Test Drives

Without Papers, a Shoreditch bar where seasoned Italian hospitality folk have it all sussed out

Information: 08 May 2026

Three incredibly experienced bar professionals have set out on their own, opening Without Papers, a Shoreditch bar serving up excellent Italo/British cocktails. We pulled up a stool at the bar.

Test Driving Bar Etna, a London/Philadelphia take on the 'special relationship' we can get behind

Information: 07 May 2026

What does a collaboration between one of America's best pizza chefs and a super-hot North London restaurant group look like? We went to Bar Etna on Newington Green to find out.

Test Driving Kumori, serving up extra crispy handrolls in its stylish Soho sushi bar

Information: 05 May 2026

In the heart of Soho, Kumori is a vinyl/sushi bar serving up innovative handrolls. We went down to take a look.

Test Driving Padella Soho, still the best of the pasta bar bunch after a decade

Information: 30 April 2026

As they reach their 10th birthday, Padella have just opened their third restaurant. We went down to Soho to see how the leaders of London's pasta revolution are faring after a decade.

Test Driving The Golden Tooth, where the Papi team deliver an instant-hit pub

Information: 28 April 2026

The team behind Papi have opened their first pub on Green Lanes. We went in to see just how they have adapted their menu for the pub and it turns out they've done it incredibly well.

Slavic sips at Sova, the new vinyl wine bar in Notting Hill with a list to broaden your wine horizons

Information: 23 April 2026

We went to expand our wine tastes with the eclectic Eastern European-focused list at new Notting Hill wine bar Sova.

Test Driving Weezie's, marrying pizza and good wine in Belgravia

Information: 21 April 2026

Weezie's brings pizza and wine together, coming from the same team as Amie Wine Studio (and opening next door). We went down to Belgravia to check out London's latest wine bar/pizzeria.

Test Driving Orrery by Pierre Minotti, well on its way to earning that Michelin star

Information: 16 April 2026

Orrery in Marylebone has relaunched under new chef Pierre Minotti, who intends to win it a new Michelin star. We went down to see just how much has changed and how his Michelin hopes are faring.

Test Driving Teal by Sally Abé, heralding a sophisticated new era for this Hackney restaurant

Information: 14 April 2026

After years in other people's kitchens, chef Sally Abé has finally opened her own restaurant, in Hackney. We went to see how she's settling into her new Wilton Way home.

Test Driving Maza Mayfair, a Greek party vibe without the plate smashing

Information: 10 April 2026

The latest addition to Mayfair's restaurant alley, Bruton Place, is a Greek restaurant offering true hospitality. We visited Maza Mayfair to see why they're already a hit.

Test Driving Holy Carrot Bistro, going vegetarian with their new Spitalfields restaurant

Information: 08 April 2026

After opening a hit vegan restaurant in Notting Hill, Holy Carrot have turned vegetarian for their new Spitalfields bistro. We went down to see what's new.

Test Driving Berenjak Mayfair, the Persian restaurant has really upped the glam factor

Information: 02 April 2026

For their third London restaurant, Berenjak have opened a very glamorous restaurant in Mayfair. We went down to check it their latest location and to see what's new on their Persian-inspired menu.

Test Driving Impala, Meedu Saad's restaurant is a love letter to food from North Africa to North London

Information: 31 March 2026

Defying classification, but very London-coded, the much-anticipated solo venture by chef Meedu Saad, Impala, more than lives up to expectations.

Test Driving Burro, where Trullo chef Conor Gadd has created a warm, inviting Covent Garden Italian

Information: 26 March 2026

The chef behind Trullo has opened his own solo Italian restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden. We went down to the surprisingly peaceful courtyard to see what Conor Gadd is cooking up at Burro.

Test Driving Taq, the Notting Hill taqueria that has reinvented itself with help from Jackson Boxer

Information: 24 March 2026

The Notting Hill restaurant known as Taqueria for 20 years has been given a 21st-century makeover (with the help of Dove's Jackson Boxer) and is now Taq. We went in to see what the revamped taqueria has to offer.

Test Driving Sale e Pepe Mare, this hotel's decision to bring in a classic restaurant was a bright idea

Information: 19 March 2026

The Langham London brought in classic Knightsbridge restaurant Sale E Pepe to open a seafood branch in their hotel. It was a good idea.

Test Driving Cometa, a sparklingly fresh Mexican take on seafood

Information: 17 March 2026

Following years of interesting residencies from Mexican guest chefs Carousel has turned its wine bar into a permanent Mexican restaurant. We went to see what Cometa had to offer.

Test Driving Simpson's in the Strand, a classic London restaurant brought back to life

Information: 12 March 2026

Jeremy King's magnum opus has been the reopening of the iconic London restaurant Simpson's in the Strand. We went for a preview visit to see how he's transformed the space.

Test Driving Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, the high-rise 12-seater restaurant clearly deserves its Michelin star

Information: 10 March 2026

After the restaurant got a very big push on his Netflix series, we decided it was time to take a proper look at High, Gordon Ramsay's high-rise Michelin-starred restaurant at 22 Bishopsgate.

Test Driving Sushi Amamoto - one of the world's top sushi chefs arrives in London

Information: 05 March 2026

What was once the Michelin-starred Taku has been taken to the next level by the arrival of one of the world's best sushi chefs. We went to see just what you can expect from Sushi Amamoto.

Test Drives

Also see...