Think everyone’s pretty much done with 2016. I tried to escape all the crap by burrowing my head in plates of food. Below is a rundown of the best spots I ate at this year, from street eats to high end nosh. So, if you haven’t been and need some time out to enjoy life and not think about the crumbling mess that befell us in 2016, check these guys out…
Aquavit serves up sublime Nordic inspired dishes with 1st rate service – the Matje Herring is a winner – try that. The high ceilings and original pieces of artwork by Olafur Eliasson pieces give the space a feeling of modern grandeur.
Bel Air describes itself as ‘feel good fast food’ which is exactly what it is. Not everything is brilliant and it’s pretty pricey for lunchtime digs BUT the guys are so charming, I keep coming back. My go tos: sweet potato salad, broccoli slaw and the blackened chicken with roasted corn yoghurt and rice. FYI, no real seating area.
These guys had been on the street food scene since 2011 and most recently @ Dinerama, which is where I got to try their delighful tacos. The fish taco is decent but the real star is the fried chicken taco. I’m keen to try out their recently opened brick and mortar site in Clerkenwell which has a wider offering + cocktails (yay!).
This upscale Indian in Mayair has a rather formal setting and serves up mouthwatering plates of food – dishes like the deconstructed boneless chicken wings and the flaked cornish crab in garlic butter made me very happy indeed.
This handsome pared back space is sister resto to 1 Michelin Starred, Portland. In the area and in desperate need of a bite to eat, I swung by Clipstone to see if they could accomodate me. They did. They’re nice like that. Had the very good housebread + a delightful plate of monkfish, young carrots, yuzu + dandelion.
This Michelin starred Cantonese restaurant founded by Alan Yau has outposts across the globe with two in London – Hanway St and Mayfair. I went to the latter for my birthday this year. The food is consistently good even if the decor is a bit stale but I ain’t eating the furniture, so it’s cool.
Homeslice serves pizza by the slice or 20″ pizzas. They do a few classics but most of the menu is seasonal with interesting options like aubergine, cauliflower cheese, spinach + harissa. The Shoreditch branch which is the one I’ve been to feels hip without trying too hard. They have other spots in Covent Gdn + Fitzrovia.
This pasta bar is literally a 30sec walk from London Bridge station right by Borough Market. I ordered the hand rolled pappardelle with beef shin ragu (£9) which was blow your mind, melt in your mouth delicious. Astonishing value for money in a city full of cowboy restaurants trying to swindle you out of your well earned cash. You can BYOW for a corkage fee of £10.
I don’t drink coffee – go ahead and judge me – but I do eat cake. OD’d on this avocado cake you see right here – so frigging moist and their pistachio cronut is worth hitting up. The owner’s a lovely chap; the space itself is minature and oozes effortless cool.
Sardine is patronised by Stevie Parle of The Dock Kitchen + Rotorino but the chef at the helm is Alex Jackson, who worked at both these restaurants and has now set up his own thing. The cuisine is inspired by S.Euro cooking, so think Provence, Italy and Spain. The beef onglet I had was flawless; the brown butter tart sublime.
When I was working in Shoreditch, I frequented Slider Bar in Dinerama A LOT. The sliders are small in size but mighty in taste. They do proper size burgers for when you throw caution to the wind and care little for calories intake. Same peeps behind Breddos Tacos.
Banging plates of Thai food coming out of this deservedly hyped restaurant, housed in a pared back tropical, sophisticated space. The beef curry and deep fried sea bass we had when we went were packed with flavour. Yes, the wait is painful (we spent 2.5 hours at the bar) but it is well worth it. Reservations available for lunch and larger groups only for dinner.
KEY
[NR] NO RESERVATIONS
[W&R] WALK INS & RESERVATIONS
[R] RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
AVG MEAL + A BEVVY [£] £25 AND UNDER [££] £25-35 [£££] £36-45 [££££] £46-55 [£££££] £56 AND OVER
K A N N D I D 
My favourite food spots of 2016
Think everyone’s pretty much done with 2016. I tried to escape all the crap by burrowing my head in plates of food. Below is a rundown of the best spots I ate at this year, from street eats to high end nosh. So, if you haven’t been and need some time out to enjoy life and not think about the crumbling mess that befell us in 2016, check these guys out…
Map and key detailed at the bottom.
AQUAVIT
Nordic | Mayfair | £££££
Last Visited Nov 2016 [R]
Aquavit serves up sublime Nordic inspired dishes with 1st rate service – the Matje Herring is a winner – try that. The high ceilings and original pieces of artwork by Olafur Eliasson pieces give the space a feeling of modern grandeur.
