Five of the Best New Restaurants in London

There’s always a new restaurant popping up, a new ‘inventive’ menu and hybrid cuisine in an area that screams gentrification – but how many are actually worth the hype and stand the test of time can be questionable. There are a few that are worth their salt though and demand a visit before they get overrun by exceedingly long waiting lists. Without further ado, these are five of the best new restaurants in London.

In 2012, young chef Ollie Dabbous opened industry-changing restaurant Dabbous and seemingly to change the face of London’s food scene forever. That was, until June this year, when he shut up shop to concentrate on his next project: Henrietta, the restaurant set within the boutique hotel of the same name (opened by the same people behind bars Experimental Cocktail Club and Joyeux Bordel) in Covent Garden. The space is stylish and modern without being try-hard and the seasonal, ingredient-led menu is inventive with a subtle French influence - without being pretentious. Henrietta can be found at 14-15 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8QH. Visit the website here.

What began as a small start-up at Pop Brixton, Kricket opened a permanent space in Soho at the beginning of 2017, thanks to its legion of loyal fans. The space is cosy and intimate, while the menu is an experimental Anglo-Indian affair specialising in street food (the owners became somewhat experts whilst living and working in Mumbai). Sit in a booth with a selection of dishes to share or grab a seat at the counter to watch the chefs and open kitchen in action. Kricket can be found at 12 Denman Street, W1D 7HH. Visit the website here.

Sometimes all you want in life is a plate of traditional comfort food that’s made its way through generations. Those simple, age-old combinations of flavours that we reach for time and again – like the salt beef sandwich, which Hoxton newcomer Monty’s Deli has perfected with its now-famous ‘Reuben’. What started as a stall at Maltby Street Market, Monty’s gained a permanent fixture a few months into 2017, much to the delight of its loyal, cult following of fans. It boasts a small menu reminiscent of New York’s kosher-style delis (salt beef and pastrami – both made in-house - make a prominent feature), has the décor to boot and already has its own short film on NOWNESS, made in the form of a ‘90s-style sitcom. Obviously. Monty’s Deli can be found at 227-229 Hoxton Street, N1 5LG. Visit the website here.

Taking up the unexpected space of a unit in Tooting Market (this is definitely no greasy spoon), Plot is simply made up of a counter and two communal tables but it’s one of the most exciting new restaurants to arrive in the capital. It has just a short menu made up of small plates, with dishes of the modern British variety (think roast cod, chicken croquettes and heritage tomato with flatbread) – all served stylishly, of course, and with a great service and ambiance. Plot can be found at Unit 70-72, Broadway Market, Tooting High Street, W17 0RL. Visit the website here.

Another street food favourite that’s gained its own permanent venue is The Cheese Truck; the Camden Stables Market spot given the name The Cheese Bar (genius). The Bar takes the Truck’s infamous grilled cheese sandwich and goes one step further with a full cheese-based menu – from fondue and poutine, to those famous sandwiches and sweet cheesecake – all served around a marble-topped bar. The Cheese Bar can be found at Unit 93, 94 Camden Stables, NW1 8AP. Visit the website here.