Patty and Bun | Soho
A real contender for best burger in London right now, we were mightily impressed. Juicy patties and Brioche buns abound and the delicious onions on the Smokey Robinson burger were a real highlight. The wings were the best I have had outside the states, juicy and falling off the bone. Excellent service and peanut butter choc ices seal the deal. Believe the hype and join the queue.
£15 per head with a Red Stripe beer
Opium | Chinatown
Dim sum and cocktails of the highest quality in this very swanky venue. The drinks are mightily impressive with a huge array of original creations. Dry ice is used to make your absinthe concoction smoke mysteriously and the lobster dumplings and pork buns are as good as your gonna find. Unsurprisingly not cheap, but worth it.
£25 for a long drink and a portion of dim sum
Morito | Clerkenwell
The sister restaurant of the incredibly popular Moro, Morito is a cool tapas-style joint serving some delicious middle eastern style cuisine in trendy New York style decor.
The harissa chicken, fried chick peas and cumin lamb chops are just a few of the highlights.
Morito is really great value too, with 12 dishes and a bottle of wine (more than enough for a pair) running to about £50.
Beard to Tail | Shoreditch
Beard to Tail is a new meat paradise, that also specialises in whisky, specifically bourbon….lots of bourbon. The food is all juicy and flavourful, we tried almost everything, but the showstoppers were the bone marrow, wild boar faggots and the "Pork Rumpy Pumpy" a rolled loin for sharing complete with crackling.
£30 per head will get you food, wine and a bourbon tasting set to share.
St. John | Farringdon
The real home of nose to tail cooking, with a minimalist white decor and some very tasty eats. I started with the marrow and parsley salad and went on to the calf sweetbreads, which were the best I have ever had.
Although a little on the pricier side at about £50 a head with wine, this place really delivers for the meat lover.
Meat Liquor | West End
The now tourist heavy burger crack den behind Selfridges still offers some of the juiciest burgers in London (with amusing names like the "Dead Hippie"), and you have to give it to them, the decor is original. The dirty chicken buffalo burger is a must-try for those who like it spicy, and the chilli-cheese-fries are some of the best I've had.
£12 per head with a beer
Death by Burrito | Shoreditch
You can choose beef rib, baja fish, pork cheek or duck burrito/tacos and you cant go wrong at this hipster food bar. The pork option includes crackling and the servings will leave even the Augustus Gloops feeling satisfied.
The cocktails are good and strong as well, the perfect place to kick off a night out. Around £22 per head.
Flat Iron | Soho
I challenge you to find a better steak in London for £10, and its décor is nice, make sure you sit upstairs.
The fries are excellent as is the parmesan aubergine, and all the sauces are delicious (Freds sauce, a spicy caper concoction being the best).
£15 per person with a beer.
Pizza East | Various
This ultra-hip pizza chain run by Soho House gives you everything you would expect great service and trendy décor.
The pizza lives up to the billing as well, good amount of cheese and nice stone-baked base, the spicy sausage and broccoli being a particular highlight.
£20 per head with wine.
Tram Shed | Shoreditch
One of the most striking restaurants we have seen, with a Damian Hirst pickled cow and chicken towering above the tables, Mark Hix latest venue is as cool as they come.
The steak is absolutely excellent, by far the better dish, as is the renowned chicken and chips, bizarrely served feet up.
£30 per head with wine.
Honest Burger | Soho/Brixton
Our favourite burgers in town at the moment, I could eat here every day. The burgers, though on the small side are absolutely perfect, moist and flavorful, thanks to the quality of the meat (from the renowned Ginger Pig Butcher's), and their rosemary chips (included in the price) are a delight. Service is friendly and it is a real bargain.
£8 for a burger and fries.
Shrimpy's | Kings Cross
This pop-up is located in the shop of an old petrol station, and they have made great use of the space right next to the canal. The food is excellent, in particular the deep fried soft shell crab burger which is a real showstopper as is the monkfish and quinoa. Eat at the bar to see the chefs in action, and try the Paddington Bear cocktail complete with marmalade and Cointreau.
£30 per person with wine.
Rasa Sayang | Chinatown
This Malaysian joint isn't the classiest, but at barely £7 for sizeable main courses, and a nice busy atmosphere, it's a great option for a quick bite. The spicy and tender Beef Rendang is excellent and the Nasi Goreng with shrimps and satay chicken is also a must-try.
£15 for 2 courses and a beer.