After having thoroughly enjoyed Pollen Street Social on several occasions, I approached Little Social with some anticipation, intrigued as much as anything to see whether Jason Atherton could continue to work his magic in another restaurant formula or whether Pollen Street’s smaller sibling would be an example of brand-extension-gone-too-far, an unnecessarily bold incursion situated directly opposite its precursor.
Hush: All about location (and not really the food) (June 2013)
Aubaine Mayfair: Scored on most – but not all – counts (June 2013)
French food in London can often be a culinary minefield, with the experience ranging from the old-fashioned and high-end (think Gavroche) to the touristy and tacky (Café Rouge). Aubaine manages to sit comfortably between these two extremes and constitutes an enjoyable and fairly priced – if not exceptional – dining option.
Coya: Underwhelming (March 2013)
Patty & Bun James Street (March 2013)
The current fad for ‘posh burgers’ is a good one, obvious given that the burger arguably constitutes the ultimate comfort food and democratic in that it at appeals to almost everyone. Moreover, any restaurant that has a queue outside it prior to opening its doors at 12 must clearly be on to something.
Sakana-Tei (February 2013)
Veerasawamy (December 2012)
La Petite Maison (November 2012)
I am really surprised how polarised opinions appear to be about this restaurant. This is the third time I have been here and each time I have loved the whole experience and would undoubtedly return. One caveat, however: make sure someone else is paying, since it is not cheap! The heavy brown velvet curtain creates a sense of anticipation prior to entry and the dining room itself is lovely, beautifully light and spacious, a perfect antidote to a dull November day.
Wild Honey (October 2012)
Sumosan (October 2012)
About the worst thing a restaurant could be faulted for is not being made to feel welcome and in every sense this was the impression I took away from Sumosan. The exterior of the restaurant looks forbidding with a passer-by not being in a position at all to discern what may be happening inside, the interior being hidden by full-length blinds.
Sartoria (September 2012)
I first ate here over ten years ago and for no particular reason had failed to return since. However, for any restaurant to be able to maintain consistently high standards in a city with a dining culture as competitive as London's is testament to the fact that Sartoria must be doing something right.