (20 Mount St., W1; 020-7495 7309) has been acquired by Caprice Holdings (The Ivy, J. Sheekey, Le Caprice, Daphne's, Bam-Bou and Rivington Grill), and will reemerge in late November from a total refurbishment that will return it to its former glory. The 1940s-inspired space will feature a central oyster bar, a private dining room in the basement and a classic menu sectioned into oysters, caviar, crustaceans, fish, meat and grills.

Good Deals and Other News

Black & Blue

A new bright and airy branch in Borough Market (1-2 Rochester Walk, SE1; 020-7357 9922) is built into the arches of a railway bridge.

Chez Patrick

Patrick Tako (ex Lou Pescadou) has taken over Stratford's, Lou Pescadou's sister restaurant, sprucing up its decor and introducing a Classic French menu that no longer specializes in seafood.

Christopher's

The Martini Bar has created a special cocktail for Breast Cancer Awareness Month – the Raspberry Fondant, a mixture of Tanqueray gin, crème de framboise, raspberry puree, double cream and white chocolate shavings. For every £8 cocktail sold, the restaurant will donate £3 to breast cancer charities.

Dish Dash

There is a new Chelsea outpost of this Persian-Lebanese at 9 Park Walk, SW10 (020-7352 1330).

Frankie's Italian Bar & Grill

A Marylebone branch has opened on the lower ground floor of Selfridges (400 Oxford St., W1; 020-7318 3981).

Greenhouse

Through November 15th, this Mayfair hideaway is offering a three-course "Autumn" set lunch menu for £32 that includes a complimentary glass of wine, a half a bottle of water and coffee.

Hush

Le Club, the Classic French eatery, is offering wines from its La Cave wine boutique at wine-shop prices on Monday evenings.

Momo

The Web site of this fashionable Moroccan is finally up and running at www.momoresto.com.

Nahm

This Belgravia Thai's new "Street Food" lunch menu offers a quick dining option (two courses for £20; three for £26).

Quaglino's

New head chef Craig James has developed a special menu – "The A to Z of Apples" – in collaboration with the Brogdale Horticultural Trust. Offered throughout the month of October, it features daily changing dishes made with lesser known varieties such as the Arthur Turner, Doctor Hogg and Galloway Pippin.

Royal Exchange Grand Café & Bar

The Sauterelle restaurant on the mezzanine level is offering a "Boodle me over dinner" promotion in partnership with the British jeweller Boodles and Charles Heidsieck Champagne. During the month, all dinner guests will receive a complimentary champagne cocktail and a chance to enter a prize draw to win a 1.03 karat diamond worth £10,000. The winner will be drawn at random in November.

Tana Ramsay's Family Kitchen

It seems that Gordon (Ramsay) isn't the only one in the family who can cook. His wife, Tana, a mother of four, has published this new cookbook that includes over 100 recipes for healthy family meals (£20; HarperCollins).

Tom Aikens

This Chelsea New French now has a private dining room for up to 10 guests.

Villandry

Now that this Marylebone eatery has emerged from a £1 million refurbishment, it features a French brasserie menu and a variety of new products from suppliers all over Europe.

Lola's
Stratford's

ZagatWire: December 2006

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:08:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Acorn House	69 Swinton St.	London	020-7812 1842
Bumpkin	209 Westbourne Park Rd.	London	020-7243 9818
Theo Randall at The InterContinental	1 Hamilton Pl.	London	020-7318 8747
Tom's Kitchen	27 Cale St.	London	020-7349 0202

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Burlington Club	12 New Burlington St.	London	020-7734 0233
K-Box	7-9 Cranbourn St.	London	020-7287 8868
Le Salon	13-15 West St.	London	020-7010 8600
Montgomery Place	31 Kensington Park Rd.	London	020-7792 3921

Coming Soon

Brera Restaurant & Bar

Opening in December, the former Vecchia Milano space in Marylebone (74 Welbeck St., W1; 020-7935 2371) is under new management, and undergoing a posh makeover with luxe material like green slate and Scottish leather. Named after Milan's oldest district, it will feature a classic Milanese menu along with free stuzzichini (hot and cold bar snacks) served at its sunken bar.

