Restaurant Reviews

120 Morning Ln, London E9 6LH

Dalla is a collaboration among three Italian friends with diverse backgrounds. Gennaro Leone, focusing on design, joins forces with Mitchell Damota, ex-head chef at P Franco, and chef Gianmarco Leone, formerly at Claridge's. Together, they aim to offer homestyle Italian cuisine, rediscovering old recipes in a contemporary setting.

78 Lower Clapton Road, Lower Clapton, London E5 0RN

After building up a devoted following at Peckham's Market, Abby Lee moved her Malaysian restaurant to a permanent space in East London, which cemented her as one of the city's best chefs. Here, it's all about modern Malaysian food and the place to be is up at the counter. If it's on, the Lor Bak (five-spice pork and prawn bean curd roll) is a must but you'll want to roam through as much of the menu as you can.

322-324 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA

Taking two railway arches in Haggerston, Planque is a wine bar, restaurant, members' club and store, with a key focus on natural and low-intervention wines. And most importantly it has Seb Myers (ex P Franco and Chiltern Firehouse) running the kitchen and serving up a modern take on French food. Small-medium plates are the order of the day, although there's a great set lunch deal here on Saturdays.

28th Floor, Hilton on Park Lane, 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE

Taking over the iconic rooftop space once home to Galvin at Windows, Shanghai Me arrives in London after opening successful restaurants in Dubai and Doha. Expect a glamorous 1930s Shanghai-inspired setting with a luxe Pan-Asian menu—think Cantonese roast duck with foie gras and caviar, spicy bluefin oshizushi, and a “dim sum library”. The adjacent Bund lounge bar (28th floor) features zodiac-themed cocktails and sweeping Hyde Park views.