London writer Jo Aspin rounds up the hottest new openings in London every month for her exclusive new column.
Larry’s
Peckham gets a new place to play this month, as Larry’s all-day bar and restaurant touches down. This is the third site from the team that runs neighbouring Levan and Brixton’s critically acclaimed Salon. Modelled on a New York style café, you can swing by whenever hunger hits for dreamy deli dishes like lox, potato latkes, sour cream and dill pickle; veal schnitzel with red cabbage remoulade; pig’s head ragu with pappardelle and Szechuan pepper; and Larry’s Waldorf salad. A dynamic, changing wine list will span white, red, orange, rosé, and sparkling to match.
Opens 19th March
Chukus
Over in Tottenham, brother and sister team and former YBF winners Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick are causing a stir with their first permanent place. Chuku’s features a sharing menu of home-cooked Nigerian tapas. Try West African jollof stew; sticky chicken wings or beef meatballs with sweet peanut (kuli kuli) and ojojo (yam and smoked mackerel fritters) served with fiery scotch bonnet jam. Plus, signature Nigerian inspired cocktails include Ginger My Swagger – homemade ginger & gin, and Zobo Sangria - a hibiscus-infused sangria.
Now open
Wildflower Camden
Celebrated Irish chef Adrian Martin (with two cookbooks already under his belt) is to open bijou fine-dining restaurant Wildflower in Camden’s new eco market, Buck Street. Housed in a shipping container with just 30 seats, the menu will focus on locally sourced food with foraged produce a highlight on each dish. Herbs and shoots will come from the market's communal Garden Terrace and any food waste will be composted and used to generate energy for the market, so no need to feel guilty if you can’t finish your meal!
Opens 9th March
Cha Cha X Sister Jane
There’s more partying to be had in Notting Hill this month with the opening of restaurant and concept store Cha Cha X Sister Jane. Offering bold Latin American flavours and music to match, the 60-cover restaurant and roof top bar is set to open late March. Dive in to the weekend with brunch - think cheese & truffle toasties and oysters with green tomatillo and jalapeño mint gazpacho, plus live disco from early doors backed by views of West London from high while on the first floor you can shop vintage-inspired designs in the on-site boutique Sister Jane.
Opens late March
Cocotte
Cluck, cluck – a third site of farm-to-table chicken restaurant Cocotte is coming to Parsons Green. Cocotte’s signature free-range slow cooked rotisserie chicken, (sourced from an independent farm in the Loire Valley) is marinated in a secret blend of herbs and spices for 24 hours before being cooked slow and low on a traditional rotisserie spit. Plus a new menu of salads and sides will accompany, with plenty of veggie options if you don’t dig the birds.
Cocotte is offering a whopping 50% off the food bill for customers visiting during the opening fortnight. Check the website for updates:
Coming soon
Chatting Food Contributor Jo Aspin
Half American / half (born and bred) Londoner, Jo Aspin is a food writer and established freelance food, drink and lifestyle PR. She’ll be reporting on all the latest restaurant openings and news from the capital. When she’s not eating her way around London, she’s planning her next trip abroad: Next stop Tamil Nadu.
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