Haiku

Offering Modern Asian cooking served tapas-style, this import from Cape Town is opening this month in Mayfair (15 New Burlington Pl.; 020-7494 4777) in an elegant setting utilising natural materials to complement the bold flavour and design of the food.

Raviolo

The menu at this Balham neighbourhood restaurant (1 Balham Station Rd., SW12) opening in January is predominantly made up of ravioli with many different kinds of fillings – haddock and pea, beef and porcini, pumpkin and sage, to name a few – and sauces.

XO

This new opening from Will Ricker (e&o, Eight Over Eight, Cicada and Great Eastern Dining Room) on the site of the former Belsize pub (29 Belsize Lane, NW3; 020-7433 0888) is aiming for the atmosphere of a Shanghai colonial club. The Southeast Asian menu will extend to next door's XO to Go, where items will be available for local delivery.

Good Deals and Other News

Gordon Ramsay Holdings

Has expanded its grasp by adding pubs (Warrington Hotel in Maida Vale and Narrow Street Pub in Limehouse) to its portfolio. These pubs will operate in their current state up until Christmas and then will close for renovation before being relaunched in March.

Gaucho Grill

The Swallow Street branch is offering two Argentinean wine tasting courses that can be purchased as gift vouchers for Christmas. The first course is a three-wine, half-hour personal tasting with the sommelier in the wine boutique Cavas de Gaucho. After the tasting, customers can choose their favourite bottle to take home in a canvas wine bag made in Buenos Aires (£60 for two people). The second course is a one-hour personal tasting of five premium wines representing the major wine regions of Argentina. Again, customers can choose their favourite bottle to take away in one of Gaucho's handmade leather cylinder wine carriers with a corkscrew (£150 for two people; 020-7437 9895).

Le Cercle

To introduce young diners to the art of good eating, there is now a free mini-degustation menu for children under 11 at lunchtime (Tuesday–Saturday; one free children's meal per paying adult).

Roussillon

For those who want to linger over lunch as the French do, the "Off the Clock Menu" offers 24 courses including delicacies such as truffle soufflé and cauliflower royale with deep fried frogs' legs and crispy parsley (£180 per person).

Tamarind

Now offers a children's menu with plenty of gentle flavours. Every Sunday, children under 10 can eat for free when accompanied by an adult having the £24.50 lunch menu.

Upper Glas Restaurant & Bar

Glas in Borough Market closed when its lease expired a few months ago but has now reopened on the former site of Lola's in Islington (The Mall, First Floor, 359 Upper Street, N1 020-7359 1932). The restaurant still offers a cold grazing menu of tapas-size portions, which diners can mix and match with the hot main courses.

Painted Heron (Kennington branch only)
Saigon
Zinc (Fulham branch only)

ZagatWire: January 2007

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:07:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Hat & Feathers	2 Clerkenwell Rd.	London	20- 7490 2244
Mimosa Bar & Restaurant	21 Lowndes St.	London	020-7823 1234
Scott's	20 Mount St.	London	020-7495 7309
St. Alban	4-12 Regent St.	London	020-7499 8558
Trinity	4 The Polygon	London	020-7622 1199

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Fat Badger	310 Portobello Rd.	London	020-8969 4500
Gilt Champagne Lounge	1 Cadogan Pl.	London	(011-44-20) 7235-1234
Mahiki	1 Dover St.	London	020-7493 9529

Coming Soon

Benja

Focusing on traditional dishes rooted in Thailand's regal past, this upscale three-storey newcomer will open this month in Soho (17 Beak St., W1). Its name refers to the five colors of Benjarong (polychrome 18th-century ceramics used by the Thai royal family), and these colors – red, black, green, turquoise and yellow – can be seen throughout the interior created by designer Ou Baholyodhin (Patara and Benares).

Good Deals and Other News

Smoking Ban

It has finally been announced that the smoking ban in restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs will go into effect July 1, 2007. There are no details yet on the type of outdoor areas where smoking will still be permitted.

Almeida

This Islington mainstay is celebrating its fifth birthday this month with a variety of events including a celebratory menu featuring chef Ian Wood's favourite dishes with matching wines (lunch, two courses for £20, three courses for £22; dinner, two courses for £22, three courses for £27). There will also be a specially produced collection of recipes presented in a small book, as well as prize draws for cookery class vouchers (worth £190 each).

