The Dairy

Having known about The Dairy opening in March it has still taken me four months to finally pay it a visit. And with the head chef's impressive resume I am really not sure why it has taken so long, but I can tell you that the wait was worth it. In fact, The Dairy won me over as soon as the sourdough bread arrived on the table, after the Elderflower Collins.

The space is not massive, set in the leafy part of Clapham old town, but it is cosy and every bit the style icon of today’s expected stereotype of what a modern, cool restaurant décor should be; wooden tables, exposed bricks, neon signs adorning the bar wall. With that, a seasonally changing menu printed on brown paper with five headings of Snacks, Garden, Sea, Land and Sweet. Three dishes under each allow for a selection for the table, or go for the £40 seven-course tasting menu (which sounds like amazing value). With cocktail in hand our haphazard selections resulted in the perfect combination for a late light lunch.

Gogi Korean Bar and Grill

Little Venice is not the closest of places for some, but to the locals it is an oasis of waterfront cafes and riverside strolls. The latest addition close to Regents Canal is Gogi Korean Bar and Grill, an authentic yet modern Korean restaurant, to which the locals should rejoice.

Rome

A big thank you to Katie Parla for her very helpful Rome app. All the places below were chosen based on the locations we were in. Here are my favourites in no particular order:

Social Eating House

Off the back of the success of Pollen St Social, Jason Atherton has opened two new restaurants only a matter of months apart. The latest, Social Eating House is a contemporary laid back bistro, serving a British menu with international flare. Downstairs, there is a 15 seat chefs table right among the hustle of the kitchen, and upstairs a secret cocktail bar serving funky sliders and potent cocktails. The Social Eating House expands on Atherton's 'social' ethos. It is all about creating the perfect environment to lounge, relax and drink some good wine while enjoying the hearty yet innovative food. 

The Foragers

The Dead Dolls Club
428 Kingsland Road
Dalston
E8 4AA

Founded by George Fredenham, The Foragers started out in a St Albans pub, The Verulam Arms, and now chefs are cooking up a storm and creating the ‘foraging’ movement in a wide range of other locations. The Dead Dolls Club is one of these locations where The Foragers serve an inventive and tasteful foraged ‘grazing menu’ from Wednesday to Sunday. With the ingredients from the Hertfordshire countryside there is a little bit of ‘wild’ in every dish.