New On Resy: Popolo Shoreditch, Kudu, and Rochelle Canteen ICA

Londoners may pick squabbles over whose burger is best and which pizzaiolo spins the best Neapolitan pie, but when it comes to fried chicken sandwiches, there really isn’t much argument. Having started as a humble stall on Broadway Market, Butchies signature buttermilk burger—two ethereally crisp fillets  topped with home-made pickles, garlic mayo and optional hot sauce—has quickly reached legendary status. At their neon-lit Shoreditch diner, hang around the bar or gather a small crew into the upstairs dining room for one of the neighbourhood’s most consistently enjoyable hangs.

Since the original Rochelle Canteen opened in Shoreditch back in 2004, Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson’s restaurant has helped to set the blueprint for the effortless, seasonally-driven style of British cooking that’s slowly spread across the nation’s best restaurants and gastropubs. Their second location at the ICA, opened in 2017, takes the DNA of the original and pairs it to the gallery’s coolly artistic sensibility. Perfect for leisurely lunches and intimate dinners, expect expertly-crafted pies, outstanding desserts, and the kind of attentive service that makes each visit as memorable as the last.

Peckham has always excelled at neighbourhood dining, which means a restaurant like Kudu is in great company. Owners Amy Corbin and Patrick Williams have translated their South African heritage into destination-worthy dishes influenced by local terroir, and finessed with classical technique; braai onion squash with goats curd hits all the right notes, while comforting seafood stews cooked in traditional South African potjie are a standout. Paired to swoon-worthy decor and an effervescent dining room packed with clued-up locals, and it’s more than enough reason to drop everything to head to SE15.

Popolo epitomises everything great about dining in Shoreditch—the buzz and informality, the excellent food and natural wine—without any of the fussiness or unnecessary hype. Talented chef Jon Lawson trained under pasta maestro Theo Randall, and the results at this Italian small plates bolthole speak for themselves; the rotating menu of dishes might include silky taglierini embellished with bottarga and clams, or agnolotti with pigs cheek and porcini butter. Drop in for lunch or an extended catchup with a friend—sitting at the open kitchen downstairs is a hoot, while the upstairs is better for small groups.

Often imitated but rarely matched, Grind effortlessly blends all-day dining and millennial-friendly interiors with an anything-goes vibe. Their latest outpost, in The City’s Broadgate Circle, is perfectly located for meetings, meetups, and after work pick-me-ups; there’s ample space for groups and, as day becomes night, the cafe shifts gears to become a buzzing cocktail bar and restaurant. An espresso martini here can easily turn a bad day into a great one.