By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food
With plenty of exciting restaurant openings constantly taking place across the Capital, here’s our pick of the best new restaurants arriving in London over the coming month.
Austen’s Smokehouse – Kensal Rise
It’s no secret that DJ Yoda loves his food. Now, for the first time ever, the artist will be bringing his love of BBQ to Kensal Rise for his first restaurant opening. Set to open its doors later in the month, the 80-cover restaurant set across two floors and although DJ Yoda won’t be bringing his personal touch into the working kitchen, he will be providing the music. As for the food, there’s a strong focus on slow and low cooked Meat using American Smokers. All of the Meat will be served dry-rub Texan style and all of the sauces will be on the table for diners to sample, including North Carolina Mustard, XXX Sweet, Classic Barbecue, Habanero Mango BBQ, and more. What’s more, tying in with the Texan BBQ food on offer, Austen’s will also have its own house Lager brewed especially by And Union.
Austen’s Smokehouse is set to open on August 8th and can be found at 109 Chamberlayne Road, London, NW10 3NS.
Bone Daddies – Old Street
Settling into a new quarter on Shoreditch’s vibrant Old Street – The Bower, Bone Daddies’ third London outpost will open this month. Set to feature a bar counter, as well as 60 seats, similar to the already opened Bone Daddies, the restaurant will hold no reservations. Usual favourites such as their signature variety of Ramen will be available, as will snacks such as Fried Chicken, Sashimi, and Cock Scratchings. What’s more, some new Old Street branch exclusive dishes and Cocktails are set to be on offer.
Bone Daddies Old Street is set to open in August and can be found at The Warehouse, The Bower, 211 Old Street, London, EC1V 9NR.
Molé – Marylebone
Run by the team behind nearby Cocochan, Molé is a Mexican restaurant and Taco Bar set to open in Marylebone this month. Opening just a stone’s throw from Selfridge’s, the 50-cover space will served food inspired by Mexico and South America, as well as a selection of South American Cocktails. What’s also impressive about Molé, is that 80% of the menu will be gluten-free, including the Tacos that will be made using Cornflour. Expect the likes of Braised Oxtail, Octopus with Pico de Gallo, Seabass, and 16-hour braised Chipotle Beef Short Rib, as well as raw bar that will serve a variation of Ceviche.
Molé is set to open in August and can be found at 16 Picton Place, London, W1U 1BP.
Rök – Shoreditch
Following on in a long line of Smokehouse-based restaurants popping up all over London of late, Rök is set to open in Shoreditch this month. Literally meaning “smoke”, in Swedish, Rök is set to deliver a Nordic flavour with British ingredients brined, pickled and smoked, and a strong focus on smoked meat dishes. Meats will be supplied from Cobble Lane Cured in nearby Islington, where they will be initially smoked before being finished off in Rök’s custom-built Charcoal BBQ. Set up by Matt Young, the menu is set to feature the likes of Smoked Short Rib with Birch Syrup, Duck Leg with Bacon and Lingonberry Jam, Bone marrow Mash with Garlic and Parsley, and much more.
Rök is set to open on August 10th and can be found at 26 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NY.
Tonkotsu – Bankside
Opening this week, Tsuru Bankside will be re-launched as Tonkotsu Bankside, which is owned by the same company. Setting up south of the river, their popular Chilli Chicken Ramen, until now exclusive to Selfridge’s, will be on the menu, as well as a couple of new dishes that include Mazesoba (thick Noodles, Broth, Pork Mince and Belly, and a raw Egg which is stirred in) and Clam Sakamushi (Clams and Shimeji Mushrooms, blanched in Sake). You can also expect Tonkotsu’s full range on the menu, as well as a new range of exciting house Cocktails.
Tonkotsu Bankside is set to open on August 6th and can be found at 4 Canvey Street, London, SE1 9AN.
Vico – Seven Dials @eatvico
Following the success of Bocca di Lupo, opened by Jacob Kenedy and Victor Hugo in2008, the pair have announced plans to open a brand new restaurant – Vico – in London’s Cambridge Circus this month. Specialising in Italian street food, there will be no menu and the day’s produce will be cooked at whim by the restaurant’s chefs. Be it either Pizza by the slice, Polpette and Arancini, or fried tidbits of Mediterranean Seafood, the affordable, “intensely casual” restaurant already looks set to become a popular addition to Seven Dials.
Vico is set to open in August and can be found at 1 Cambridge Circus, London, WC2H 8HD.
Wahleeah – Fulham
Set to feature a Beer-heavy food menu, Wahleeah is set to open later this month as chef Dave Ahern’s first restaurant. Heavily inspired by Brooklyn’s thriving food scene, Wahleeah is the phonetic spelling of an old Brooklyn slang term “wallear” – a craving that can only be fixed by certain types of food. Not only does the menu feature Ahern’s penchant for Beer-based cooking, almost everything will be made in house, including specialty Salts, Flour, Cheese and Sauces, as well as Bacon and Meats also smoked on the premises. Set to include the likes of Oxtail and Onions in Stout with Horseradish Toast, Tuna Meatloaf with Polenta Nicoise and bloody Beer Sauce, Ricotta Dumplings with Rainbow Chard, Mushrooms and Beer Butter, amongst other scrumptious dishes. Also, the Wine list will be very limited, with just one selection of Red, White and Rosé, allowing a list of 30-40 Beers from both local and international Breweries to takeover and compliment the food on offer.
Walleah is set to open on August 27th and can be found at 18 Farm Lane, London, SW6 1PP.