I’m not really a street food kind of person, at least not in the UK. I’ve munched in Malaysia, snacked in Singapore and struggled to find a suitable verb in Vietnam, but they’re all places where eating is almost constant. The people of those lovely countries resemble eating bicycles, if they stop feeding for a moment they tend to wobble and fall over.
Manchurian Legends in London’s Chinatown
Pretty much the whole body is covered nose to tail at Manchurian Legends and the menu is not for the faint-hearted: stir-fried pigs intestines with leek, spicy pigs knuckle, marinated duck tongues, stir-fried chicken gizzard and heart…
Franco Manca Westfield Stratford City Restaurant
I’d definitely recommend Franco Manca if you’re short on time, but don’t fancy the usual suspects in fast food court. Their real achievement is creating a product with a real point of difference in the competitive and crowded Pizza market.
The Rosendale in London’s West Dulwich
West Dulwich or West Norwood? Some blurring of the boundaries apart, The Rosendale is definitely in South London so that’s a big plus already for local allotmenteer Nick Harman
Catch at Andaz Hotel
Qin Xie visits a City restaurant with a City banker. Does the seafood measure up?
The Plough Bar & Kitchen a restaurant in St Johns Hill
Born in Texas, raised in Florida and trained in Holland, Chef Josh has a good feel for how far he can take the American spin on such British classics as fish and chips, pork pies, scotch eggs and bubble and squeak. Since taking the reigns at The Plough, Chef Josh has introduced a southern feel to the menu by including pulled pork, cornbread and using fruit, Cajun seasoning and lots of chilli that leaves you feeling bold without being smothered by soul food.
Bishopsgate Kitchen
The restaurant is a cleverly designed space, open and transparent but still retaining a rustic element. Expect a lot of the food to turn up on wooden platters or iron pans. They have kept things simple. The menu splits into Boards, a selection of mix and match starter sized dishes served, you guessed it, on a board, and a choice of six main courses with optional sides.
Tuttons and Waipara West Wines during the Rugby World Cup
Be ready to dash to Tuttons if the All Blacks win the quarter final on Saturday, 9th October – and later if they make it through to the semis and final. The first 50 diners will qualify for a free glass of Waipara West Wine on days the New Zealand All Blacks win a match. It’s worth changing allegiance for, as Joanna Biddolph discovered.
Arbutus restaurant in London
Unpretentious, not chasing trends, no obvious tattoos on the staff and food cooked classically well, Arbutus is the kind of old-skool that can teach the new kids a lesson.
Ducksoup a London restauarant
Despite it’s low-rent, quasi-shabbiness, Ducksoup is not exactly cheap and I left hungry, so will it survive? I suspect it will ride a wave for a while, supported on the spume and foam of novelty and social media, but it will need to try harder to get a regular customer base when the surfers have moved on to the next breaker.