Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Tucked away in an old bike shed in an enclosed garden, this is a haven from the craziness of London. The menu changes daily, and the chefs have a knack for reading my mind, picking my favourite ingredients, and weaving them through the menu in ways I hadn’t expected. I ate a perfect late summer lunch of courgette and pine nut strudel.
It's only open during the day, and only on weekdays. It's BYO (corkage £6.50 a bottle), so pick up a bottle of something special, cancel your plans for the afternoon, and get settled in for a long and very enjoyable lunch.
80 locals recommend
Rochelle Canteen
16 Playground GardensTucked away in an old bike shed in an enclosed garden, this is a haven from the craziness of London. The menu changes daily, and the chefs have a knack for reading my mind, picking my favourite ingredients, and weaving them through the menu in ways I hadn’t expected. I ate a perfect late summer lunch of courgette and pine nut strudel.
It's only open during the day, and only on weekdays. It's BYO (corkage £6.50 a bottle), so pick up a bottle of something special, cancel your plans for the afternoon, and get settled in for a long and very enjoyable lunch.
In a world of lesser restaurants driven by PR hype, Lyle’s has steadily and subtly marked its cards as possibly Britain’s best seasonal restaurant, gaining a Michelin Star and a host of other awards. Chef James Lowe—who happens to be my former head chef—is a master of reductionism, and one of the most exciting chefs around.
At dinner, Lowe and his team choose what you eat, serving a four-course set menu, while at lunch times you can pick from their a la carte menu. If you're going in autumn, try the pumpkin, chestnut, and whey butter dish—a perfect melding of seasonal flavours.
61 locals recommend
Lyle's
56 Shoreditch High StIn a world of lesser restaurants driven by PR hype, Lyle’s has steadily and subtly marked its cards as possibly Britain’s best seasonal restaurant, gaining a Michelin Star and a host of other awards. Chef James Lowe—who happens to be my former head chef—is a master of reductionism, and one of the most exciting chefs around.
At dinner, Lowe and his team choose what you eat, serving a four-course set menu, while at lunch times you can pick from their a la carte menu. If you're going in autumn, try the pumpkin, chestnut, and whey butter dish—a perfect melding of seasonal flavours.
Full of character and soul, Duck Soup is my go-to spot for a glass of wine and bite to eat when I find myself in Soho. The menu is ever changing and ingredient-driven, with simple dishes that combine seasonal ingredients with hints of global flavour. Think grilled bream with blood orange and sumac in winter or asparagus with labneh and dukkah in spring.
It's a small place and gets very busy very quickly at peak times. The kitchen is open all day, though, so pop in for a few plates during the afternoon. The bar staff might even let you choose the music from their collection of vinyl, played from a turntable on the counter.
19 locals recommend
Ducksoup
41 Dean StFull of character and soul, Duck Soup is my go-to spot for a glass of wine and bite to eat when I find myself in Soho. The menu is ever changing and ingredient-driven, with simple dishes that combine seasonal ingredients with hints of global flavour. Think grilled bream with blood orange and sumac in winter or asparagus with labneh and dukkah in spring.
It's a small place and gets very busy very quickly at peak times. The kitchen is open all day, though, so pop in for a few plates during the afternoon. The bar staff might even let you choose the music from their collection of vinyl, played from a turntable on the counter.
The second best restaurant in Brixton (you should also check out Salon). Husband and wife duo Margeaux and Joe’s neighbourhood spot feels refreshingly out of the way. Joe’s food—scallop with cauliflower and chamomile or Jerusalem artichoke with blue cheese and grilled pear—is innovative, exciting, and skillfully executed. But most important, tasty.
Margeaux hosts and picks the wine with Parisienne aplomb. Ask to sit at the bar so you can be close enough to soak up her exceptional wine knowledge. From there, you can watch your food being cooked over the impressive charcoal grill.
61 locals recommend
Naughty Piglets
28 Brixton Water LnThe second best restaurant in Brixton (you should also check out Salon). Husband and wife duo Margeaux and Joe’s neighbourhood spot feels refreshingly out of the way. Joe’s food—scallop with cauliflower and chamomile or Jerusalem artichoke with blue cheese and grilled pear—is innovative, exciting, and skillfully executed. But most important, tasty.
Margeaux hosts and picks the wine with Parisienne aplomb. Ask to sit at the bar so you can be close enough to soak up her exceptional wine knowledge. From there, you can watch your food being cooked over the impressive charcoal grill.
“Great food, great wine, great vibes” sounds generic, but it sums up this down-to-earth London Fields eatery. The menu revolves daily, using market ingredients like octopus, chickpeas, and lardo for £16. Chef Sam Kamienko is from Melbourne, so expect antipodean touches. Front of house duo Jack and Ed are deft hosts, talented sommeliers, and very nice lads.
Look out for occasional late night events where the bar stays open till the early hours, tables and chairs are pushed aside, and turntables are set up on the bar.
