European, South london
Alex Gunz
The Laundry: Cleaning up

A few steps away from the colourful chaos that is Brixton, diners seeking a haven will find the Laundry. It is – you’ve guessed it – located on the site of a former washing house. Closed after 120 years in service and reopened in 2019 as an all-day dining destination, the Laundry delivers.

The Laundry: Cleaning up
Middle Eastern, Mayfair
Alex Gunz
Berenjak: Winning formula, on repeat

JKS don’t do bad restaurants. Slowly but surely the group seem to be taking over the London dining scene. Not content with a swathe of successful Indian restaurants, their Persian franchise is seeking to hit the big time, with its third venue. Beyond the Soho original and a Borough market outlet, the newest opening sits right in the heart of swanky Mayfair. It has all the ingredients for an enduring success.

Berenjak: Winning formula, on repeat
Chinese, Soho
Alex Gunz
Liu Xiaomian: Spicy, numbing and addictive

These three adjectives are the first thing diners see when they walk into Liu Xiaomian. They are projected in red neon on the back wall. No surprises then in terms of what to expect. The fiery sensations linger long after visiting and it will only be a matter of time before a return trip. We were told that Liu was addictive after all.

Liu Xiaomian: Spicy, numbing and addictive
Seafood, Jersey
Alex Gunz
Oyster Box: A must-visit in Jersey

Few things make your reviewer happier than sitting in the sun and admiring a stunning view, with a plate of oysters and a glass of dry white wine alongside. Jersey’s Oyster Box provides all the above. It should be a must-visit venue for any discerning diner on the island.

Oyster Box: A must-visit in Jersey
Afternoon Tea, Mayfair
Alex Gunz
Afternoon tea at the Ritz: Much glitz

There’s something wonderfully quaint and yet quintessentially English about the ritual of afternoon tea. There are few better places to do it in London than at the Ritz Hotel. The experience is one of opulence and decadence. The additional benefit is that guests can feast heartily yet not leave bloated. Tea has a wonderful restorative effect.

Afternoon tea at the Ritz: Much glitz

Chinese

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Xu: Xuting out the lights (September 2017)

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Located a stone’s throw away from Chinatown and next door to the ever-popular Palomar, the ambitions of Xu (pronounced ‘shu’) are evident. Given that the team behind this venture also pioneered Gymkhana, Bao and Hoppers, expectations were high, but a recent lunchtime visit undoubtedly impressed. While perhaps somewhat lacking in atmosphere, the level of the food here was superlative.

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Dragon Castle: Struggling to find positives (December 2016)

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Elephant & Castle is a depressing enough part of London to go to at the best of times. Exiting the underground station, the eye is confronted with an excess of cars and concrete. Those brave enough to navigate the roundabout can find themselves at Dragon Castle, a cavernous Chinese establishment that has been here for some time.

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Hakkasan Mayfair: Indulgent, but definitely worth it (June 2014)

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Going to Hakkasan is an experience, from beginning to end, and while not cheap, it is undoubtedly worth it. The sense of anticipation and occasion is heightened on arrival. While the exterior of the building is relatively nondescript, in an office block to the side of Berkeley Square, diners are forced to walk down a relatively long, delicately-scented black passageway lit only by small sparkling lights in order to reach the dining room.

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Barshu (April 2013)

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Londoners often face a challenge when it comes to finding good Chinese restaurants: on the one hand, there is the MSG-heavy Cantonese food that predominates much of Chinatown, and on the other, there is the likes of Hakkasan and its ilk, as much fashion destination as food experience, with only the briefest of nods to China as opposed to ‘pan-Asia.’