Full write up can be found via The Times
Step through the doors of Ognisko and you feel as if you are entering a Polish embassy, it’s so grand and beautiful. Go in winter and have caviar and a vodka martini. The former is very reasonably priced because they sell so much of it. It’s a particularly magical night if you’re with a group of friends and heading to the Royal Albert Hall, a 5-minute walk away. It’s amazing for people-watching.
ogniskorestaurant.co.uk
The Cow in west London is so charming. It offers fantastic oysters and shellfish, serves a lovely Guinness and always has a great atmosphere. It feels a bit like “old” Notting Hill, with lots of locals around. The landlord is great and Thomas the barman has lots of character. As a Welshman I love that they go all-out on St David’s Day, with flags everywhere and a royal Welsh menu.
thecowlondon.com
I’ve known [the head chef] Jeremy [Chan] for years. We’re sort of contemporaries — we got our Michelin stars the same year and came up together on the scene. There’s a lot of mutual respect there and I love what Ikoyi has added to London. It’s somewhere I’d go for a special occasion, maybe once or twice a year. There’s stuff I haven’t got a clue how he has cooked, but I adore the west African influence, which always fascinates me. It’s a phenomenal dining experience, unlike anything else in the UK or even Europe. We’re lucky to have it in London.
ikoyilondon.com
This two-star Indian restaurant is a firm favourite of mine. Since the day it opened it has been my number one. I’ve had numerous birthday parties and important dinners there — it’s consistently incredible cooking. If I’m honest it only gets better each time. It’s just a really well-done restaurant. I absolutely adore it.
gymkhanalondon.com
Round the corner from Uchi you’ll find Leo’s, which deals in amazing Italian cuisine. It feels as though you’ve gone to a tiny bar in Italy, run by a group of young people. The brunch menu is the one to head there for — prosciutto, fried eggs and a bloody mary on the side.
Hunan may be my favourite restaurant in London. We recently did a collaboration with them at Brat. They’ve been in Pimlico for nearly 40 years, and the founder Michael Peng has been cooking for 50. It’s absolutely incredible Chinese food. There’s no menu — they just send out dishes to you as and when. The roasted duck is iconic — you have to pre-order it. It’s strongly respected in the wine world too, because of its phenomenal wine list, which is all handwritten in a black book.
hunanlondon.com
My favourite secret sushi joint, hidden on a street in Soho. It feels like an izakaya straight from Tokyo. It’s tiny, family-run, cosy and fantastic. I wish London had a few more places like this.
This Bermondsey restaurant is a cool place that I love. There are natural wines, a great daily blackboard menu, and it’s run by a young, passionate team doing dishes that are comforting but fresh. Everything is so delicious, but the crab aioli is a standout.
40maltbystreet.com
The sommelier at this Clapton restaurant worked at Noma, so expect great things from the wine list. The food is fantastic — super-simple, but such a vibe.
uchihackney.com
Kiln remains one of my favourites in the world, not just London. Open-fire cooking, Thai regional food and an unbelievable energy make it a great one to visit. The cocktail list is always exciting and there’s a really focused natural wine list. It’s great value — you can be in and out in an hour. I don’t know how to cook Thai food so when I go there it’s pure escapism.
kilnsoho.com
When I’m with my kids we often go for dinner at Sodo in Walthamstow. It’s genuinely my favourite pizza in London. The salads, produce and toppings are of such good quality. It sounds simple, but when those things are done well it’s unbeatable. The children love it.
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