It’s hard not to love London like this. The summer heat has finally settled over the city and, with it, a renewed vitality for everything it has to offer. Our restaurants spill onto sidewalks. Markets flood with locals and tourists. The picnic section of every supermarket gets ransacked. Basically, everyone just wants to be out out.
And boy, are there some great places to do so this month. From the understated gastronomic pleasures of Humble Chicken to the carb-comforting embrace of Bancone, this month’s list of restaurant recommendations has something for everyone.
Whether you’re in the mood for a sophisticated evening out or a casual get-together with friends, here are a few of the best places to book in London this month.
1. Humble Chicken
Awarded its first Michelin star earlier this year, this “humble” restaurant continues to defy expectations – and the limits of Japanese cuisine. Under the guidance of chef-owner Angelo Sato, Humble Chicken has refined a sixteen-course tasting menu of technical-yet-flavor-packed dreams. The food is both visually stunning and deeply satisfying (see: little piggy-faced bao buns filled with pig trotter, karashi and quail egg), served without a smidge of pretension. In fact, the atmosphere of the restaurant edges on the ironic; all intimate counter-style dining (where guests watch Sato and his team’s artistry unfold, up close and personal), rollicking ‘80s playlists, and experimental drinks pairings (with a special shout-out to awa’s sparking Essex strawberry sake). A must-visit.
54 Frith St, London W1D 4SJ
2. Bancone
Bancone London
This independently-owned London gem, with locations in Borough Yards, Covent Garden, and Golden Square, has perfected the art of experimental pasta-making, offering diners a range of unique dishes that could err on offensive to Italian purists. Realistically, they’re a cut above, curated by exec chef Ben Waugh (the former head chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Petrus) to elevate one’s expectations of the everyday carb. At Bancone Covent Garden you might choose a charcoal tagliolini with squid and pickled jalapeños – a daring yet divine combo – or a bowl of braised ox cheek with pappardelle at Golden Square. Word has it, they’re even exploring secret ‘test kitchens’ at the Borough Yards site where valued customers will be invited in to select new dishes for upcoming menus.
Sites in Covent Garden (39 William IV St), Golden Square (8-10 Lower James St), and Borough Yards (Arch 213, Stoney Street)
3. Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal
Interest in Alex Dilling‘s first standalone restaurant, the eponymous Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal, was rife from its start. And for good reason. A definitve example of classic-meets-contemporary gastronomgy, with meticulous attention to deail, Dilling and his team have managed to turn simple dishes (like Hunter’s Chicken) into culinary masterpieces (all foie gras-fringed, mousseline-packed and Wellington-like), earning two Michelin starts just six months after opening. While many would consider it a “once in a lifetime” meal, the menu features regular tweaks according to the season and kitchen vagary, with Dilling’s beloved aged kaluga caviar all but certain to make an appearance. As one of the only places you can enjoy the chef’s bergamont-rich 5 Puffins Gin in the city, which happens to be a personal favorite, you can even enjoy a martini and luxe bar snacks in its intimate bar for starters, 5-9pm Tuesday to Saturday and 12-3pm Saturday.
68 Regent St., London W1B 4DY
4. Kolamba East
Kolamba East, London
Bringing the vibrant flavors of Colombo to the heart of east London, Kolamba’s newly-opened second site is a hotspot in the making. The menu is a celebration of all things Sri Lankan, with a curated selection of snacks, small plates, sambols and more. Mas Paan, a fluffy bun filled with slow-cooked black pork curry and pineapple jam, is a firm favorite, while large feasting-style plates like the Ceylon Moor King Prawn String Hopper Biryani act as a brilliant base from with to try a bit of everything with a table full of spice-loving friends. The cocktail list slaps, too, with drinks like the Curry Leaf Gimlet, a clarified cocktail featuring curry ghee-washed gin and lime, crafted to complement the cuisine. Long story short, you won’t find better Sri Lankan anywhere in Spitalfields.
12 Blossom St, London E1 6PL
5. Bam Karaoke Box Brunch
Bam Karaoke Box, best known for its high-end private karaoke rooms, has ventured into bottomless brunch territory with a surprising level of sophistication. With options like confit duck hash and and bacon bloody mary flatbreads lining the menu (and, inevitably, bottomless bubble-filled stomachs), the group’s culinary consultant Sabrina Gidda crafted a Parisian-inspired menu that’s well worth a booking, whether you book into a karaoke room after or not. The themed brunches change every weekend – covering everything from hip hop brunches to “It’s Britney, Brunch” spectaculars – at a number of packages to suit every taste (for example, a 90-minute free-flowing brunch with live entertainment and two hours of karaoke costs £60, while a non-boozy brunch, plus entertainment, costs £25).
74 Victoria St, London SW1E 6SQ