1. Londrino
Chef Leandro Carreira made his name under Nuno Mendes, but his first solo restaurant is finally open, in Southwark. Round behind Guy’s hospital, in those quiet but surprisingly fruitful streets, you will find a calming oasis of floor-length glass windows (which will turn into doors come summer) with a bustling but quiet open kitchen artfully functioning in the background. Dishes tend to vary by the day, such is the chef’s enthusiasm, but try and nab the prawn tartare, served chunkily with shaved chestnut, the Galician bavette steak, and the octopus (which you may already recognise from Instagram). Don’t shun the quirky ice cream options either: odd as it may sound, the amazake (ie fermented rice) flavour is an outright winner. But tarter teeth may prefer the refreshing mandarin sorbet, served with a mollifying squidge of honey on top.
36 Snowsfields, London, SE1 3SU; londrino.co.uk
2. Sticks ‘n’ Sushi
The Nova complex beside Victoria station just gets more and more bountiful by the day. In addition to the delightful daytime refuge Rail House Café, wine and snacks at Vagabond, Nordic fine dining at Aster and irresistible Crosstown Doughnuts just flaunting their wares in the street, you can now add a Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, the ideal post-work pit stop. Saddle up with a mixed plate so that you barely even have to do the thinking yourself, and just add a few sticks of grilled meat (otherwise known as yakitori) which are succulent, satisfying and, most importantly, bite-sized. If super hungry, start off the fried cauliflower (gently charred and sat on a charcoal-coloured black sesame and truffle sauce, it is a little marvel) or choose the scallop ceviche, which will wake you up good and proper after a trying day with its smack of citrus and chilli.
Unit 3-5, 3 Sir Milton Square, London, SW1E 5EB; sticksnsushi.co.uk
3. Hai Cenato’s February Special
Alternatively, right next door is Jason Atherton’s brooding pizzeria, where the February special has been created by three-Michelin-starred Italian cooking legend, Massimo Bottura. It’s got Cotechino (Italian pork sausage), Parmesan shavings and caramelised onions on top, drizzled with a special, aged balsamic vinegar made in Modena, which is where Bottura’s world famous restaurant is. However, unlike Osteria Francescana, this London taster doesn’t require a landmark birthday or anniversary to warrant its expense – the pizza is £14.50 with £1 of that going to charity (Hospitality Action). Win-win, you might say. You’ve got all month to give it a go and it’ll be fabulously washed down by one of the vermouth and tonics from the bar (an easy way to ease you back into booze post-January).
2 Sir Simon Milton Square, London, SW1E 5DJ; haicenato.co.uk
4. Chiltern Firehouse Terrace
So you all got excited at the brighter mornings and thought winter was done and dusted, right? Well, ha! Because the cold snap is upon us and, as such, cosy winter terraces with fires and blankets seem weirdly appropriate once again. But if you’re going to do this thing, do it in style and head to the Chiltern Firehouse, where you can huddle with a hot toddy whilst an oyster cart is wheeled over to you so that you can pick your chichi snacks – whether to have your oysters dressed or naked is the biggest challenge you’ll face. Snazzy, right? It’s almost as if there’s an occasion coming up that requires you to impress a certain someone…
1 Chiltern Street, London, W1U 7PA; chilternfirehouse.com
5. Harry’s Dolce Vita
Knightsbridge has previously been a black hole of restaurant sparsity but, never fear, Caprice Holdings have started to rectify the situation. The people behind Sexy Fish, Scott’s, J Sheekey, The Ivy and its affiliate restaurants, etc., have just opened Harry’s Dolce Vita, a Venetian bolthole to brighten your next evening out. Expect the ever fashionable modern-European all-day fare but with an Italian slant. And if you’re free this Tuesday (13th February), they’re hosting an evening-long party with feasting menus, music and performances. Masquerade masks made in Venice will get you into the ‘Carnevale’ mood, and you’ll even be allowed to take them home as a reminder of your truffled tuna carpaccio, lobster spaghetti and gold dust chiacchiere.
27-31 Basil Street, London, SW3 1BB; harrysdolcevita.com
