The June Hit List: Poon’s, Lilienblum, Leo’s, and More

The news that ex-Bright chef Giuseppe ‘Pep’ Belvedere had teamed up with the founders of Juliets Quality Foods on a new restaurant has brightened an East London scene still recovering from P Franco’s closure – and with the restaurant taking over the former Jim’s Café site on Chatsworth Road, felt like fate. At the front, there’s an intimate space for morning coffees, snacks, and brisk lunches; meanwhile, the airy dining room at the back is perfect for intimate get-togethers and celebratory evenings, with dishes pulled from the kitchen’s wood-burning oven and served in a breezy room decked in vintage furniture, white tablecloths, and chic floral arrangements. An elegant opening menu includes plates like perfect asparagus with prosciutto San Daniele and 60-month parmesan; rabbit and olive agnolotti; and seabass a l’acqua pazza, paired with a largely Italian list of low-intervention wines.

For more information, click here.

An acumen for curating what’s hot in the culinary world has become a cornerstone for this white-hot Shoreditch natural wine bar, and its latest – and most ambitious – residency sees Mexico City’s Cariñito Tacos set up shop for a month. In Mexico, the outfit is beloved for its unabashed approach to using quality tortillas with Asian-ish fillings – think an Isaan-esque filling of fork-tender pork belly, chicarron, rice powder and mint, or yielding aubergine with tamarind, basil, and fried shallots – alongside small plates and large format dishes like seabass with lemongrass and Guajillo chilli that arrives with warm tortillas. Inside, it’s definitely a scene, and despite its popularity, still feels like a well-kept secret.

The National Theatre’s new flagship restaurant is named for the building’s eminent architect, Denys Lasdun, and combines the brilliant cooking of the team behind Hackney’s Marksman with the Brutalist splendour of an iconic Grade I-listed structure. The room itself is enough reason to visit – inside, it’s all brooding concrete and sculptural brilliance – whether you’ve tickets to a production or not, but when you factor in superb seasonal set and a la carte menus, a genuine buzz, and an excellent drinks list, it’s clear that the food is the star of the show. Expect dishes like dressed Dorset crab with a soft saffron bun and chicken, wild garlic and leek pie for two to share, along with Marksman favourites like the sublime brown butter and honey custard tart. More info here.

For reservations, email bookings@lasdunrestaurant.com.

Since appearing up at 23 Charlotte Street (Carousel’s ‘side hustle’ bar, next door) for a brief initial run, this stylish pop-up (by Amy Poon, of the legendary Poon’s restaurant family) has easily exceeded any and all expectation and has been extended through to October. This is, in no small part, down to the excellent, slippery wontons offered in four varieties, coated in a slick of Poon’s own homemade chilli oil; naked, or served alongside al dente egg noodles, and washed down with HK milk tea or cooling iced tea. The ‘wontoneria’ has frequently drawn long lines, and from June 21^st will offer evening service for dinner along with new menu items and house cocktails.

One of last year’s most religiously attended pop-ups, this Hong Kong café – from the makers of the eponymous milk tea – is returning to Brick Lane, with a permanent site across from Beigel Bake. The founders were at pains to recreate a perfect cha chaan teng (HK caff) experience, with signatures like the milk tea, HK French toast, and house made char siu buns transporting homesick Hong Kongers home. Expect meticulous, aesthetic interiors, spot-on renditions of classic dishes, a sense of community – oh, and most likely, a queue. If anything’s worth lining up for though, it’s this.

Walk-ins only.

Israeli chef Eyal Shani has form, with acclaimed restaurants from his native Tel Aviv to Ha Salon in NYC, and most recently won over London with the wacky-but-excellent Miznon. Lilienblum, his newest London effort, sets up in the former Passo site in Shoreditch, with a glamorous feel – thank the high ceilings, gorgeous interior details and marble bar – and a shift towards sharing-style dishes that spotlight Sephardic dishes. Highlights could include the whole seabass baked with tomatoes, charred beetroot carpaccio or, for dessert, malabi with strawberry perfume. There’s also an interesting wine list leaning towards Israeli producers, plus a relaxed outdoor terrace for a post-dinner tipple.

For reservations, call 020 8138 2847.

The quote, ‘if something’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing’ could well be the corporate statement of Big Mamma’s London restaurants, with this intimate (read: 120 covers) ‘trattoria’ following fast on the heels of Kensington’s opulent Jacuzzi. Inside, there’s a shimmering, backlit bar; cosy leather booths that resemble giant pretzels; and a selfie station in the bathroom with a ring light in place of an angel’s halo. This is, of course, a place to let one’s hair down and have fun, and the menu sticks to the Big Mamma playbook, with a focus on pasta, sans pizza – there’s fettuccine Alfredo showered in truffles, penne alla vodka with flakey white crab, and a langoustine spaghetti swimming in a rich bisque. Hangover complementary.

For more information, click here.

Bao’s new Marylebone location takes the formula that catapulted this modern Taiwanese restaurant into the stratosphere – sleek design, minimal branding, and exquisite snacky gua bao and small plates – and introduces a menu bolstered with dumplings galore. So, expect new dishes like cull yaw dumplings in chilli oil, crispy beef guo tie dumplings, and prawn dumplings in egg drop soup, alongside new arrivals like smoked aubergine and fried bao ‘sticks’ and a refreshing ox tongue salad. Old favourites and a strong lineup of drinks are present and correct – milk tea Old Fashioned, we see you – and there’s a terrace for taking in St. Christopher’s Place on a sunny day.

For more information, click here.

The arrival of summer has meant two major happenings at Dalston favourite Snackbar. The first is, of course, the reopening of its beloved summer garden (now bookable), with ample space to lounge, drink, and contemplate the excellence of Freddie Janssen’s rotating cast of elevated diner-style dishes. The second is its series of summer pop-ups, kicking off with a series of Tunisian dinners hosted by writer, cook, and food anthropologist Boutheina Ben Salem, whose Babél private dinners have been an if-you-know happening among London food nerds – and have been opened to the public for the first time. There’s a succinct menu showcasing Tunisian olive oil, with delicate vegetarian brik (filo-style pastries) with spinach and oozing egg, alongside an assortment of a Mechouia salad of charcoal grilled vegetables and tabel spices, and Arbequina olives marinated in Mayou Harissa. Tickets here.

Aiming to bring a slice of Spain’s culinary diversity in London, Barrafina’s quarterly Invita series opened with a debut run that sold out in hours. The second instalment is arguably even more intriguing, with Las Palmas’ Borja Marrero (of Michelin green-starred Muxgo) showcasing the hyperlocal cuisine of his native Canary Islands. Marrero will be cooking with rarely seen ingredients indigenous to Las Palmas, plus produce grown on his own farms, in a set menu at the sleek Barrafina Borough Yards. Marrero has an ingenious palate that he puts to work in dishes like lubina (European seabass) with a creamy sauce of local milk and cheese, or eggplant with Hollandaise vinaigrette. Don’t miss out – snag your tickets for June 13^th and June 14^th.

Ever wanted to dig into a three-course feast with friends, created by the MOB crew? As part of Open House, BST Hyde Park’s summer programme of events, everyone’s favourite social media creators will be taking to the pans at the yearly Chef’s Table at The House of Peroni, right at the heart of Open House in Hyde Park. Expect classic Italian flavours, with an inimitable MOB twist, enjoyed on long tables in the sunshine.