The best things we ate and drank in April 2026

Dover Street Counter (Mayfair) - The cheeseburger

A birthday trip to Dover Street Counter meant sitting in their semi-private dining table for six, something we can very much recommend. It also allowed us to finally try the cheeseburger we missed on our first visit. It happily lives up to all the hype we've been hearing, delivering one of the best non-smash burgers we've had in a while - and it's just perfectly sized too. 

Padella (Soho) - Pici cacio & pepe

Padella have arrived in their new Soho home and are busy delivering all the great pasta dishes that have made them the most popular pasta bar in London. Yes, we tried more seasonal dishes, but this signature pasta dish delivers time and time again with the creamiest of sauces. It's still hands down one of the best plates of pasta in London.  

The Berkeley Bar and Terrace (Knightsbridge) - Candlelight gimlet

For its spring/summer season, the Berkeley has teamed up with some SW1 institutions for its new cocktail menu, with Anya Hindmarch and The Royal Court among the inspirations. This particular cocktail is inspired by British artisan candlemaker Rachel Vosper, and it features Silent Pool Gin with bergamot, orange blossom, geranium and, in reference to the candles, beeswax

45 Jermyn Street (St James's) - Lobster Benedict

For spring, the excellent brunch menu at 45 Jermyn Street, the restaurant behind Fortnum & Mason, has had a few extra dishes added, including a new shakshuka. But our personal favourite was the new lobster benedict, which is a great way to pimp up a breakfast. 

The Golden Tooth (Stoke Newington) - Cheese and custard tart

Papi's new pub has turned out to be an instant hit, partly thanks to a menu which it packed with inventive dishes that are an evolution to the style of small plates you might have seen at their London Fields home. This cheese and custard pie in particular is next-level, with the kind of just-set texture that you really want. Absolutely phenomenal. 

Teal by Sally Abé (Hackney) - Marmalade ice cream sandwich

Sally Abé's first solo restaurant has delivered the kind of grown-up restaurant that this part of Hackney really needs, with an accomplished menu of crowdpleasers. There's also a real attention to detail here, particularly in this dessert, which is unlike any other ice cream sandwich we've ever come across. In case you're wondering how to eat it, treat the slices as crackers and spread the ice cream over them. 

Orrery by Pierre Minotti (Marylebone) - Smoked eel jelly & cream, with cured seabass and crispy potatoes & caviar

The new design of Orrery has divided some (even at Hot Dinners, our feelings on the design are very different). But regardless, the chef has come up with a menu that seems destined to get the Michelin star they've said they're on the hunt for. This particular dish does come with a rather hefty extra charge on the tasting menu, but the combination of flavours, particularly rounded off by the smoked eel cream, is perfection. 

Maza (Mayfair) - Bone marrow and meat broth tagliatelle

For a bit of tableside theatre you can't go wrong with this great pasta dish at hot new Mayfair opening, Maza. The dish is presented thus before the marrow is scooped out of the bone for you and then tossed through the tagliatelle. A bit of citrus zest stops the whole thing being too rich. 

Dorian (Notting Hill) - Strawberry cooler

Dorian launched its outside terrace for the summer by teaming up with Goya Tequila for a series of great cocktails. The best was this concoction, which combines Goya Tequila with strawberry, tomato, cardamom and cedro. Also worth highlighting was the snacks menu, with the revelation that Dorian produces some of the best beef tartare that we've ever enjoyed. 

Holy Carrot Bistro (Spitalfields) - British king oyster mushroom vol-au-vent, peppercorn & dulse sauce

Holy Carrot's second coming has seen them turn vegetarian as opposed to vegan, heralding the arrival of cheese and cream on the menu of their new bistro. This is one of the new dishes with a little added dairy (we'll assume it's very hard to make a decent vol au vent without it) and it's absolutely on the must-order list if you're visiting, along with the fantastic Japanese potato salad. 

Crafted at Powdermills (Battle) - Seabass with smoked butter sauce and devilled cockles

A trip to the south of the country led us to Crafted, the new opening from one of the founders of Birch. The fantastic weather certainly helped, but it's clear that they've created a really welcoming resort and one that sees them making the most of the surrounding location (a rewilding tour was fascinating). It also helps that the food is really very good indeed. There are many dishes to highlight but we picked this seabass because of the deeply smoked flavour of the butter sauce. Look out for a full review of Crafted soon. 

Sova (Notting Hill) - Raw tuna, adjika, cucumber, fennel & capers

Sova in Notting Hill is a reworking of what was once Zima, changing it to what's now predominantly a wine bar that focuses on Eastern European wines. On the food side, its strength is in the small plates, particularly with this fresh tuna dish where the funkiness of the adjika chilli paste dressing matches the tuna really well. 

Weezie's (Belgravia) - The Sobrasada

Weezie's comes from the same people behind Amie Wine Studio and is the latest opening to see the strength of pairing wine with pizzas. The thin-crust pizzas here are all very good, with this Sobrasada version coming up top. And make sure not to miss their confit garlic butter dough either. 

Puffy (Soho) - Sesame Dulce cookie

For a dark treat this month we were sent a box of the latest limited edition cookies from Parisian brand Puffy. The Sesame Dulce cookies are out now and feature black sesame paste, chunks of dulce de leche and a black sesame seed coating. If you fancy cookies that tread that line between sweet and savoury these are 100% for you.