Quadrato

Offers a seafood-and-jazz evening every Saturday where diners select from the freshest fish bought that morning at Billingsgate Fish Market to be cooked to their preference while they enjoy live music (seatings from 6:30–10:30 PM; jazz is played from 7:30–10:30 PM; £45 per person; 020-7510 1999).

Saki Bar & Food Emporium

New head chef Hiroyuki Saotome, former joint head chef at Nobu London, has introduced two omakase tasting menus featuring a handful of his signature dishes such as aburi toro with green chile and onion ponzu sauce and tempura soba risotto with fried botan prawns and truffle sauce (£55 per person for six-course menu; £75 per person for seven-course menu).

Villandry

The child-friendly focus of this Marylebone eatery has been an intrinsic part of its recent revamp, and to that end there's a new children's menu created by baby- and children's-food expert Annabel Karmel, with macaroni 'n' cheese and mini-burgers among the choices.

ZagatWire: February 2007

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:04:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Barrafina	54 Frith St.	London	020-7813 8016
Mocotó	145 Knightsbridge	London	020-7225 2300
Sitaaray	167 Drury Ln.	London	020-7269 6422
XO	29 Belsize Ln.	London	020-7433 0888

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
1707	181 Piccadilly	London	020-7734 8040
Brown Dog	28 Cross St.	London	020-8392 2200
Lowlander	20 Creechurch Ln.	London	020-7623 8813
Mocotó	145 Knightsbridge	London	020-7225 2300

Coming Soon

ChaCha No Hana

The newest restaurant from Alan Yau (Hakkasan, Yauatcha and Busaba Eathai) is planned for the former Shumi site (23 St. James’s St., SW1). Opening in July, it will be similar to a Japanese izakaya restaurant with informal dining at low tables and a menu made up of small plates meant to be shared – think Japanese tapas.

Good Deals and Other News

Angela Hartnett's MENU

Chef Angela Hartnett was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

Big Easy

Its annual lobster festival, which runs through February 28th, entitles diners to a one-pound lobster served barbecued, steamed or oven-baked with fries and house salad plus a frozen margarita (£14.95 per person).

Deep

The restaurant is currently closed while the BBC is filming new episodes of Great British Menu. It will reopen March 2nd.

Dish Dash

Sort out the excesses of the holiday season at its Chelsea branch, which has introduced a new Persian-inspired detox menu featuring healthy ingredients such as a fresh herb stew with lamb and red kidney beans. The £15 per person menu includes a choice of an apple, lemon or ginger fizz.

Geales

Taken over by Mark Fuller and Garry Hollihead (Embassy), this Notting Hill fish 'n' chip shop has closed for a major refurbishment and will reopen in March with the same neighborly feel, only with more style and an extended menu.

Kensington Place

Has replaced chef Rowley Leigh, who left this summer after 19 years to open his own restaurant with Sam Mahoney from the Roux Brothers empire.

Meza

Through February 28th, this Soho tapas joint is running an "Angels & Demons" promotion where diners can indulge in special cocktails and menus in the angels and demons theme from £12.50 per person.

Nobu London

Celebrates its 10th anniversary this month.

1 Lombard Street

Its New Year's promotion keeps the mood festive through March 31st by letting diners indulge in a nine-course degustation menu and a glass of champagne for £45 per person.

Bluebird Club and Dining Rooms

ZagatWire: March 2007

BuzzEditor — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:03:00 GMT

New Restaurants

Name	Address	City	Phone
Benja	17 Beak St.	London	020-7287 0555
Magdalen	152 Tooley St.	London	020-7403 1342
Raviolo	1 Balham Station Rd.	London	020-8772 0433

New Nightspots

Name	Address	City	Phone
Artesian	1c Portland Pl.	London	020-7636 1000
Moose	31 Duke St.	London	020-7224 3452
Temperance	The 74-76 York St.	London	020-7262 1513
Westbridge Pub & Dining Rooms	74-76 Battersea Bridge Rd.	London	020-7228 6482

Coming Soon

The Forge

Robert Siegler (Le Café du Jardin and Le Deuxième) is opening this Modern European restaurant and bar in Covent Garden (14 Garrick St., WC2; 020-7379 1531) at the end of the month. Overseen by chef Andy Barber (ex The Ivy), the menu offers a large selection of seafood dishes.

