It's April. We're hungry. Here are the best new places to eat.
Padella
A restaurant dedicated to pasta has opened near Borough Market. The new venture comes from the team behind the excellent Italian restaurant, Trullo. Padella is serving affordable, high-quality pasta to lucky diners near London Bridge, and their rabbit filled tortellini has been the talk of the town this week. We're suddenly considering moving the office…
Padella, 6 Southwark Street, SE1 1TQ. Open: now
Farang Pop Up at The Lodge
Sebby Holmes is a big name in Thai food in London, having worked in the kitchens at The Begging Bowl in Peckham, Smoking Goat in Soho and Som Saa in east London. He’s collaborating with Tomas Lenko from Bold Spirits on a menu that will include satay chicken cooked in banana leaves, salted turmeric butter roti and toasted coconut negronis. It’s going to be brilliant.
The Lodge, 409 Clapham Road, SW9 9BT. Open: 11 April
Anglo
A new British restaurant is opening in Farringdon. Chef Mark Jarvis has previously worked at the Bingham in Richmond, and Blueprint Cafe, Zuma, Texture and Le Manoir. The menu will feature seasonal ingredients and change regularly. On at the moment is Loch Duart salmon with English seaweed and Cornish mussels, and rhubarb and custard. Think classics, refined.
Anglo, 30 St Cross Street, EC1N 8UH. Open: now
Tokunbo’s Kitchen
Restaurateur Tokunbo Koiki was born in the UK to Nigerian parents, and the name of this new restaurant means "from across the sea" in Yoruba. Having run a street food stall and private chef service in the past, Tokunbo will now open a supper club, cooking authentic Nigerian cuisine. We think it's about time West African food made more of an impact on the London scene and can't wait to try this when it opens.
The Engine Room - Waterside Way Tottenham Hale Village, N17 9FT. Buy tickets from foodisready.eventbrite.co.uk Open: 23 April
Som Saa
One of the most anticipated openings of 2016, Som Saa finished their residency at Climpson’s Arch in east London and launched a crowd funding campaign which exceeded its target in record time. They will open their first 'proper' restaurant serving Thai dishes that are authentic and regional. The attention to detail from head chefs Andy Oliver and Mark Dobbie shines through in every dish. Don’t miss it.
Som Saa, 43A Commercial Street, E1 6BD. Open: 11 April
Counter Culture
The owners of modern British restaurant The Dairy in Clapham will open a 15 seat pintxos (small tapas or snack) bar next to their established restaurant. There will be the same focus on careful sourcing and in-house ferments and pickles as ever, and it will be BYO. We predict it will be rammed from day one.
Counter Culture, 15 The Pavement, Clapham SW4 0HY. Open: 6 April
Chinese Restaurant Syndrome
We're not sure exactly when this is opening but everyone in the food biz has their fingers and toes crossed that it's soon. The restaurant will serve clever, modern versions of Cantonese comfort food classics, such as prawn toast, sweet and sour chicken alongside lots of cocktails. You can rest assured there will not be any radioactive sauces or greasy bread triangles. The owner, Carl Clarke, has talent. Carl will open CRS underneath Chick 'n Sours, his excellent fried chicken restaurant in Haggerston.
Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, 390 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA. Open: April, TBC
Decatur at Pamela
Oyster slingers Decatur have been trading at KERB and Druid Street Market, and will now collaborate with Pamela, a "cocktail bar for people who don't like cocktail bars." The menu will feature dishes like oysters with cucumber and jalapeno vinaigrette and gumbo with rabbit smoked sausage and okra. Drinks will include The Des Barres - jalapeno infused Eristoff with kiwi juice and coconut ice cubes.
Decatur at Pamela, 428 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA. Open: 1 April
Forza Win x Pizza Pilgrims
Pizza Gods Pizza Pilgrims and Italian inspired restaurant Forza Win are coming back as one, for April only. These guys started as a collaboration and are going back to their roots this spring, serving pizzas with seasonal Forza toppings, plus antipasti and desserts.
Forza Win, Unit 4.1, 133 Copeland Road, SE15 3SN. Tickets are essential and can be booked here. Open: now
Potlatch Supperclub
The Potlatch's first event sold out, and this month they're back at a new location — The Clerkenwell Kitchen. Nick Gilkinson focuses on free range and organic produce and example dishes from the menu include Biancoperla cornmeal, seared langoustine and boneless chicken wing with roasted chicken and ginger jus, and blackface lamb with ramson, pearl barley and Roscoff onions. The wine list will focus on smaller, 'more traditional producers' which means natural winemakers, we're guessing. We've also noticed that the wine included in the ticket price will be 'unlimited'. Don't mind if we do.
Potlatch at The Clerkenwell Kitchen, 27-31 Clerkenwell Road, EC1R 0AT. Tickets can be bought from The Potlatch website. Open: 13 April
