London-based restaurant chain, Banana Tree, recently opened its sixth franchise. This one's on Wardour Street. Does this “Indochinese” restaurant have the pulp to take on Soho's multitude of south east Asian eateries along with the rest of the area's dining competition? During our Friday evening visit the place was teeming with folk seemingly pleased to tuck away some Asian dishes in the tight but cosy communal seating of Banana Tree. Nothing on the menu really blew us away, but the beef Rendang came very close and everything was priced as expected and satisfying. Decent cocktails too. The lychee mojito's definitely worth a sip.
Italian mozzarella champion, Obikà, will launch a new restaurant in Canary Wharf this November. Purportedly Italy's favourite restaurant group, Obikà's focus is to offer premium Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP served alongside a typical assortment of Italian artisan products. The new standalone resto will grace West Wintergarden with a 90-cover interior and 40 seat terrace. Beyond the selection of mozzarella cheeses, expect accompaniments such as Prosciutto Crudo di Parma DOP, Bresaola della Valtellina (cured beef) and Isle of Ewe smoked salmon along with an equally delectable list of antipasti, hot dishes, freshly baked pizza and aperitifs.
Things are ramping up yummily for this year's London Restaurant Festival. Among the festival's offerings is the chance to check out The Kitchen, a pop up with five of “the nation's top chefs joining forces” for the first time to serve a menu of classic dishes. From 11-13 October (12-2pm and 5-8.30pm) at 24 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HU, Bryn Williams, Aldo Zilli, Atul Kochhar, Pierre Koffmann and Nigel Haworth will cook for the first 270 members of the public to book online. Booking is open from today and can be made online
Yoomoo the UK’s largest frozen yogurt store will celebrate its first birthday by offering customers free fro yo this Saturday (1 October) from 11am to noon at all ten of their UK locations. The London Yoomoo locations are Westfield Stratford City, Canada Square at Canary Wharf and the O2 Centre at 255 Finchley Road.
Photo/Simon-K