Ristorante Semplice

Giovanni Baldino, former front-of-house for Locanda Locatelli, and Marco Tore, formerly of TECA, are opening this modern Italian in Mayfair (9 Blenheim St., W1) this month.

Suka

New York's Zak Pelaccio (5 Ninth and Fatty Crab) is behind this Malaysian restaurant in the Sanderson (50 Berners St., W1 T), opening this month in the former Spoon space, which is being designed by Paris-based architect India Mahdavi.

While Alain Ducasse's Spoon restaurant in the Sanderson has closed (see Suka above), he plans to debut a new venture in Mayfair's Dorchester hotel (Park Ln.) in the autumn in the former Terrace banqueting space, which features views of Hyde Park.

Good Deals and Other News

Eat London: All About Food

True to its name, this new book by Terence Conran and Peter Prescott is about food and the people who make, sell, cook, serve and care about it. Each chapter explores a specific area of London, with suggested itineraries like a tour around Borough Market and address listings for every entry. Included are more than 60 recipes by various chefs such as Giorgio Locatelli, Rose Gray, Ruth Rogers and Richard Corrigan (Conran Octopus Publishers; £20).

Angela Hartnett's MENU

The Connaught Hotel, including MENU, are closing for a major refurbishment at the end of this month and are scheduled to reopen in November. During that time, Angela Hartnett will be overseeing the opening of Cielo, a new Gordon Ramsay Holdings venture in Florida's Boca Raton Resort & Club.

Baker & Spice

Opened a new branch in St. John's Wood (20 Clifton Rd., W9; 020-7266 1122).

Benares

Is serving a weekday three-course lunch menu with a glass of wine for £25.

The Berkeley

Already famous for its Prêt-a-Portea, which includes biscuits decorated like clothes, the hotel has now expanded to hosting baby shower tea parties with biscuits in the shapes of baby booties and bottles, served with pink champagne, coffee, tea and juices in a themed room with decorations in pink, blue or yellow. Prices start at £150 per person (020-7235 6000; www.the-berkeley.co.uk).

Foliage

Its new lunch menu is based on small, tasting-size dishes (four courses for £27; £35 includes two glasses of wine).

Franco's

New pre- (5:30–7 PM) and post- (10:30–11 PM) theatre menus (two courses for £16; three for £20) accommodate early and late diners. For an additional cost, the restaurant can arrange a car to take you to the theatre and bring you back after the show for dessert.

The Grill Room

The Dorchester restaurant's recently appointed chef Aiden Byrne (ex Tom Aikens) has introduced his new menu showcasing Modern British cooking. The newly appointed sommelier, Jason McAuliffe (ex Chez Bruce), has developed a list of 30 wines under £30 to complement the already expansive wine list.

Neal Street Restaurant

This is your last chance to dine at this Covent Garden Italian, as it's closing on March 17th due to redevelopment of the site, and it's not yet known whether it will reopen elsewhere. Coincidentally, owner Antonio Carluccio was recently awarded an honorary OBE during a dinner at the Italian Embassy.

One-O-One

Is closing on March 12th for refurbishment for approximately 10–12 weeks. When it reopens, it will remain a fish restaurant with the same chef.

Roast

Register for the Roast Privilege Card and receive dining points that you can redeem for free breakfasts, a bottle of champagne or meal discounts. The first person to reach 1,000 points wins a weekend for two at the Ritz Paris. For more details and to register, visit www.roast-restaurant.com.

Roka

March 14th sees the launch of "Bespoke Shochu" at the restaurant's basement Shochu Lounge. After a session with the Shochu Master to discuss your preferences, receive your very own labelled bottle to keep at the bar for future visits, take home or give as a gift (£120 includes bottle and session).

Yoshino

The restaurant, as well as the pedestrianized street outside, are currently closed for refurbishment. Its reopening is set for the end of April.

Café Lazeez (Old Brompton Rd. branch only)
Globe
Spoon