Six sumptuous restaurant openings!

The Gate

Much-loved vegetarian restaurant The Gate, ‘the jewel in the crown’ of vegetarian restaurants in London according to Conde Nast Traveller, has opened its fourth branch, this time in St John’s Wood.

It might sound cliched, but you honestly don’t have to be veggie to enjoy and appreciate the truly exceptional plant-based food. There is a wide range of inspiring meat-free dishes across breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.

Butternut & Ricotta Rotolo – pommes dauphinoises filled with butternut squash, semi-dried tomato, basil & ricotta, served with lemon butter sauce, French beans, sweet potato crisps – is just one example of the exciting items on offer.

The majority of the menu is suitable for vegans, with dairy free desserts including Tiramisu, Prune & Apple Crumble and Cranberry & Vanilla Cheesecake.

The wine list is 100% vegan, and many are also organic and natural.

87 Allitsen Road, London. NW8 7AS

thegaterestaurants.com 

No. Fifty Cheyne

Chelsea institution the Cheyne Walk Brasserie has had a rebuild and reopened as No Fifty Cheyne. Owner Sally Greene (who also owns Ronnie Scott’s) has given her restaurant a smart makeover with sumptuous curtains and ornate chandeliers and enticed across chef Iain Smith (previously of Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House). He is using seasonal ingredients centred around an open grill to create a modern British menu. There is a daily fish special. Upstairs at No. Fifty Cheyne is a cocktail bar led by Max Berrington who steered Brønnum in Copenhagen to the award of ‘Best Bar’ in the Danish capital.

50 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London. SW3 5LR

fiftycheyne.com

Carnudo

On my Facebook group The Restaurant Club there has been much excitement about the new kosher meaty restaurant in Edgware, Carnudo. Much of the talk has been about the turkey shawarma, but there is also grilled lemon chicken, schnitzel, falafel,  burgers, Argentine chorizo hot dogs and loads of salad options. It’s a no-frills affair, where you order at the counter, but by all accounts the food is good and the prices are reasonable.

7 Edgwarebury Lane, Edgware, Middx. HA8 8LH

Mani & Nick’s

The latest opening in Mill Hill, Mani & Nick’s is an all-day dining home-from-home café with lots of choice ranging from eggy brunch dishes through to Mediterranean meze platters, salads, burgers and wraps dishes. It’s also a serious contender for best coffee in the Broadway. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because Suzan Mani and her husband established Mani’s in Hampstead in 2009.

They hired Nick as head chef and have now taken him to Mill Hill to work his magic. The new café is fully licensed and they hope to be open in the evenings very soon.

20 The Broadway, Mill Hill, London. NW7 3LL

The Three Compasses (Little Alpine)

When a local institution closes… and then pops up again in the local pub  – that’s what I call a happy ending.

The Harkin family ran The Alpine in Bushey Heath for 50 years, sold it to developers, bought a pub in Aldenham and have opened the ‘Little Alpine’.

The place has a warm ambience, the decor is easy on the eye and the menu covers all bases with dishes such as fresh burrata with asparagus, lemon sole, very good zucchini fritti and a superb tiramisu.

Pegmire Lane, Patchetts Green, Watford. WD25 8DR

thethreecompassesaldenham.co.uk

The Gate (another one!)

The promise of sunny days has me longing for restaurants in leafy settings. Set opposite Richmond Park’s iconic gates, The Gate Kitchen, Bar & Restaurant at Richmond Harbour Hotel offers beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces.

The glasshouse floods the whole restaurant with light and opens onto a lovely garden terrace where you can sit in warmer weather.

The food is modern brasserie style, with a particular emphasis on comfort food and modern cooking techniques.

Richmond Harbour Hotel, Richmond Hill, Richmond Upon Thames, Surrey. TW10 6RP 

harbourhotels.co.uk

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