Test Drives

Test Driving Daroco London - an Italian in new-look Soho (with an excellent dive bar)

Information: 23 January 2024

Arriving in Soho via Paris, Daroco offers up an Italian menu that's backed up by a very promising basement bar. We went down to try it out.

Test Driving Faber - a coastal seafood delight in the heart of Hammersmith

Information: 18 January 2024

Just off the busy Hammersmith roundabout is a shiny new seafood restaurant focusing on sustainably sourced produce from around Britain. We went to check it out.

Test Driving The Dover - a glamorous NYC-style Italian restaurant in Mayfair

Information: 16 January 2024

Arriving somewhat quietly in Mayfair, The Dover is a slice of old-school New York Italian in Mayfair from a seasoned London hospitality professional. We went down to try it out.

Test Driving Sola 2.0, which has the big guns out for its set lunch offering

Information: 11 January 2024

Four years on from its opening, Sola in Soho has just revealed its new look following a major redesign. We returned to have a look at the new space and to check out the set lunch offering.

Test Driving Café Lapérouse - a Parisian import to Whitehall

Information: 09 January 2024

The glamorous offshoot of a classic Paris restaurant has arrived at The OWO in London. We went to check it out.

Test Driving Ganymede - gastropub perfection in Belgravia

Information: 05 January 2024

Sometimes all you want is a cosy pub and great food - turns out Ganymede in Belgravia does both of those rather well.

Test Driving The Tamil Crown - a great Indian pub follow-up in Islington

Information: 03 January 2024

The Tamil Crown sees the same team behind The Tamil Prince reviving another classic Islington pub with an excellent Indian menu.

Test Driving Donia - the best of British produce with Filipino flair in Carnaby

Information: 19 December 2023

Donia in Kingly Court takes inspiration from Filipino food, using British produce with European flourishes. We went down to see how that translates in practice.

Test Driving Sune - a perfect pairing of food and wine in Broadway Market

Information: 14 December 2023

Just steps away from the bustle of Broadway Market, Sune features a hospitality super team, a great wine list and a chef turning out some fantastic comforting dishes.

Test Driving Akara - deep-fried delights in Borough Yards

Information: 12 December 2023

West African restaurant Akara is the follow up to Akoko and sees the team focusing in on deep-fried snacks and a not inconsiderable amount of heat. We head down to Borough Yards to check it out.

Test Driving Jackson Boxer at The Corner - a restaurant worth braving the Oxford Street crowds for

Information: 07 December 2023

Jackson Boxer's long term residency at Selfridges is giving the Oxford Street shop the edge in London's competitive in-store dining scene. We popped down for a weekend lunch to check it out.

Test Driving Atelier Coupette - French small plates and experimental cocktails in Soho

Information: 05 December 2023

The team behind Coupette have opened a more experimental offshoot with French small plates in Soho. We went down to see how it compares to the original.

Test Driving Pearly Queen - Tom Brown's Spitalfields oyster bar makes a big impression

Information: 30 November 2023

Cornerstone's Tom Brown has opened his second restaurant, a seafood restaurant and oyster bar in the East End. We went to Commercial Street to take a look.

Test Driving Wild Notting Hill - crudo and A-listers on Westbourne Grove

Information: 28 November 2023

Neighbourhood restaurants in Notting Hill hit different as this already successful West London spin off from Chelsea's Wild Tavern shows.

Test Driving Café Kitty - the Kitty Fisher's team go to the cabaret

Information: 23 November 2023

The team behind Kitty Fisher's and Cora Pearl are the latest people to open a theatre restaurant, Cafe Kitty. We went to Underbelly Boulevard to see what they've put together.

Test Driving The Wolseley City - the famous grand cafe gets a doppelganger

Information: 21 November 2023

The Wolseley Hospitality Group has finally unveiled their much-anticipated City sibling to The Wolseley. We went to see if it can live up to the original.

Test Driving Ugly Butterfly - Adam Handling's Cornish getaway

Information: 16 November 2023

Adam Handling's Cornish restaurant is in an enviable location, looking out to sea at Carbis Bay. We went down to put the tasting menu through its paces.

Test Driving Kolae - the Som Saa team have a winning follow-up in Borough Market

Information: 14 November 2023

The second restaurant from the Som Saa team, Kolae, has opened at Borough Market, where the team specialises in Southern Thai cuisine. We went down to check it out.

Test Driving Saltine - the Fink's team's grown-up restaurant for Highbury

Information: 09 November 2023

The Fink's team have opened a neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of foodie Highbury. We went to check out this tardis-like space.

Test Driving The Devonshire - the perfect pub and grill for Soho

Information: 07 November 2023

A new pub has arrived in Soho with a dream team attached and a very impressive grill restaurant upstairs. We take a proper look around The Devonshire.

Test Drives

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