Test Drives

Test Driving Gizzi Erskine's Filth popup in Shoreditch - fast but guilt-free food

Information: 24 January 2019

Gizzi Erskine and Rosemary Ferguson have taken their dream to open plant-based burger shop Filth a step further with a three-month popup in Shoreditch. We went to check it out.

We learn pie making with Calum Franklin at Holborn Dining Room

Information: 21 January 2019

We learn how to make a pork pie from the king of pies himself, Calum Franklin. Find out how we got on...

Test Driving Clifford's - a candlelit spot off Fleet Street

Information: 17 January 2019

London's legal district has a new subterranean restaurant and bar - we went to check it out.

Test Driving Din Tai Fung - the dumpling powerhouse hits London

Information: 15 January 2019

With all the hype over the opening of their first London restaurant, could Din Tai Fung live up to expectations? We went to check out the famous Taiwanese dumpling chain's Covent Garden restaurant.

Test Driving The French House in Soho with Neil Borthwick in command

Information: 10 January 2019

Neil Borthwick has taken over the kitchen at The French House and is getting rave reviews. We popped down to check out the menu.

Test Driving the Wild Pasta menu at The Ninth on Charlotte Street

Information: 08 January 2019

Knowing how much Londoners love their pasta, we popped along to Jun Tanaka's Fitzrovian restaurant to check out his new seasonal menu.

Test Driving The Oystermen - the Covent Garden seafood restaurant makes great use of its extra space

Information: 03 January 2019

Covent Garden's Oystermen doubled its size in Covent Garden - adding a raw bar and more. We head down to try out this highly-praised seafood restaurant.

Test Driving Burger and Beyond - really living up to both parts of the name

Information: 18 December 2018

Burger and Beyond have set up their first permanent restaurant in Shoreditch - with the emphasis on building the "beyond" part. We head down for a look.

Test Driving Maison Bab - taking kebabs to the next level in Covent Garden

Information: 18 December 2018

Inspired by kebab houses, the duo behind Le Bab have brought their modern take on everyone's favourite drinking food to Covent Garden. We popped along to check it out.

Test Driving Blacklock Shoreditch - the one with its own bar

Information: 13 December 2018

Blacklock's third restaurant, in Shoreditch, turns out to be a light-filled dining room with a cracking cocktail list as well as all manner of meat treats.

Test Driving Lino London - industrial chic in EC1

Information: 11 December 2018

An ex-Dairy head chef leads Lino, an all-day bar and restaurant beside St Bart's. We head down for a look.

Test Driving Roe - a serious seafood treat at Pop Brixton

Information: 06 December 2018

We take a tour around the British and Irish coast at this small seafood spot with serious ambition at Pop Brixton.

We stop by Dandelyan, The World’s Best bar, to sample their final cocktail menu

Information: 04 December 2018

In case you hadn’t already heard, Dandelyan - recently crowned World’s Best Bar 2018 - is set to close in March 2019. We stopped by to check out their fifth and final menu.

Test Driving Goods Office - a hidden-away surprise in Stroud Green

Information: 04 December 2018

Having moved on from Season and Gilly's Fish Bar, North London restaurateur Neil Gill has partnered with local Emma Rigby to open this Stroud Green neighbourhood hub.

We eat all we can in a lunchtime visit to Market Hall Victoria

Information: 29 November 2018

The second Market Hall brings a host of top-notch food purveyors to Victoria in one handy place. But how does the whole thing work? Let us tell you...

Test Driving Brasserie of Light - Caprice Holdings' jawdropping restaurant at Selfridges

Information: 29 November 2018

London's department store restaurant scene gets a gamechanger in the form of Caprice Holding's gobsmacking new brasserie.

Test Driving Ivy in the Park - Caprice Holdings move into Canary Wharf

Information: 29 November 2018

Taking over the pavilion by Canada Square park, Caprice Holdings have brought a particularly green and verdant iteration of the Ivy to the financial district.

Test Driving The Drop - the Harts Group's gem of a wine bar at Coal Drops Yard

Information: 26 November 2018

London's wine bar scene gets raised a notch with the arrive of the Harts Group new wine bar in King's Cross.

Test Driving Core by Clare Smyth - a top-class Michelin-starred lunch

Information: 22 November 2018

Now with two Michelin stars, Clare Smyth's Notting Hill restaurant is really hitting its stride. We went along to try the lunch menu.

Test Driving Caractere in Notting Hill

Information: 19 November 2018

Emily Roux and former Le Gavroche Head chef Diego Ferrari are the husband and wife team behind this Notting Hill restaurant. We head down to check it out.

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