I love exploring restaurants, coffee shops, and wine/cocktail bars. Here are some highlights.
Authentic Italian restaurant focusing on small plates, with a menu that changes twice daily
Location: Soho, London
Favourite dishes: spaghetti con le sarde, trippe alla romana (keep in mind that items come and go from the menu very quickly!)
They provide foccaccia, olive oil, and olives to start. They do a really good negroni.
Food is consistently very good, if a little bit salty on occasion.
I recommend sitting at the counter so you can see the chefs do their thing. Can be hard to book.
Service is great.
Overall rating: 9/10
Italian restaurant in an old pub, focusing on home-style cooking
Location: Shoreditch, London
Favourite dishes: giardiniera pickles, cavatelli with borlotti
The food is hearty, very authentic, the kind my Nonna would make.
Their desserts are particularly amazing (try their panna cotta).
Very hard to book, but walk-ins are easy at the bar (if you arrive at 6 PM).
Overall rating: 10/10
Modern Indian restaurant, and an absolute institution in London
Location: various in London (I went to their Shoreditch venue)
Favourite dishes: house black dahl, lamb biryani
Yes, the food is underspiced to accomodate for a British palate. I too love my curries spicier rather than creamier. But the ingredients are damn fresh, and the food is damn good.
They have great chai.
The place also has *aura*.
Overall rating: 8/10
Modern Mediterranean restaurant, with very fresh ingredients
Location: Temple, London
I've never had a bad meal here.
Favourite dishes: olives (some of the best I've ever had, marinated in orange zest, rosemary, garlic, chilli), and anything with artichokes
The menu leans Italian (not complaining) but you'll see a lot of Greek influence.
I love their olive oil cake.
Service varies, but is usually good.
I also just love the wooden decor of this place.
Overall rating: 9.5/10