The best things we ate and drank in August 2026

Mardy’s  (Mayfair) - Beef brisket sandwich

There was plenty to like at this new Mayfair sandwich shop, but the one that really won us over was this 12 hour slow cooked brisket given some extra pep with gochujang paste and sweet chilli. It’s served on grilled focaccia along with chilli kimchi mayo, mozzarella and house pickles.

The White Hart (Mersea) - Monkfish and sweetcorn

Setting aside the generosity of the serving, this market fish dish served up at Essex inn, The White Hart, featured creamed corn, corn ribs, orzo, confit tomato and sauce vierge. A dish so good it explained why their dining room was absolutely packed on a Thursday night. 

Danbury Ridge wine (Essex) - 2023 Chardonnay

You’ll have to put up with us banging away about how good this English wine is, for a bit. Apparently it’s all due to the clay Essex soil which ends up giving this particular East coast vineyard precisely the same kind as you’d find under the vines that make Montrachet and the like. If you spot it on a wine list anytime soon, snap it up.

Mor  (Cornwall) - one breath scallop

Part of a three-way scallop serving, this ‘one breath’ scallop is so-called because it’s a wild scallop harvested by free-diver Jamie from Green Straight Scallops in Cornwall. The kitchen serves it up with roasted chilli paste & salted butter.

Legare  (Shad Thames) - Chalk stream tartare with mango chilli and lime

If you can believe it, this was actually our first time visiting Legare and now we see what all the fuss was about. Best of the meal was this fantastically fresh tartare, with the rabbit ragu a close second. The mini fig leaf martinis are also very much on point. 

Wagyu Yakiniku USHIO  (Fitzrovia) - taro-glazed misuji

After six other cuts of wagyu before it, we honestly thought we’d reached peak wagyu before this taro glazed cut was served. Misuji is the oyster blade cut, and very highly marbled, making it the rare dish that genuinely merits the description ‘melt in your mouth’.

Bar Blondie (Queen's Park) - Bluefin tuna and stracciatella crostini

London’s snack game is on fire at the moment and these one-bite treats at new Queen’s Park restaurant and wine bar, Bar Blondie, were fabulous.

Lury  (Hastings) - Milk buns with pork and sambal 

Chef Jack Lury draws on his British and Sri Lankan heritage for the dishes on his tasting menu restaurant in the heart of Hastings. This dish was proof that brown food really is the best. This is their take on mas paan. What you can't see is the black pork curry inside those gorgeous milk buns, which come with a lightly scented cardamom butter. This was so good!

Maggie’s  (Hastings) - Cod & chips

We’re not saying that we’re anywhere near as experienced to talk about fish and chips as someone like James Dimitri, but we do hold to the idea that the best to be had are always by the seaside and not in town. The cod and chips we had out on the balcony at Maggie’s overlooking the day boats in Hastings might have been one of the best we’ve literally ever had. Ethereally light batter, amazing chips and a boatload of curry sauce. Heaven.

Tonka  (Hastings) - Tonka (Hastings) -

Getting a booking here on a summer weekend isn’t easy, but it’s worth persevering. Every dish we tried at this Mauritian fusion spot on the seafront in Hastings was great, but top marks go to this rice bowl topped with slices of wagyu with pandan butter and a soy-pickled tomato on top.

Straits Kitchen (Bishopsgate) - Rendang spiced lamb

We revisited Straits Kitchen in the City to check out the new additions to the menu (see the video here). Best of a great bunch was this stunning beef rendang served with lemongrass and toasted coconut puree and garlic cream.