The best things we ate and drank in November 2025

Maset (Marylebone) - Chicken, farcis Niçois, barley

Making a chicken dish the best thing you eat on any menu is an achievement in itself. There was something so good about the balance, and the slightly sweet element to the sauce in this dish that made it our must-try of a recent excellent dinner here.

Bonheur by Matt Abé (Mayfair) - Quiche Lorraine

Ex-Restaurant Gordon Ramsay head chef Matt Abé has taken over what was once Le Gavroche and modernised the space for the 21st century. His talents were particularly on show with this wonderfully intricate dish which completely reinvents what a quiche lorraine can be. Top crockery action too.

Crisp (Mayfair) - The Vecna

Part of us was just loving the fact that we’d managed to get a table at this hottest of new pubs, but when we took a moment to judge all three pizzas we’d ordered, it was the longtime fan favourite, the Vecna that won out. That combo of pepperoni, Parmesan, burrata and hot honey was the business.

Poon’s (Strand) - Steamed Pork with Shrimp Paste

Chinese home cooking is what Amy Poon’s lovely new restaurant in Somerset House aims to serve up. And if this dish of slices of marinated pork neck fillet, steamed with ginger and shrimp paste is anything to go by, they’ve more than succeeded.

74 Charlotte Street (Fitzrovia) - apple crumble souffle

There’s nothing quite like the acute feeling that you’ve lost the competition when it comes to ordering the best dessert. But that’s what happened at Ben Murphy’s new restaurant, where our dining companion’s decision to order this barnstormingly good soufflé gave her bragging rights for the rest of the evening.

Black Eel (Dalston) - Breaded chicken thighs with nduja butter and ranch dressing

The best dish of the meal here was a toss-up between these chicken tenders and the quite amazingly crunchy potatoes, with the chicken narrowly in front. Easily some of the best fried chicken we've had all year long. 

Gallio (Fitzrovia) - Lamb Lahmacun Flatbread

We worry that this picture doesn't illustrate just how massive this flatbread is at the new Fitzrovia Gallio, barely fitting onto our table (and quite precariously now we look back at this photo). It's a must-order along with the equally huge shwarma dish. 

Aki London (Marylebone) -  Iberico Secreto pork yakinnuku

Don’t get us wrong, the sushi at this new Japanese restaurant was really good, but it was this main dish that we’re still thinking about. The combo of pork finished with gochujang brown butter tosazu dressing and served with a compressed slice of kimchi melon was fantastic.

Miracle at Henrietta (Covent Garden) - Christmapolitan

Cosmos are back in vogue in London and this festive take at the seriously Christmassy bar pop up by The Henrietta in Covent Garden was a fun serve. It's made using Wheatley Vodka and also features spiced cranberry sauce as well as rosemary and an absinthe mist. Good luck trying to get a table though...

Co Thanh (Covent Garden) - Bún Bò Huế

As the nights have been getting properly cold again, we would certainly recommend a trip to this new Vietnamese restaurant in Covent Garden for this great, warming noodle dish, just packed to the very brim.

Martino’s (Chelsea) - Lasagna verde alla Bolognese

Italian timeless classics are the focus of the menu at Martin Kuczmarski’s hot new Chelsea spot Martino’s. At the time of writing, we’re about to head back there for a full review of the menu, but at a preview lunch our heart was won over by this exemplary (and huge) lasagna.

House of George (Cotswolds) - duck with boudin noir and butternut squash

Inside this trad-looking Cotswolds hotel is modern, fine dining restaurant Moda where chef James Wilson is serving up a beautifully executed fine dining menu, of which this duck was a standout course. The creedy carver duck is dry-aged in-house, glazed with dandelion and burdock and the sauce from the duck bones, lavender and Cotswolds honey before being served with squash, a sausage made from the duck legs and boudin noir.

Vesper Bar at The Dorchester (Mayfair) - Vesper martini

You can probably tell from the slightly skewiff angle of this photograph at what stage of the evening we were when we tipped up at the Dorchester’s gorgeous bar for a nightcap. Not only is the service in here amongst the friendliest of London’s hotel bars, but their signature Vesper is very well made.