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Five big restaurants to look out for in 2014

2014 already looks to be just as busy on the new openings front as 2013, with our Coming Soon list getting bigger by the day. So, as the first restaurants of 2014 get ready to open their doors. we've picked out just five to keep an eye on this year. It's an eclectic bunch below and they're all interesting for quite different reasons - but we think they're well worth getting excited about.

It's very early days for some of these (we don't even have the names for four of them) but they ought to dominate the restaurant headlines in 2014. 

Simon Rogan at Claridges

Simon Rogan at ClaridgesHands down the most eagerly anticipated restaurant of 2014 is Simon Rogan's Claridges takeover. Roganic was a massive hit during its short lifetime in London and L'enclume is one of the country's most innovative restaurants, so we can expect big things when the new Claridges restaurant opens sometime in Spring under Head Chef Dan Cox. The dining room is getting a complete refit which should banish concerns some have with the layout and Simon Rogan has certainly proved he can do big as well as small with the French in Manchester getting rave reviews.

This will also almost certainly be the one restaurant of 2014 that all the national critics will be sure to visit - you'll want to have an opinion on it when it opens.

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Heston at Heathrow

Heston at HeathrowWhen the new Heathrow Terminal 2 opens in June, there are a couple of interesting restaurants in tow (hopefully banishing the idea of Giraffe as one of the best airport restaurants in the world. One of the restaurants, Gorgeous Kitchen, does sound promising, but it's Heston's efforts that will have all the attention. This will be his first restaurant since opening Dinner and that's been rather successful. Expect the approach here to be very different as Heston's been experimenting with burgers, pizzas and more on-the-go food than at Dinner. You'll have to be actually flying from Terminal 2 to eat here, unfortunately, but we can't help but wonder if Heston will also be thinking of a high street version of this in the future.

Heston does also have some involvement in the 20 Fenchurch Street skyscraper opening this year, but it's unclear how much of that will be available outside of private events.  

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James Lowe's new restaurant

James LoweOne of the Young Turks, Isaac McHale had a major hit with the Clove Club in 2013, so now all eyes are on fellow Turk James Lowe to see what he'll be up to in 2014. Details are due to be revealed very soon and all we can tell you right now is that it's due to open in Spring 2014.

Other than that, a glance at Lowe's recent pop-ups and residencies should help to give an idea of what to expect from the new restaurant - perhaps following the single menu approach that went down so well at the Ten Bells and Clove Club.

Either way, definitely one to watch.


Andre Balazs hotel restaurant

andreAgain, an imminent restaurant with no name but one that's building up a decent pedigree already. Andre Balazs is probably best known for celeb hangout the Standard in New York and Chateau Marmot in LA. He hasn't yet confirmed that his upcoming London hotel will be a Standard, but the closer it gets to launch, the more likely it's becoming.

Recently appointing Dale Osborne, former sous chef at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal as the Head Chef, overseeing a menu with a big emphasis on steaks and grills makes a London Standard Grill very likely indeed, but the upcoming weeks will reveal a lot more.


Lang, Ting and Gong at the Shard

gongFINALLY - restaurants with names!

We're not sure at all what to expect from the restaurants and bars at the top of the Shard, part of the Shangri La Hotel there, but we're suckers for tall buildings. Hutong and Duck & Waffle have proved that being up high doesn't automatically lower the quality of the food. Lang is a ground floor cafe and restaurant, Ting is "locally-inspired dishes with an Asian twist" on the 35th floor.

But the one we're just looking forward to a cocktail in the highest bar in London, Gong on the 53nd floor of the Shard. Line one up for us now, bartender... 


But that's not all...

Of course there are loads more to look out for in 2014. Jason Atherton continues his march across London with City Social up next, Andy Oliver's Som Saa will be well worth a look, Fatty Crab is on the way and we'll be eagerly awaiting in line at Goodman's upcoming lobster roll deli. When Ollie Dabbous opens Barnyard, we can expect that to be a massive hit, whatever it is and if Skye Gyngell's London restaurant ever does materialise this year, expect that to be a big hit too.

To get the latest on the progress on all of them, just keep a constant eye on our Coming Soon page and our regular weekly updates too.

 
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