Where should we eat?

Soho · Detroit-style pizza · natural wine

AI critic digestA relaxed date-night room for pillowy, crisp-edged Detroit pies. Critics like the house pizza and easygoing mood, though one review found the short menu and portions a little slight.

Soho · Mediterranean salads · market plates

AI critic digestFresh, wholesome bowls and plates at a fair Soho price, with counter-service ease. Reviews are split: the strongest praise its flavour and value; a Times visit was markedly less convinced.

Soho · Japanese handrolls · sushi

AI critic digestA cool listening-bar counter where burnt salmon and spicy scallop rolls are the safest orders. The room wins points, but critics say pacing, seating and evening service can be uneven.

Soho · Handrolls · dry-aged fish

AI critic digestA larger, faster handroll counter built around premium fish and nori served at peak crispness. Full critic verdicts are still thin, so treat this as a promising new opening rather than a proven essential.

Kentish Town · Filipino–French · wood fire

AI critic digestThe breakout critic favourite: bold Filipino–French cooking, a warm room and standout cod pandesal, coconut scallops and ube tiramisu. Expect noise, energy and a bill that climbs quickly.

Belgravia · French café · brunch

AI critic digestA polished, reliable walk-in with scene-y café energy. Tuna melt, ricotta pancakes and the warm cookie with soft serve earn the strongest praise; truffle rigatoni and some dinner plates feel pricey for merely good.

Shoreditch · Italian · nose-to-tail

AI critic digestAccomplished, inventive and comforting cooking with house salumi as the essential order. Shared small plates and hand-rolled pasta are the sweet spot; critics consistently praise its forceful flavours and original ideas.

Marylebone · Modern Middle Eastern

AI critic digestA polished but recognisably Middle Eastern menu with warm service. Za’atar bread, lamb mandi and kunafa lead the recommendations; a second review found a few plates and cocktail service less assured.

Marylebone · Greek · Athenian taverna

AI critic digestA charming all-day taverna that works especially well for brunch. The spanakopita dip, coffee and easy mood stand out; the rest is solid, though the souvlaki drew a wish for more juice and char.

Hackney Wick · Hong Kong–Texas barbecue

AI critic digestA bold Hong Kong–Texas collision with lamb breast, Sichuan short rib, pork belly and duck pancakes as the main draws. Critics advise pre-ordering meat; ox cheek and vegetable sides can play second fiddle.

Soho · Mexican taqueria · mezcal

AI critic digestA lively, convenient pre-theatre or group stop for tacos and margaritas. The Soho room feels more polished and less electric than the Borough original, so branch purists may prefer the mothership.

Mayfair · American comfort food · cocktails

AI critic digestA glamorous, fun late-night diner with polished service, martinis and very good comfort food. The tuna melt and indulgent staples are safest; a minority of reviewers finds the broader menu confused.

Earl’s Court · NYC-style pizza · café-bar

AI critic digestThe 2026 relaunch centres on 48-hour sourdough pizza in a garden-like room. Proper critic coverage of the new menu is still scarce, so older praise for brunch and service should be treated cautiously.

Spitalfields · Italian–Japanese · binchotan grill

AI critic digestItalian–Japanese cooking that works far better than it sounds, especially breads, pastas and bold umami sauces. A later review found the meal uneven, making pasta and house signatures safer than meat, fish and dessert.

Mayfair · Contemporary Japanese · robata

AI critic digestThe kitchen is better than the high-glamour setting suggests: crudo, cod, wagyu, cocktails and strong service win praise. It is loud, rich and very costly rather than subtle; soft tempura and excess truffle are the recurring knocks.

Mayfair · Modern Greek · live fire

AI critic digestThere is real skill beneath the maximalist styling, especially in the dips, calamari and tuna. Critics split on value and tire of truffle, caviar and theatre: choose it for a loud celebration, not restrained Greek cooking.

Notting Hill · Nikkei · Japanese–Peruvian

AI critic digestPrecise, creative Nikkei cooking with standout tiradito, ceviche and scallop nigiri; the £100 tasting menu has been called fair value. The repeated caveats are bright lighting and slow, uneven pacing.

Mayfair · Seasonal French bistro

AI critic digestOne early review calls it a 2026 highlight for old-school hospitality and chocolate soufflé; another found stylish starters but long waits and weak mains. The first verdict is high potential with some inconsistency.

Borough Market · Greek-inspired · Mediterranean seafood

AI critic digestA one-Michelin-star, modern London-Greek highlight for breads, dips, crudo and spanakopita. A cooler dissent questions its loose Greek identity and value, so expect inventive fusion rather than a classic taverna.

Notting Hill · Modern British · seafood

AI critic digestInventive but unfussy seasonal cooking in an intimate room. The burger is a hit and sells out early; reviewers also praise nuanced fish and vegetable dishes alongside notably accommodating service.

Soho · British–Egyptian · live fire

AI critic digestOne of 2026’s hottest openings: bold grill cooking with Egyptian and North African roots. Vegetables, meats and the date-pistachio tart draw raves; a monkfish dish was a rare weaker note.

Marylebone · Mediterranean · fire-led

AI critic digestA one-Michelin-star room for refined, fire-led Mediterranean cooking. Reviews praise the food, confident service and beautiful setting, with the predictable caveat that the full experience is decidedly expensive.

Marylebone · Coastal Italian · seafood

AI critic digestCoastal glamour at The Langham, with polished service and a dose of tableside theatre. Pastas and starters get the most consistent praise; it feels stylish and confident, if less intimate than the original.

Mayfair · Italian-American

AI critic digestA vast Sinatra-era supper-club spectacle with polished service and serious swagger. Critics split sharply on the food: go for the room and theatre rather than value, and calibrate expectations accordingly.

Shoreditch · Creative Greek · Mediterranean

AI critic digestA buzzy date-or-group spot where warm flatbreads, seafood and cheesecake land best. One critic found enough to recommend; another admired individual dishes but questioned whether it merited a return.

Mayfair · American diner classics

AI critic digestA hidden, low-lit American dining room where cocktails and atmosphere carry the evening. Striploin and chicken pie can work well; burgers, desserts and service have been less consistent.

Mayfair · New York Italian

AI critic digestA calm, dimly lit old-school room for martinis, huge pasta portions and Italian-American comfort. Most dishes are dependable and generous, though the sole can vary and lobster ravioli is a weaker bet.

Mayfair · Persian · charcoal grill

AI critic digestBigger and glossier than Soho, but still built around smoky Persian kebabs. Black chickpea hummus, barbari, panir sabzi and the grills are strong; the Mayfair-only fries are the easy skip.