Casa Negra- Shoreditch, London

54-56 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3QR
http://www.casanegra.co.uk/

The creators of La Bodega Negra- the popular peep-show entrance Mexican in Soho- have recently opened Casa Negra, a sister restaurant in Shoreditch. On the Thursday we visited...the bar, dining room and kitchen table (for drop ins) were all packed. We tucked into a large bowl of guacamole with chips,  fire-roasted sweet potato, spicy fried chicken with cabbage & carrot slaw and even spicier pork tacos. The design fuses different themes to form an eclectic mix. Charcoal walls, chandeliers, patterned carpet, vintage mirrors & framed pictures clash with colourful stripey seating and a illuminated, shack-style bar. Margaritas come on the rocks or frozen in a range of flavours and there's a basement club if you want to carry on the night.

Restaurant Story- London Bridge

201 Tooley Street, SE1 2UE
http://www.restaurantstory.co.uk/

My visit to Restaurant Story can only be described as an exciting journey of flavour and creativity. I can't begin to list all the ingredient combinations we tried but it's safe to say each plate displayed culinary skill and innovation of the highest order. Much to our delight we were brought many more small dishes than the six courses indicated on the set menu.

Special mention goes to the 'Bread and Dripping'....a tasty substance that actually drips from a lit candle which you then dip homemade bread into. A particular favourite was heritage potato, asparagus and barley grass that came in a black coal sauce- who knew coal could be so delicious!?

Of the complimentary tasters we were brought at the beginning- peas in a pod with truffle butter or the edible flowers stand out. The 'Storeo'- biscuits made from squid ink with a fish roe filling were surprisingly good. We enjoyed a lovely bottle of Viognier, also available from the bar is ‘The Kernel’- a Bermondsey produced pale ale.

The restaurant name is born from the theme of ‘sharing stories’. Customers experience a journey through food and in turn are encouraged to leave a book that will remain there to ‘evoke the inspiration in others that we hope our food evokes in you’. Bookings are taken for the following month and fill up quickly- no last minute reservations allowed!

Hawksmoor- Piccadilly, London

5a Air Street, W1J 0AD
http://thehawksmoor.com/

Boasting the title 'Best Steak Restaurant' in London and with locations in Spitalfields, Moorgate, Piccadilly and Covent Garden...Hawsksmoor is one for your foodie bucket list.

The impressive starter selection is varied but fresh fish and shellfish make a big impact; dishes such as lobster cocktail, roast scallops with white port & garlic, Hawksmoor smoked salmon  or shrimps on toast all feature.

Your quality rib-eye, T-bone, fillet, sirloin or D-Rump (the list goes on...) has optional sides like macaroni cheese, roasted field mushrooms, buttered greens or 'beef dripping' fries. The usual peppercorn and béarnaise sauces are there to choose but more unusually, stilton hollandaise or bone marrow gravy are on the menu.

The desserts are delicious, the warm sticky toffee pudding with rich clotted cream being the most spectacular.

Inside in reminiscent of an established New York steak house...the green leather seating, mahogany wall panels, geometric window designs and table lamps evoke that mood.

On Mondays you can save by paying a £5 corkage fee and  bringing your own bottle of wine.

Bistrotheque- Bethnal Green, London

23- 27 Wadeson Street, E2 9DR

http://www.bistrotheque.com/

Bistrotheque is an chic restaurant that sits well hidden on a particularly uneventful street off Cambridge Heath Road in Hackney. Delicious brunch dishes include avocado toast, blueberry and mascarpone pancakes or duck hash, mushrooms and poached eggs. There are also more substantial choices like fish and chips with pea puree and tartare sauce, or the cheeseburger with pancetta and caramelised onions. To accompany, brunch cocktails include bellinis, bloody Marys, aperol spritzs and passion fruit caipirinhas. The dining room is quite striking; a vast, white & bright space with an industrial edge yet elegant feel. Painted brick walls, a concrete floor, exposed pipes and drop lighting are refined with white marble tables, a central oval bar and a piano from which soft music plays. This spot has gone back on to my list, this time for dinner as inevitably the evening atmosphere is quite different but equally enjoyable. 

STK- Strand, London

ME Hotel, 336- 337 Strand, WC2R 1HA
http://togrp.com/togrp-stk-londq`1on/about/

STK's arrival in the ME London hotel marked the renowned restaurant's first opening outside its handful of hot US locations, causing a suitable flurry of hype and excitement.

Not a surprise given the name, steak is the emphasis on the menu. High quality cuts of meat come small, medium or large, with gourmet toppings such as black truffle, lobster or crab. There are dishes that come from the raw bar while a variety of salads and market fish entrees are also available.  A complimentary loaf of warm brioche with chive oil is brought to start and the extravagant desserts on offer include ‘Rhubarb and Champagne Trifle’ or a ‘ Fairgound Attraction’- marshmallows, candyfloss, ice cream, toffee apples and yoghurt popcorn.

Inside is sleek and sophisticated; black carpet, cream leather booths, dramatic lighting, violet shimmering walls and an abundance of pink and white flowers spilling from numerous vases.

Enjoy a post-dinner cocktail on the stylish ME Hotel bar… a stunning view of landmarks along the Thames guaranteed. 

Rum Kitchen- Notting Hill, London

6- 8 All Saints Road, W11 1HH
http://therumkitchen.com/

Rum Kitchen is a fun, Caribbean beach shack-styled restaurant located on one of Notting Hill’s many pretty streets. We were impressed with the friendly, attentive staff and colourful interior. Interesting and exotic main dishes on the menu include jerk lamb cutlets, ‘spiced up chicken supreme’ with yam bubble and squeak and 'curry mutton'. The seafood ‘gumbo’ was delicious; a coconut, soup-like dish with fresh seafood and served with a slice of cornbread. Expect tasty starters such as salt and chili squid and chicken pork skewers. The chocolate rum cake with chocolate sauce and ice cream looked delicious and is an absolute must for visit#2.  Speaking of rum, downstairs lies a hidden cellar housing 100+ varieties of rum…which inevitably make their way into many concoctions on the cocktail list J

Frederick's- Angel, London

106 Camden Passage, N1 8EG
http://fredericks.co.uk/

You would never guess from the modest and quite inconspicuous facade of Frederick's restaurant on Camden Passage that it expands into a very impressive, elegant restaurant. With one of the two dining rooms housed in a light and bright conservatory with colourful modern art, crisp white table cloths and a beautiful garden view, the setting is quite special.

Starters on this modern European menu include pan-fried scallops with onion puree, English asparagus and morels or ricotta and pea tortellini with tomato consomme.

Succulent duck breast with parmesan polenta and beetroot was one excellent main course while the other, a meaty monkfish wrapped in parma ham and served with caponata (a Sicilian aubergine stew) was just as good.

On the dessert list are classics, all with an interesting flavour; passion fruit creme brulee, chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream, vanilla cheesecake with mango compote or plum and raisin strudel with cinnamon ice cream...delicious!