Restaurant Reviews

22 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JP

This is one of two restaurants that chef Akira Back has at the Mandarin Oriental in Mayfair. While his main restaurant there is in a huge dining room, this is a smaller chef's table approach, seating just 14 diners around an open kitchen. Inside here, you'll find a Korean tasting menu which "blends traditional Korean techniques with modern innovation".

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Rd, London NW1 2AR

Victor Garvey, the man behind Michelin-starred SOLA, in now in charge of The Midland Grand in King's Cross. The menu concentrates on French-inspired haute cuisine, with more than a little tableside theatre thrown in. The dining room itself is one of the most impressive in London and it's also well worth making time to have a drink in the excellent Gothic Bar (which also has snacks from Garvey).

5 Dalston Ln, London E8 3DF

One of the earliest interesting wine bars to hit this part of East London, Newcomer Wines started life as a wine shop and bar focusing solely on Austrian wines. They've now expanded to feature natural wines from further afield in Europe. Come the summer, their hidden walled garden is a superb place to enjoy a glass or two.

2-4 Tottenham Rd, London N1 4BZ

Supported by its own natural wine-importing business, Dan’s is one of those wine bars that’s always packed with East Londoners working their way through the impressive catalogue. There’s plenty on by the glass too and it’s always worth seeing what’s on the board that day.