6 New Restaurants To Try Over The Christmas Break

Fallow, St James’s

Chefs Will Murray and Jack Croft of sustainably focused restaurant Fallow have moved to a permanent site in St James’s Market. After launching as a 12-week pop-up at 10 Heddon Street in March 2020, the duo’s residency was extended due to multiple lockdowns. During this time, the pair managed to win numerous awards, including a Michelin Bib Gourmand. The new site is open all day and is a far bigger prospect: it comes with a dining room, bar, wraparound terrace and seven-seater chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen. But the menu remains similar, focusing on bold sharing-style dishes celebrating sustainable produce across the British Isles and from their small holding near Esher. Joining Will and Jack in the kitchen is Anna Williams, who was previously head pastry chef at Dinner by Heston. New puddings include Chelsea tart with caramelised whey, using leftover whey from Kappacasein Dairy, and we love the sound of the sourdough soft serve, which is made from surplus bread.

St James’s Market, St James’s, SW1Y 4RP

Visit FallowRestaurant.com

Madhu’s Brasserie at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge

Madhu’s Brasserie has launched on the fifth floor of Harvey Nichols in association with Madhu’s, the award-winning collective of Indian caterers who have long served the royal family at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. Madhu’s Brasserie provides a point of difference to the department store’s other food offerings. Elegantly presented, the menu starts with a selection of toasted wraps filled with chilli chicken, minced lamb or fragrant vegetables, followed by a choice of robata-grilled dishes including butterflied king prawns. For mains, you need to try Madhu’s signature Punjabi kadhi – a traditional north Indian sauce served with pakoras. And for those who like to try a bit of everything, thalis are on hand. There are two places to dine: the main dining room is decked out with deep emerald leather chairs, while the wraparound bar offers a view of the chefs cooking chops over the robata grill or rolling breads in the tandoor oven.

Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ

Visit HarveyNichols.com

Pizza Pilgrims X Selfridges, West End

Popular pizzeria Pizza Pilgrims has opened a sustainability focused restaurant on the fourth floor of Selfridges. Here, the team has unpacked each element of running a pizzeria – from the way it's built to how the menu is developed – to bring it in line with Selfridges’ Project Earth initiative. All the pizza dough is made with regenerative UK wheat from Wild Farmed and as many ingredients as possible are sourced locally, such as UK fior di latte mozzarella, Cobble Lane cured meat and wines from the Chiltern Hills. In terms of décor, the timber floors are reclaimed and a giant wall mural has been created from 2,000 recycled glass bottles. On the menu, we love the sound of the pizzas topped with wild mushrooms, truffled ricotta and burrata; British wagyu beef with mozzarella and poponcini peppers; and the smoked salmon everything bagel combination, which features a fior di latte base with a bagel seed crust, topped with smoked salmon, mascarpone, red onion, capers and dill. 

Oxford Street, West End, W1C 1JS

Visit PizzaPilgrims.co.uk

Sarap Filipino Bistro, Mayfair

Ferdinand Montoya has taken over 10 Heddon Street, a residency space that’s previously hosted some of London’s most exciting new dining concepts (see Fallow below). Sarap Filipino Bistro (Sarap means ‘delicious’ in Tagalog) is the latest project for Montoya, who recently launched a more casual Brixton site called Sarap BAon. At Heddon Street, he’s showcasing a bistro menu which celebrates his modern interpretation of Filipino flavours, paying ode to the sour, salty and sweet characteristics of the cuisine. The menu is centred around his signature dish: suckling pig. Typically served at special occasions, lechón must be ordered 48 hours in advance and is designed to be shared between four to six people. Elsewhere, expect to find Filipino-inspired small plates, such as roasted celeriac with peanut and achuete sauce and truffle; and smoked aubergine with winter tomatoes, and salted duck egg. On the pudding front, we love the sound of the ‘tsokolate’ – a four-layered chocolate cake made with a variety of cacao found in the Philippines.

Heddon Street, Mayfair, W1B 4BX

Visit SarapLondon.com

Zahter, Carnaby

Acclaimed Turkish chef Esra Muslu has launched her first London restaurant, Zahter. An established chef and restaurateur, Muslu has opened four successful sites in Istanbul and was head chef at Ottolenghi Spitalfields before a recent successful residency at rotating restaurant Carousel. This chic Carnaby spot aims to showcase traditional Turkish methods via Muslu’s home-style dishes. Designed to replicate Turkish taverns and mezze houses, three-floor Zahter’s open kitchen comprises a central wood and charcoal oven. The rest of the restaurant is decorated with original Turkish fixtures – from multiple blue tiles to crockery. On the menu, you’ll find well-known Turkish menu mainstays such as lahmacun (a round, thin piece of dough topped with minced meat and vegetables) and manti (stuffed dumplings) plus cold mezze such as smoked aubergine with fried chilli and fresh zahter; labneh, cucumber, mint and garlic; and golden beetroot with homemade dukkah.

Foubert’s Place, Carnaby, W1F 7PS

Visit Zahter.co.uk