Test Drives

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.

Test Driving Hicce at Coal Drops Yard - built for sharing

Information: 14 November 2018

Former Murano head chef Pip Lacey has gone it alone with a new restaurant overlooking Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross. We check it out.

Test Driving Gridiron London - The old Met Bar gets a new life

Information: 13 November 2018

The replacement for the Met Bar features an array of top food and drink names at Gridiron. We head over to take a look.

Kitchen W8 has had a big revamp - we take a look

Information: 08 November 2018

This classic Kensington restaurant is about to turn 10 years old. It's had a complete refurb, so we popped down for a look and to try the autumn menu.

A model makeover - we Test Drive The Cleveland Arms in Paddington

Information: 08 November 2018

It's always nice when an overhaul of a lovely old pub manages to retain its character while bringing new talents to the table - we went to check out The Cleveland Arms in Paddington.

Test Driving Berenjak - Iranian kababs in Soho from the JKS group

Information: 06 November 2018

JKS Restaurants turn their superpowers to the humble kebab - inspired by Iranian hole in the wall spots. Seems like Soho's not all that far from Tehran after all.

Test Driving Casa and Plaza Pastor - outside or inside at Coal Drops Yard?

Information: 01 November 2018

The Harts Group bring their very popular Mexican restaurant to the impressive Coal Drops Yard area. And they've split it into two. We head to King's Cross to try it out.

Test Driving Barrafina at Coal Drops Yard - a new Catalan-inspired menu is a belter

Information: 29 October 2018

It's the fourth restaurant for the Barrafina team, taking their Spanish tapas counter dining restaurant to Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross. We pop down to see if their winning streak continues.

Test of Time - we make a return visit to Polpetto

Information: 25 October 2018

Polpetto now has an ex River Cafe chef in the kitchen. We made a return visit to see how the arrival of Anthea Stephenson has changed things at this Soho spot.

Test Driving Black Cod and Wagyu - the Burger and Lobster folk democratise more food

Information: 23 October 2018

The people behind Burger and Lobster are back with another money-saving deal. This time try the very luxe black cod and wagyu beef at affordable prices. We head down to try them for ourselves.

Test Drives

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