New on Resy: Sarap, Black Axe Mangal, Ampeli

Since it opened, Lee Tiernan’s B.A.M has dished out some of the most wildly creative and delicious food that London has ever seen. From the unapologetically dialled-up soundtrack to an exhilarating menu of huge flavours that takes inspiration from New York and Sichuan to Green Lanes, it’s one of London’s most beloved dining rooms for a reason. Take a few close friends, and gear up for one to remember. 

The first of the new decade’s most anticipated restaurants, chef Budgie Montoya’s Sarap bounced from pop-up to pop-up before finally finding a home in Brixton. This tiny but impressive dining room is the chef’s love letter to his native Philippines, interpreting the dishes of his homeland in spellbinding and delicious ways — slow-roasted pork lechon has to be tasted to be believed, and ceviche-like market fish kinilaw pops with the bright flavours of herbs and citrus. 

An Islington back street isn’t where you’d expect two of the city’s hottest young cooks to surface, but their arrival has bestowed this old-school boozer with a newly irresistible pull. Between them, the duo have cooked at some of London and Paris’s best restaurants. As well as the city’s best cheeseburger and one of its best Sunday roasts, there’s a rotating menu of subtly elevated pub-meets-bistro dishes like XO asparagus, or a fiendish bread semifreddo with sticky toffee sauce. Wash down with ale, rinse, and repeat. 

Gorgeous on the inside and outside, this polished Greek restaurant for the stylish Fitzrovia crowd is a winner. Inspired by the modern Greek tabernas where the country’s wines are currently undergoing a renaissance, the ‘indigenous’ wine offering is, unsurprisingly, outstanding, while dishes from the Greek menu — created and prepared by an ex-Ottolenghi chef — range from an exquisite feta saganaki with tomato jam to a comforting short rib stew with date molasses. 

Long a pizza desert, Shoreditch has upped its game. The arrival of Yard Sale’s perfectly baked, exquisitely topped pies like a double pepperoni and ‘nduja creation, or a concoction with spicy anchovies and capers, is a gamechanger for those looking for uncomplicated, casual hangs. There’s enough room for a small crew, and ice cream sandwiches for dessert — perfect. 

The go-to for outstanding fried chicken in town, Chick’n’Sours is largely responsible for the city’s addiction to superb free-range chicken paired to fiendishly good sauces and peerless sides like smacked cucumbers and Szechuan aubergines. Stiff (and sour) cocktails are only polite, and the vibe is unpretentious; meanwhile, the Seven Dials location makes it perfect for celebrations and group hangs.

An OG on London’s burger scene, Patty & Bun separates itself with deliciously melty, messy burgers that require one’s full attention, both hands, and a heap of napkins to get through. The Lambshank Redemption and Ari Gold are as good as ever, and their new all-vegan lineup hasn’t missed a beat — they’re delicious. The Soho location is ideal for a laid-back catchup after work or pre-gaming.