23 locals recommend
Ellory - Hackney, London
1 Westgate Street“Great food, great wine, great vibes” sounds generic, but it sums up this down-to-earth London Fields eatery. The menu revolves daily, using market ingredients like octopus, chickpeas, and lardo for £16. Chef Sam Kamienko is from Melbourne, so expect antipodean touches. Front of house duo Jack and Ed are deft hosts, talented sommeliers, and very nice lads.
Look out for occasional late night events where the bar stays open till the early hours, tables and chairs are pushed aside, and turntables are set up on the bar.
Brickhouse bakes the best bread in London, so when they opened a cafe, expectation was high. It didn't disappoint and has been a huge hit with locals and committed foodies willing to travel for the amazing naturally leavened sourdough bread, abundant salads, perfectly brewed Square Mile coffee, and extremely indulgent baked goods.
I always go for the sandwich specials, which changes every week. Think Reubens, clubs, schnitzels, and even house-made fish finger sarnies. Save room for a morning bun. And a blueberry brioche. And a rye cookie.
39 locals recommend
Brick House Bakery
1 Zenoria StBrickhouse bakes the best bread in London, so when they opened a cafe, expectation was high. It didn't disappoint and has been a huge hit with locals and committed foodies willing to travel for the amazing naturally leavened sourdough bread, abundant salads, perfectly brewed Square Mile coffee, and extremely indulgent baked goods.
I always go for the sandwich specials, which changes every week. Think Reubens, clubs, schnitzels, and even house-made fish finger sarnies. Save room for a morning bun. And a blueberry brioche. And a rye cookie.
Chef-restaurateur Robin Gill has applied the best of his training at famed restaurants Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and Noma to his neighbourhood spot without taking it, or himself, too seriously. Vegetables are grown in the rooftop garden for the sharing dish menu. Their truffled Baron Bigod cheese on fig & walnut toast is exceptional.
If you like eating and drinking well into the night, look out for their monthly Bloodshot supper clubs on social media. It was started for chefs and industry folks to wind down at the end of a busy week. A very limited number of tickets are available to the public. One for the curious, gluttonous, and debaucherous!
88 locals recommend
The Dairy
15 The PavementChef-restaurateur Robin Gill has applied the best of his training at famed restaurants Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and Noma to his neighbourhood spot without taking it, or himself, too seriously. Vegetables are grown in the rooftop garden for the sharing dish menu. Their truffled Baron Bigod cheese on fig & walnut toast is exceptional.
If you like eating and drinking well into the night, look out for their monthly Bloodshot supper clubs on social media. It was started for chefs and industry folks to wind down at the end of a busy week. A very limited number of tickets are available to the public. One for the curious, gluttonous, and debaucherous!
Hidden away in Brixton Village, Salon oozes rustic character (read: everything is on the verge of falling apart), is full of heart (read: opened on a shoestring), and driven by passion for creative food, the finest ingredients, and great service above spreadsheets (read: does anyone know a good accountant?) Oh, and did I mention it's my restaurant?
Weekend brunch is always busy, but in the evenings it's all about the ever-changing seasonal set menu—think smoked heritage beetroot with sumac, sour cream and coffee, or sprouting broccoli with confit egg yolk, quinoa and fermented chilli butter. If you do come, give me a nod and I'll come over and say hello!
41 locals recommend
Salon
18 Market RowHidden away in Brixton Village, Salon oozes rustic character (read: everything is on the verge of falling apart), is full of heart (read: opened on a shoestring), and driven by passion for creative food, the finest ingredients, and great service above spreadsheets (read: does anyone know a good accountant?) Oh, and did I mention it's my restaurant?
Weekend brunch is always busy, but in the evenings it's all about the ever-changing seasonal set menu—think smoked heritage beetroot with sumac, sour cream and coffee, or sprouting broccoli with confit egg yolk, quinoa and fermented chilli butter. If you do come, give me a nod and I'll come over and say hello!
Drinks & Nightlife
An absolute gem of a pub in out-of-the-way Camberwell. They have irresistible bar snacks, and there's a menu of small and large dishes, including homemade pasta, charcuterie, pies, and dishes featuring vegetables grown in chef Mike Davies’s dad's allotment. Barbecue rabbit with bearnaise sauce and Mike’s Dad’s chard is a real winner.
They serve superlative Sunday lunches, but it can be bonkers, so arrive early. Sunday lunch service starts at noon.
108 locals recommend
The Camberwell Arms
65 Camberwell Church StAn absolute gem of a pub in out-of-the-way Camberwell. They have irresistible bar snacks, and there's a menu of small and large dishes, including homemade pasta, charcuterie, pies, and dishes featuring vegetables grown in chef Mike Davies’s dad's allotment. Barbecue rabbit with bearnaise sauce and Mike’s Dad’s chard is a real winner.
They serve superlative Sunday lunches, but it can be bonkers, so arrive early. Sunday lunch service starts at noon.