<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>The festive season is always a good time for London’s food scene, but it’s set to be particularly delicious this year thanks to a spate of buzzy newbies. This November, the long-awaited AngloThai will finally be opening its doors, alongside a replacement for King’s Road favourite Chicama and another launch from esteemed Indian chef Rohit Ghai, among others. Stay in the know with our pick of the most exciting new restaurants opening in London this November.
London Restaurant Openings: November 2024
Cafe Mondo, Camberwell
After rising to cult status with their sandwich residencies, Jack Macrae and Viggo Blegvad are opening a permanent venture following a successful Kickstarter campaign. Launching in Camberwell this November is Cafe Mondo, a sandwich joint by day and bar by night. Inspired by the nostalgic charm of the old-school caff, the eatery will serve their signature sandwiches, like the Mondo Frango and Pork & Greens, alongside small plates including chicken schnitzel, aubergine fritti, and deep fried treacle tart. Come evening time, guests can sip slushies, fun wines and cocktails, such as tiny MSG martinis.
When? Opening 22 November 2024
Where? 42 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8PX
Book: Check out their Instagram
Silva, Mayfair
Soon to open in Mayfair‘s Bruton Place is Silva, a day-to-night restaurant focusing on Mediterranean fare. The brainchild of Daria Grebenyuk, the eatery is all about seasonal fare, with the name derived from the Latin word for forest – and this nature-focused theme inspires the interiors too. Spread across two floors, mixed woods and marble are paired with moss and pine green accents, with a private dining room decked out in foliage. Menu highlights include baked Isle of Mull scallops, potato waffles topped with beef tartare and truffle, seabass casserole, and chateaubriand with wild mushrooms, alongside a raw section. Enjoy alongside wines from emerging winemakers from all over the world.
When? Opening 21 November 2024
Where? 26 – 28 Bruton place, London W1J 6NG
BOOK: sevenrooms.com
Bottarga, Chelsea
Chelsea stalwart Chicama has sadly closed its doors, but in its place is an exciting new launch from the group, Bottarga. The cuisine here will be similar to sister restaurant Zephyr in Notting Hill – albeit a more casual version – drawing on dishes from around the Aegean. Adam Rawson (the original chef at sister restaurant Pachamama) will be heading up the kitchen alongside Greek chef Tzoulio Loulai. Standouts on the menu include a signature Greek salad, drizzled in olive oil produced exclusively for the restaurant by Loulai’s father, alongside whole grilled day-boat fish, burnt butter potatoes and the namesake dish: bottarga orzo. For dessert, don’t miss the burnt chocolate cheesecake, which arrives at the table under a cascade of salted caramel chocolate sauce.
When? 6 November 2024
Where? 383 King’s Rd, London SW10 0LP
BOOK: bottarga.london
Hotori, Holborn
We’ve had nose-to-tail and fin-to-gill, next up is beak-to-tail – the focus of Hotori, a new Japanese yakitori restaurant opening its doors in Holborn. Led by founders Mike Zheng and Kuangyi Wei, the eatery will centre around the yakitori grill, where diners can watch chefs sizzling up meat, fish and veggies. Chicken will be the primary focus, though: free-range, slow-reared chickens from Fosse Meadows, widely seen as one of the UK’s best poultry producers in the UK. All parts of the bird will be used, resulting in 17 different types of chicken yakitori, alongside skewers like Japanese wagyu and miso black cod. Pair with sake from Japan’s best breweries, plus wines created to pair with different yakitori cuts.
When? 18 November 2024
Where? 1 New Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1AN
BOOK: hotori.co.uk
Vatavaran, Knightsbridge
Punjab-born chef Rohit Ghai worked in some of the UK’s top Indian dining rooms, like Gymkhana and Benares, before launching his own venture, Kutir, followed by another, Manthan. Now he’s back with a new restaurant opening this November: Vatavaran, opening on Beauchamp Place in Knightsbridge this November. A joint project with Ghai’s business partner Abhi Sangwan, Vatavaran will offer high-end Indian fare inspired by the cuisine of the Himalayas, with music and entertainment creating a lively vibe (hence the name, which translates as ‘atmosphere’ in Sanskrit). An upstairs cocktail bar called Shikhar will serve cocktails featuring spices found in the Indian mountain, alongside tea and ingredients such as juniper and saffron. The menu is yet to be shared, but if Ghai’s other restaurants are anything to go by diners can expect upscale dishes with luxurious ingredients.
When? 7 November 2024
Where? 14-15 Beauchamp Place, SW3 1NQ
BOOK: vatavaran.uk
John and Desiree Chantarasak, by Ben Broomfield Photography
AngloThai, Marylebone
John and Desiree Chantarasak’s first bricks and mortar site has been in the pipeline for years. The husband and wife duo made a name for themselves through a string of pop-ups and residencies, and they first announced plans to open a permanent restaurant in 2021. Now, their plans are finally coming to fruition. Opening this November in Marylebone’s Seymour Place, the restaurant will showcase the pair’s signature Thai-British cuisine, with a focus on British meat, line-caught seafood and British-grown Asian produce, like holy basil and ginger root.
When? 11 November 2024
Where? 22-24 Seymour Pl, London W1H 7NL
BOOK: anglothai.co.uk
