Test Drives

Test Driving Hon's BBQ, where Texas and East Asia meet for a restaurant like no other

Information: 30 July 2026

Hon's BBQ brings a mix of authentic Texas BBQ mixed in with West Asian influences to Hackney Wick. We went in to see how that shapes up in person.

Bar Crawl - Ebi is a serious new wine bar from a stellar sommelier

Information: 30 July 2026

A former Fat Duck sommelier has opened his own wine bar in London. We went down to Clerkenwell to check out Raku Oda's Ebi.

Trying out Silva, we make a return visit to this Mayfair restaurant with a hot new chef in charge

Information: 28 July 2026

Ex-Lita chef Charlie Dilworth has taken over the kitchen at Mayfair restaurant Silva making this Bruton Place gem well worth a visit.

Test Driving Kinz in Notting Hill, a Lebanese restaurant in a real stunner of a building

Information: 23 July 2026

Kinz is a Lebanese restaurant in Notting Hill that's opened as part of a stunning reinvention of an old bank. We went down to take it all in.

Test Driving Tavern, a modern Shoreditch spot with foot-long pork scratchings and perfect dessert bites

Information: 21 July 2026

The team behind Michelin-starred Restaurant St Barts have turned their old Shoredith restaurant Nest into British bistro Tavern. We went to see how the makeover had changed things.

Test Driving Johnny Boy's, where LA diner food makes a big impression in Stoke Newington

Information: 16 July 2026

Johnny Boy's sees the chef behind Facing Heaven in Hackney opening an LA-inspired diner in Stoke Newington. We went in to try a taste of SoCal food in London.

Bar crawl - Brutes is like an indie take on Duke's, in Mayfair

Information: 14 July 2026

Mayfair is firmly getting its mojo back and the arrival of cool new cocktail bar Brutes is a great example of that.

Test Driving Rosina, Adam Byatt's neighbourhood Italian brings Trullo vibes to Wandsworth

Information: 09 July 2026

Adam Byatt is trying something new in Wandsworth, opening an Italian restaurant for the first time. We went into Rosina to see just how that's going. Spoiler - it's going very well...

Test Driving RH London, the Mayfair mansion that serves you dinner with a slice of lifestyle envy

Information: 07 July 2026

We went back to Mayfair's hottest opening, this time to put the restaurant through its paces.

Trying out the Sunday roast (and more) inside Silicon Roundabout's new gastropub, Old Street Tavern

Information: 04 July 2026

It's one of Old Street's newest pubs, which is turning out great roasts and pizzas in an absolutely massive space. We went down to try Old Street Tavern.

Trying out the midday theatre menu deal at 64 Old Compton Street

Information: 02 July 2026

In the heart of Soho, a much-loved Italian restaurant has an excellent midday deal on - we went in to try it out.

Checking into Adare Manor in Ireland for next level luxury and a visit to their brand new sushi restaurant Ōku

Information: 02 July 2026

It's the next-level luxury hotel in Ireland that not many Londoners may have heard of, but Adare Manor should be on every London foodie's radar.

Test Driving the new Lady of the Grapes in London Bridge, a wine bar with both style and substance

Information: 30 June 2026

The stretch between Borough and Southwark now has a compelling new bar and restaurant offering, courtesy of Lady of the Grapes. We went down for a few glasses of wine and to peruse the French bistro menu.

Test Driving Dante Mayfair, serving up London's poshest burger and a great time

Information: 25 June 2026

Following a hugely successful residency, New York's Dante is now a permanent fixture at Claridge's. We went to see what's new on the menu and to have a go at the three cocktail lunch.

Test Driving Chez Rose, we wanted everything on the menu at this new French bistro

Information: 23 June 2026

What was once Jason Atherton's Little Social has been taken over by Spencer Metzger, the chef who launched Row on 5 with him. It's now a more laid-back classic French affair. We went down to Pollen Street to check out Chez Rose.

Test Driving Zylia, where Greek and Cypriot cuisine come together in Covent Garden

Information: 18 June 2026

It's opened as part of Arcade Covent Garden, but Zylia is a separate mixed Greek and Cypriot taverna, co-run by an ex-Kiln head chef who also happens to be a co-owner of Singburi. We went down to see what it brings to the growing Greek (and Cypriot) scenes in London.

Test Driving Fitzgerald's, a City grill room that's a winning mix of Irish and American influences

Information: 16 June 2026

The City has a very comfortable new steakhouse and grill to try in Fitzgerald's - and there's a handy Irish American bar right next door.

Straits Kitchen's new Sunday brunch comes with a Bloody Mary Trolley and limitless buffet

Information: 13 June 2026

A new City brunch offering at the Pan Pacific London is all about getting the perfect Bloody Mary while enjoying an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Checking into the 7Pines Resort in Sardinia for Michelin-starred dining and a whole lot of pizza

Information: 11 June 2026

If you're after quiet luxury and great food in Sardinia you can't go wrong with a stay at the 7Pines Resort.

Test Driving Banquet 88, a riverside dim sum spot by Tower Bridge where it pays to dine with a group

Information: 03 June 2026

London has plenty of restaurants that are great for dates, but we also need restaurants that are perfect for group dining. Step forward Banquet 88 a new high end dim sum spot on St Katharine Docks.

Test Drives

Also see...