Zuma
5 Raphael Street
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7584.1010
www.zumarestaurant.com
This new Japanese eatery has great food and style. This is told to us by dashing Brazilian investment banker Fausto Lima. He should know as he is a NYLON (one who commutes between New York and London). The fashionable Knightsbridge location makes it walking distance from some of the best hotels in London.
Arbutus
63-64 Frith Street
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7734.4545
www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk
Modern French and European fare with flair has moved from the suburbs to Soho. Chef Anthony Demetre comes from haute cuisine restaurant Putney Bridge, where he earned a Michelin star for his delectable creations. Now he’s opened his own restaurant to much fanfare. You might start with warm cod brandade followed by a breast of veal lacquered with spices. Dinner will never be the same again.
Lightship
5A St. Katherine’s Way (St. Katherine’s Dock)
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7481.3123
www.lightshipx.com
The oldest surviving lightship in the world makes for a beautiful dining experience. The boat, refurbished and docked by the Tower Bridge, serves British/Scandinavian fare. The tomato tart glazed with feta and olive and basil vinaigrette is divine, and the Danish meatballs with red cabbage and potato salad is sure to please.
Hakkasan
8 Hanway Place
Bloomsbury
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7927.7000
Restaurant critics are saying Hakkasan is “the sexiest restaurant in London. From the suave, glamorous ambiance to the flavorful and beautifully plated meals, this is a dining experience not to be missed. It is the first Chinese restaurant to earn a Michelin start and after eating there you will understand why. Be sure to have a reservation at this popular, much desired hotspot.
The Square
6-10 Bruton Street
Mayfair
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7495.7100
www.squarerestaurant.com
The Square is located in the heart of Mayfair amidst some of London’s best shops and art galleries, and boasts two Michelin stars. Chef Philip Howard takes his classical French cuisine training and adds a modern twist, creating sumptuous, well-rounded dishes that are always seasonal and fresh. Add to that a friendly, professional wait staff and a beautiful atmosphere and you have an evening of bliss. While on the expensive side even for London standards, it is well worth the splurge.
Maze
10-13 Grosvenor Square
Mayfair
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7107.0000
www.gordonramsay.com
Gordon Ramsey's newest London restaurant features Asian influenced French food. If everything looks too good, go with a sampling of tasting dishes for the whole table to try. If you're feeling English, do try the mini passion fruit and rhubarb trifle.
Mint Leaf
Suffolk Place
St.James
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7930.9020
http://www.mintleafrestaurant.com/
This contemporary restaurant is a beautiful place to dine. The food is good but the ambiance steals the show: always lively with a decidedly "city" crowd.
Roast
Floral Hall, Stoney Street
Borough Market
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7940.1300
www.roast-restaurant.com
Borough Market is a destination in itself for food lovers. Now the landmark building has a restaurant that Londoners are talking about. The reviews have been mixed but most say they would go back. Roast serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We recommend dinner for the view of St. Paul's Cathedral when it is lit up.
Canteen
2 Crispin Place
Spitafields, London
Tel. +44 (0)0845.686.1122
http://www.canteen.co.uk/
It's all posh pies and trendy British classics at this ultra-modern diner in Spitalfield's finance district. With booths and communal oak tables, a lunch crowd wolfs down pies of chicken and tarragon or steak and kidney. The hearty dishes are coupled with mashed potatoes, greens, or mushy peas, and completed with a treacle tart or Eton Mess (strawberries, meringue and cream). There's also Coronation chicken, Macaroni cheese, and everything is reasonably priced.
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
13-15 West St.
Covent Garden
Tel. +44 (0) 20.7010.8600
http://www.robuchon.com/
London's A-listers sit side-by-side at the counter and graze tapas-style at French legend Joël Robuchon's super seductive outpost. Decked out in plush red and black, counter seating frames the ground-floor open kitchen, creating a spectacle that is pure culinary theatre. Navigate exquisite French tapas -- from frog's legs to veal rib and quail with truffle mash. The £80 six-course tasting menu is a neat way to experience multiple flavors. There's also a smart cocktail bar, and a sit-down restaurant, La Cuisine, on the first floor.
