New on Resy: Officina 00, Chishuru, Caribe’, Bar Crispin, and More

One of London’s finest pasta restaurants. There’s a cool, lived-in feel at this fêted Old Street spot, with a short and frequently changing menu of drop-dead gorgeous pastas prepared before guests at an open kitchen. With pasta, everyone leans one way or another — but regular dishes like a slow-cooked beef shin pappardelle with burrata and meatballs, or a dish of corzetti draped in port sauce and embellished with wild mushrooms and house pork sausage outshine even the best of their peers, and demand repeat orders. Cocktails are excellent, too.

Having found success in Spitalfields, it made sense for Crispin’s owners to set up shop in Soho, with a 150-strong wine list, plush interiors, and a terrace and private dining room for gatherings and monthly tastings. Food-wise, expect relaxed, laid-back dishes perfect for enjoying with wine; charcuterie, native oysters, white beans with green sauce and Le Coste olive oil, and smoked mackerel with tangy sourdough and butter. Perfect for escaping the crowds.

One of the brightest champions of London’s diverse Caribbean food cultures, Keshia Sakariah draws from her Montserratian roots to create faithful renditions of classic island dishes from her relaxed restaurant in Pop Brixton. Perpetually busy at the weekends when the covered terrace comes into its own, Sakariah’s food shines whatever the weather; saltfish accra laced with scotch bonnet and garlic demands immediate reordering, while fried chicken with smokey molasses and whole fish with okra are perfect for sharing over a few rounds of cocktails. Look out for their Baruru supperclubs, pairing delicious food with storytelling, courtesy of historian Fiona Compton.

Part of Hoxton’s Museum of the Home (formerly the Geffrye), this outstanding new bistro comes courtesy of the team behind lauded gastropubs The Anchor and Hope and Clarence Tavern. In short; expect the food to be excellent, and to be well-looked after. There’s a colourful, chic dining room and sun trap of a terrace for glorious long lunches and summer evenings; expect comforting dishes like Swaledale porchetta with rosemary potatoes, potted shrimps and toast, and duck confit with warm lentils, with vegetables from the restaurant’s garden. Also open for breakfast.

After one of the most tumultuous years imaginable, phenom Adejoké ‘Joké’ Bakare has returned to her critically acclaimed Brixton restaurant with the same culinary fireworks and generosity that defined her adored first run in the neighbourhood. Her broadly West African-influenced dishes are still a revelation for first-timers and those familiar with the cuisine; favourites like the fork-tender goat ayamase remain, bolstered by new dishes like a plate of duck hearts with fermented hibiscus sauce and cassava, or a dessert of plantain and baobab ice cream with a cooling lime granita. A class act.

One of the undeniable attractions at this impressive new food hall by Liverpool Street is the impressive range of fresh and dried pastas on hand. For those with less patience, Eataly’s dedicated pizza and pasta restaurant offers very good renditions of both beloved dishes in casual surroundings, made to order. Expect both puffy Neapolitan and crisp Roman-style pizzas, al dente pastas prepared with seasonal ingredients, and a short-but-sweet list of desserts.

Minutes from Clapham and Wandsworth Common, this chic newcomer (from the team behind the acclaimed The Red Duck) is a welcome addition to the area’s clutch of quality restaurants. A cosy neighbourhood bistro at heart, the kitchen sends out quietly spectacular plates grounded in Eastern Mediterranean flavours – from Ramiro pepper dolma and a poached chicken fattoush, to a grilled red mullet or a whole aubergine charred on the grill, served with chard and chickpeas. A covered pavement terrace arrives in time for a scorching London summer, while a list of organic and modish low-intervention wines rounds out the kind of establishment to visit again and again.

There are pub kitchens – then there’s the Prince Arthur. Lovingly restored to its former glory, this London Fields institution also has the distinction of having Hot 4 U, one of the city’s hottest kitchen residencies on the pans, who collectively sharpened their skills at the likes of St. John, Cub, and Silo. A daily changing menu reveals uncomplicatedly delicious treasures with a twist, like stracciatella with five-spice peaches, summer truffle pasta, classic puddings with seasonal fruit, and a Sunday roast that pairs perfectly with a beer from Five Points.

Having evolved from a supper club, this informal al fresco restaurant specialises in the cuisine of chef Philip Juma’s Iraqi roots. While many of the dishes are available to go, it’s worth relaxing at one of the counter’s outdoor tables beneath the market’s canopy and gathering a few friends to experience a short-but-excellent menu of specialties like comforting kubba (dumplings), grill-kissed skewers and freshly baked tanoor bread, knafa, and a showstopping dolma that’s worth a special trip in itself.

Having come up at esteemed kitchens like The Ritz and La Petite Maison, chef Jake Finn wanted to shed the formality of fine dining for something more intimate. Enter Cinder, a soulful new restaurant in pretty Belsize Village, where the chef sends out Mediterranean-tinged plates cooked over flames, like wood-fired lamb skewers with creamy yoghurt and sage, or cedar plank salmon with house-made pickles. Already a hit with locals, there’s plenty of space outdoors for al fresco get-togethers and a conviviality that only exists at the best locals.

Mayfair offers its fair share of sleek Italian eateries, but few can claim direct lineage to one of Tuscany’s foremost wine dynasties. Unsurprisingly, wine is at the forefront of this beautifully attired restaurant, with an impressive list of the family’s vintages, offered by the glass and via accessible flights. A serene dining room and outdoor terrace are both superb places to enjoy a range of Tuscan-leaning pastas, antipasti, and desserts.

The best tapas bars are primarily neighbourhood affairs, a key differentiator that this beloved family-run spot understands well. During the evening, the restaurant fills with locals eager to dive into a list of excellent value Spanish wines and superb tapas; calamari and crisp patatas bravas slicked with romesco are outstanding, while larger plates like ox cheek and mash are on hand, too. Low hanging lights, high tables and bottles of wine lining the walls create an intimacy that’s hard to find outside of the best places.

Designed to showcase this impressive Italian food hall’s staggering array of produce, this chic-but-casual restaurant offers visitors the ability to enjoy dishes prepared from the best of the day’s offerings. So that means fish, meat and vegetables from its various counters, as well as the finest fresh pasta, wines, and more. A more leisurely affair than its siblings, it’s an opportunity to allow produce to shine, expertly prepared by the restaurant’s skilled chefs.

Originally started as a delivery concept from the team behind Patty & Bun, this roast chicken specialist recently opened its first permanent site on buzzy James Street. The offering is simple, but extremely effective – the best corn-fed chickens from legendary butcher HG Walter, expertly roasted, plus a short-but-sweet list of sides and starters. Quality and attention to detail is impressive, while an unpretentious dining room, wallet-friendly prices, and a wine list of natural bottles via industry darlings Newcomer and Ancestral wines seals the deal.