BEL AIR
Salads & More | Shoreditch | £
Last Visited Nov 2016 [NR]
Bel Air describes itself as ‘feel good fast food’ which is exactly what it is. Not everything is brilliant and it’s pretty pricey for lunchtime digs BUT the guys are so charming, I keep coming back. My go tos: sweet potato salad, broccoli slaw and the blackened chicken with roasted corn yoghurt and rice. FYI, no real seating area.
BREDDOS TACOS
Tacos | Clerkenwell | £
Last Visited Oct 2016 [NR]
These guys had been on the street food scene since 2011 and most recently @ Dinerama, which is where I got to try their delighful tacos. The fish taco is decent but the real star is the fried chicken taco. I’m keen to try out their recently opened brick and mortar site in Clerkenwell which has a wider offering + cocktails (yay!).
CHUTNEY MARY
Posh Indian | Mayfair | £££££
Last Visited Jun 2016 [R]
This upscale Indian in Mayair has a rather formal setting and serves up mouthwatering plates of food – dishes like the deconstructed boneless chicken wings and the flaked cornish crab in garlic butter made me very happy indeed.
CLIPSTONE
Modern Euro | G.Portland St | £££
Last Visited Dec 2016 [R]
This handsome pared back space is sister resto to 1 Michelin Starred, Portland. In the area and in desperate need of a bite to eat, I swung by Clipstone to see if they could accomodate me. They did. They’re nice like that. Had the very good housebread + a delightful plate of monkfish, young carrots, yuzu + dandelion.
HAKKASAN
Cantonese | Mayfair | £££££
Last Visited May 2016 [R]
This Michelin starred Cantonese restaurant founded by Alan Yau has outposts across the globe with two in London – Hanway St and Mayfair. I went to the latter for my birthday this year. The food is consistently good even if the decor is a bit stale but I ain’t eating the furniture, so it’s cool.
HOMESLICE
Wood Fired Pizza | Old Street | £
Last Visited Nov 2016 [W&R]
Homeslice serves pizza by the slice or 20″ pizzas. They do a few classics but most of the menu is seasonal with interesting options like aubergine, cauliflower cheese, spinach + harissa. The Shoreditch branch which is the one I’ve been to feels hip without trying too hard. They have other spots in Covent Gdn + Fitzrovia.
PADELLA
Pasta | London Bridge | £
Last Visited May 2016 [NR]
This pasta bar is literally a 30sec walk from London Bridge station right by Borough Market. I ordered the hand rolled pappardelle with beef shin ragu (£9) which was blow your mind, melt in your mouth delicious. Astonishing value for money in a city full of cowboy restaurants trying to swindle you out of your well earned cash. You can BYOW for a corkage fee of £10.
RENZO
Hip Coffee Shop | Shoreditch | £
Last Visited Nov 2016 [W&R]
I don’t drink coffee – go ahead and judge me – but I do eat cake. OD’d on this avocado cake you see right here – so frigging moist and their pistachio cronut is worth hitting up. The owner’s a lovely chap; the space itself is minature and oozes effortless cool.
SARDINE
S.European | Old Street | £
Last Visited Sep 2016 [R]
Sardine is patronised by Stevie Parle of The Dock Kitchen + Rotorino but the chef at the helm is Alex Jackson, who worked at both these restaurants and has now set up his own thing. The cuisine is inspired by S.Euro cooking, so think Provence, Italy and Spain. The beef onglet I had was flawless; the brown butter tart sublime.
SLIDER BAR
Sliders & Burgers | Shoreditch | £
Last Visited Oct 2016 [NR]
When I was working in Shoreditch, I frequented Slider Bar in Dinerama A LOT. The sliders are small in size but mighty in taste. They do proper size burgers for when you throw caution to the wind and care little for calories intake. Same peeps behind Breddos Tacos.
SOM SAA
Thai | Spitalfields | £££
Last Visited Oct 2016 [R]
Banging plates of Thai food coming out of this deservedly hyped restaurant, housed in a pared back tropical, sophisticated space. The beef curry and deep fried sea bass we had when we went were packed with flavour. Yes, the wait is painful (we spent 2.5 hours at the bar) but it is well worth it. Reservations available for lunch and larger groups only for dinner.
KEY
[NR] NO RESERVATIONS
[W&R] WALK INS & RESERVATIONS
[R] RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
AVG MEAL + A BEVVY
[£] £25 AND UNDER
[££] £25-35
[£££] £36-45
[££££] £46-55
[£££££] £56 AND OVER
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