October’s Hot New Restaurant Openings - London

Sushi by Masa in Harrods Dining Hall

Renowned three-star Michelin chef Mayayoshi Takyama is set to open his first ever UK restaurant in partnership with Harrods, the luxury department store in Knightsbridge. The Harrods team have announced that diners should expect ‘sushi like you’ve never experienced before’. As Mayayoshi Takyama has been coined the chef to bring the sushi experience to Los Angeles, the London restaurant scene should be very excited about this venture. 

The new restaurant aims to serve guests a unique omakase dining experience meaning ‘I’ll leave it up to you’. Diners can opt for the experts to choose their menu for them. However, this option will set you back £750pp. The rest of the menu promises a wide range of Mayayoshi’s signature sushi including the signature Masa Toro caviar rolls, Ohmi beef tataki and hot dishes. Cocktails have been crafted to pair perfectly with the dishes. Choose from the likes of Magenta with Japaense gin, white rum, blueberry cordial, verjus and lemon or Torri Sunset which will be a concoction of Japanese whiskey, elderflower, yuzushu liqueur, mandarin purée and soda water.

One interesting request to note is that diners will be asked to limit the amount of perfume they wear to avoid tainting the experience of other guests.

Ixchel

A brand new modern Mexican restaurant is coming to the Kings Road this month. Founder Fraser Carruthers aims to bring a taste of Tulum to the popular Chelsea high street. Ixchel, helmed by Chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez, previously from Brat and Ella Canta, promises to transport diners to the Yucatan peninsula with a menu full of ceviches, tacos and tostadas as well as sharing dishes such as fried fish, quesadillas and sashimi. With large tables for groups and intimate corners for couples, it's set to be a buzzy place for everyone to enjoy.

Named after the Mayan goddess of the moon and textiles, Ixchel has been designed with bespoke tiling and a contemporary macrame which pays homage to Mayan’s weaving. There will also be a large mural by Mexican artist Rafael Urigas. The tequila bar is set to be home to one of the largest collections of agave-based liquor in Europe with an extensive menu of mezcals, tequilas and other cocktails.

Kinoya

From Dubai to London, Kinoya Ramen is a restaurant already feted by both Michelin Bib Gourmand and the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Earlier this year, it was marked as One To Watch in the Middle East and North Africa.

With the help of LXA Hospitality, the izakaya-style restaurant will open its second venue in Harrods Dining Hall later this month with Chef-owner Nha Mishra at the helm. Neha is a self-trained chef who originally ran a popular supper club in Dubai before opening Kinoya in Dubai. Londoners should expect the menu to focus on five key ramens, sushi and dishes from their robata grill. Keep an eye out for the signature shio paitan, a slow-cooked chicken browth with seared chicken and a drizzle of mayu. Their sides are set to be as good as the mains. We’re looking forward to the light bites such as Wagyu tsukune, miso butter aubergine and the burnt butter scallops.

London Stock

The new European fine-dining concept to land in the epicentre of London’s fine-dining scene, Mayfair, London Stock opens its second restaurant following its success in Wandsworth over the last three years. Drawing inspiration from the multicultural melting pot of the community it was originally based, the relaxed, modern European concept features an affordably priced a la carte 3-course lunch menu, a 3-course pre-theatre menu, a 4-course set menu and a highly seasonal 8-course tasting menu using innovative cooking techniques throughout.

Headed by Head Chef Sebastian Rast, previously of Above at HIDE, the new Sackville Street restaurant will be home to a two floor venue with an open plan kitchen on the top floor and a well-stocked wine cellar and bar downstairs. The Wandsworth menu will keep its prices, even in Mayfair, and we’ll likely see their infamous multigrain brioches, burratas and native lobster dishes.

Daroco Soho

Straight from Paris, France comes Daroco, a new restaurant opening in Soho. An amalgamation of Parisian and Italian cuisine, Daroco Soho, housed in the striking new Ilona Rose House, promises to be as stylish as its counterparts. Expect marble tabletops of rich deep colours, warming wooden countertops, brass fixtures and greenery to reflect an English garden.

Alongside the restaurant, there will be an outdoor terrace bar opening later in the yearand subterranean cocktail bar which exclusively seats only around fifty guests. Everything from the menu will be created from scratch including the pastas and pizzas. Downstairs in the bar, Award-winning French mixologist, Nico de Soto will be shaking things up with his wealth of knowledge of cocktails and drinks from around the globe.

Café Lapérouse

Settling into the striking courtyard at the all new The OWO, Parisian institution Café Lapérouse is set to be a glamorous spot. All-day dining in the courtyard at this most iconic of London hotels will be a truly special occasion and the menu will of course take inspiration from its French parent. One of nine restaurants in Raffles, it promises to be a ‘truly indulgent and different experience, offering a theatre of showstopping signature dishes served in stunning, opulent surrounds’, says founder of Moma Group Benjamin Patou. 

Staying true to its elegant French roots, the café takes inspiration from the navigator Lapérouse. Inside, expect nothing by timeless luxury, exquisite design and classic French elements. The artistic director, Cordelia de Castellane, created an atmosphere reminiscent of the different worlds Lapérouse visited. On the menu will be beef tartare with fries, sole with meunière and capers, and burgundy seals with parsley butter. Alongside this expect the traditional selection of beverages, coffees, teas and crafted cocktails.

Il Gattopardo

Il Gattopardo, the latest high-end Italian restaurant by the group behind Zuma, Coya and Amazonico, is heading to Mayfair this month. Inspired by 1960s Italy, the menu will see a taste of La Dolce Vita. Discover Italian classics and modern interpretations of dishes across Italy, with a strong focus on dishes from Sicily, Amalfi and the Southern Isles. Helmed by Executive Chef Massimo Pasquarelli, the opening dishes will include Gamberi, Sicilian Masara prawns, Lobster bolognese and 24-month aged Cultello di Zibello Oro Spigaroli.

Playful yet elegant, the restaurant will also house The Crudo Bar with a fabulous cocktail menu including Apertitvo, Negronis and Dopo Cena. The wine list will also offer over 450 bottles with a deep focus on Italian grape varieties from Piedmont and Tuscany. Guests can also choose to dine in a hidden courtyard, which has a retracting roof so ideal for the summer months in Mayfair, and a private dining room on the lower ground floor, seating 14.