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London’s hottest restaurant openings: December 2023
Christmas is the time of year to eat, drink and be merry – here are some of the new London spots worth dropping by this festive season.
The Butcher’s Tap and Grill
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It was in the spring that word first got out that chef Tom Kerridge, custodian of the two-Michelin-starred The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, was planning a Chelsea pub in a similar vein to his more casual spot The Butcher’s Tap and Grill, also in Marlow. In the summer further details emerged, and it seems pretty likely that it is going to open this December, just in time for the Christmas party crowd. As the name suggests, beer and meat are the two key thrusts of the pub, with some of the former being provided Rebellion Beer Co., based in, you guessed it, Marlow. As for the meat: hot dogs, burgers and Sunday roasts will keep the carnivores happy, at least until Veganuary.
To find out more, click here.
Roti King – 1 December
Having conquered Euston and Battersea, Sugen Gopal, the Roti King himself, will be heading to Waterloo as he sets up a new site dedicated to the street food of Malaysia and Singapore. There’s a menu crammed full of delights from these cultural melting pots, but if you’re going to go to a restaurant called Roti King, you really must get the roti canai, made right in front of you.
To find out more, click here.
Mezcalito Brompton
South Kensington might not be the first place you think of going for agave-based spirits, but this 40-cover cosmopolitan cocktail bar promises to give you a taste of Mexico’s greatest contribution to the world of drinks. Expect Picantes, Palomas and, of course, Margaritas, as well as a whole roster of other twisted classics.
Oliver Castilla-Tristan, who co-owns this new site and Mezcalito Chelsea with partner Laura Geas, said: “It was always a dream to open a nightlife venue in our neighbourhood which not only celebrates Mexican heritage but also offers a premium and vibrant experience for locals. Guests of Mezcalito Chelsea have been asking for a late night haunt with our vibes and service and we have answered. We are incredibly excited to welcome everyone.”
To find out more, click here.
Temper – 5 December
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Less a case of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and more along the lines of whole animals, this new Paddington outpost for grilling gurus Temper offers dry-aged steaks (aged in-house), tacos, smoked meats (including brisket) and, if you’re in a rush for your train, takeaway burgers. Sides of beef dripping-roasted potatoes doused in raclette and Bourbon-pickled chilli are perhaps excessive, but isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
The drinks menu available is only a sample one at present, but if the litany of cocktails is anything to go by, once you visit it might be a challenge to stick to Dry January.
To find out more, click here.
Clap
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With outposts in Dubai, Riyadh, Beirut and, soon, Knightsbridge, it’s fair to say that Clap has really caught on. Japanese (or Japanese inspired) food may have a reputation for being fairly light and delicate, but that’s not to say it can’t be incredibly rich, with Clap’s dishes of Hokkaido scallops with foie gras and Wagyu tartare promising a high level of animal fats, something that SW3 does so well. Plus there’s supposedly a strong sake selection too. Taking up three floors and serving such luxuriously decadent ingredients, it is probably overkill for most people, but, especially with Christmas and New Year coming up, there is a market for that.
To find out more, click here.
To read about some of last month’s new openings, click here.
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