The Sea, The Sea, Anglo Thai And Kaizen House, New On The Hit List

Because it’s easily 2019’s hottest opening so far. A sleek all-day bar and restaurant with world-class pedigree (its founders have run some of the best bars in Europe), there’s a relaxed all-day bar and cafe at the front with stunning cocktails and snacks, and an all-conquering drinks ‘workshop’ and chef’s table at the back. With Chinese-Portuguese small plates courtesy of the critically lauded TÁ TÁ Eatery (their Dexter beef rice and Iberico katsu sando have already attained cult status), this one easily lives up to the hype. Go now, before everyone else finds out.

Because anywhere that chef Leandro Carreira is cooking should automatically be near the top of anyone’s personal hit list. He’s teamed with Alex Hunter (of the excellent Bonnie Gull restaurants) on The Sea, The Sea, a tiny fishmonger in Chelsea that transforms into an intimate champagne and seafood bar at night. Carreira’s minimal, precise style brings out the best of the produce he works with; dishes like Newlyn red mullet with oscietra caviar and elderberry capers, or poached lobster with olive oil and pepper, amply attest to his knack for creative flavour combinations. A list of grower champagnes makes for a perfect accompaniment.

Because this new Italian restaurant from the owners of Quality Chop House is already a winner in our book. Taking up residence at the former Bonhams restaurant space within the eponymous auction house, the new space feels light and welcoming, with first-rate service and attention to detail—everything from the choice of table linens to the menu itself feels refined, but relaxed). Upstairs, you’ll find a restaurant serving incredible plates of food inspired by the Emilia-Romagna region, while downstairs, there’s a relaxed bar with its own dedicated menu—the haunch of venison lasagna is destined to be a bona fide cult classic.

Because it’s still one of the most unique dining experiences you can have anywhere in London. Descend to the basement at Maison Bab and slip behind a velvet curtain, where you’ll find a stunning open kitchen and chef’s counter with seats for ten very lucky diners. An innovative six-course tasting menu explores the glorious kebab—everything from an extravagant barbecued foie gras mini-kebab to delicate riffs on classic lamb shawarma—in all its glory. With such a high staff-to-diner ratio, diners are waited upon hand-and-foot, and a drinks pairing is mandatory. Seats are in high demand, so setting a Notify will be your best bet.

Because Elizabeth Haigh’s food is truly one-of-a-kind. A thrilling collision of flavour and technique that fuses the chef’s Singaporean-British heritage with Michelin-star pedigree, this two-month residency at swish member’s club Mortimer House is one to make tracks for. Imagine, if you will, a yielding beef rendang bun accompanied by piquant fermented sambal; ethereal pandan mousse with meringue and strawberries; and a voguish buttermilk fried chicken sando smothered with a decadent layer of caviar that’ll give you bragging rights for the rest of 2019.

Because now you can get Bao’s legendary buns and Taiwanese small plates on Borough Market’s doorstep. Each Bao restaurant offers a different take on Asia’s regional food culture, and the new Borough restaurant serves dishes from the grill, late-night noodle dishes, and there’s also a grab-and-go hatch for quick fixes. The cocktails and playful vibe are both on point, and there are even outdoor tables for market-watching. And that noise from downstairs? That’ll be the karaoke room, with space for twelve friends and party platters all around.

Because chef John Chantarasak’s Anglo Thai residency is one of the hottest tickets in town right now. A tiny counter-only restaurant in Clapham, Counter Culture has hosted everything from a Southern BBQ-inspired menu to an homage to the cookery of Ireland, all prepped and served by chefs in front of diners. Chantarasak’s fusion of British ingredients and the flavours of his Thai heritage have picked up an incredible amount of buzz, and it’s worth heading to south London for dishes like a fragrant smoked eel and mussel broth with Thai basil and mushrooms, or a punchy yellow curry of fork-tender ox cheek with wild rice.

Because barbecuing scarlet shrimp on an open air terrace sounds like a pretty damn good time to us. Launched by the Hart Brothers (of Barrafina and Quo Vadis), Parrillan has set up in Coal Drops Yard, where diners cook their own meat, vegetables and seafood to their liking on a miniature charcoal grill. To wit: luscious diver caught scallops, 50-day aged rump steak, new season artichokes and the coveted carabineiro shrimp that routinely sell out at Barrafina. The shady, open terrace is genuinely a lovely spot on a warm day, and it’s likely to be one of the most requested tables this summer. Go now, while you can.

Because extravagance is the new normal, and it appears that newcomer Hello Darling has that market cornered. Conceived by theatrical designers Darling & Edge, the restaurant’s beautiful interior feels like a private club in a Lewis Carroll novel, a whimsical blend of humour and camp. It’s an appropriately lush setting to dive into a spread by Masterchef alum Natalie Cole, who whips up  Mediterranean-style dishes like heritage tomatoes with creamy whipped feta, lemon verbena panna cotta or smoked haddock scotch egg. Wash down with a botanical cocktail, and repeat.

Because it captures everything great about London’s Chinese food scene right now. Plenty of China’s regional cuisine is already vegan (often from necessity), and this tiny restaurant’s take on it could only exist in 2019 Hackney. Look past the old cafe exterior, and inside, there’s a cosy pastel-hued space with subtle retro Chinatown references. Menu-wise, tinnies and sharing plates are de rigueur; vegan mapo tofu is essential, as are crisp gong bao broccoli laden with dried chillies, soft bao stuffed with oyster mushrooms, and addictive dan dan noodles with the numbing kiss of Sichuan pepper.