British, Modern Restaurants in West Thurrock
1. Boisdale of Canary Wharf
Scottish restaurant in Canary Wharf
Cabot Place - E14
“If you are not planning a return to the office, the largest selection of whisky ever seen” helps round off a business lunch at this Canary Wharf branch of Ranald Macdonald’s Caledonian group. “The restaurant prides itself on good Scottish ingredients… shellfish in season… excellent fillet steak” and “tables are sufficiently spaced for private conversation”. Top Tip – “regular visitors may join a club which gives discounts on wines and they host musical events in the evenings”.
2. The Bell Inn
British, Modern restaurant in Horndon on the Hill
High Rd - SS17
“Still our favourite local after 30+ years..” – This “delightfully olde worlde” 15th-century coaching inn has been run by the same family since 1938, with landlords Christine & John Vereker these days helped by the third generation. It remains “a lovely, vibrant old venue that trailblazed the gastropub concept back in the ’80s and is still producing wonderful food in a genuine pub atmosphere”.
3. Barge East
British, Modern restaurant in Hackney
Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Lane - E9
“A great summer spot with friends”: this 120-year-old barge is permanently moored in Hackney Wick – near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – and provides a “fabulous experience on the water that makes for a great fun night out”. One reporter did quibble about the prices, but still said: “I loved our meal here – the concept is brilliant, with the interior of the barge turned into a cheerful dining room, and unusual dishes based on fish and foods grown in a kitchen garden by the mooring”.
4. Café Nucleus
British, Modern restaurant in Rochester
Halpern Conservancy Board Building, 15A High Street - ME1
At the award-winning Café Nucleus Rochester a warm welcome awaits. The continental café restaurant is set in one of Rochester’s grandest buildings, it offers a unique experience unrivalled.Winners of the 2021 Hospitality Business o...
5. The Guildford Arms
British, Modern restaurant in Greenwich
55 Guildford Grove - SE10
“Good all-round” feedback continues to win a thumbs-up for Guy Awford’s Georgian tavern in Greenwich, where much of the menu comes from the robata grill. Summer is the best time to visit to enjoy the fab garden.
6. Bank House Wine Bar & Kitchen
British, Modern restaurant in Chislehurst
11 High Street - BR7
2021 Review: This September 2019 yearling in the heart of the town (occupying a former NatWest bank, hence the name) is notable for its owner: Stuart Gillies is the former CEO of Gordon Ramsay's restaurant group, and has launched this venture with the help of wife Cecilia. Previously a chef, Gillies has devised a ‘European small plates’ menu for the two-floor wine bar.
7. The Magic Mushroom
British, Modern restaurant in Billericay
Barleylands Road - CM11
2022 Review: Darren Bennett’s stalwart, serving up creative modern British cooking (including a well-regarded afternoon tea) “continues to be reliable in all respects”, whether you stop to take advantage of the set menus or its popular side act as a wedding and events venue.
8. Homestead
British, Modern restaurant in
45 Hope Street - E14
2022 Review: ‘A welcoming hub for the local island community’ is the aim of this new all-day neighbourhood dining spot – the first to open on the developing London City Island, opposite The O2 and a short stroll via pedestrian bridge from Canning Town Tube & DLR. Launched at the worst of times – in late 2020 – it started as a deli/take-away but opened its bar and restaurant as lockdown eased.
9. Pumproom Restaurant at Copper Rivet Distillery
British, Modern restaurant in Chatham
A “seriously dramatic room” plays host to meals in the restored 1873 pump house at Chatham’s historic dockyard on the Medway, which has been converted into a distillery and restaurant by Bob Russell and his sons Matthew & Stephen. Top Menu Tip – “amazing roasts on Sundays”.
10. The Gun
British, Modern restaurant in Canary Wharf
27 Coldharbour - E14
“Love, love, love sitting outside on a summer‘s evening” – this Grade II listed Docklands tavern has a riverside location to die for (10 minutes walk from Canary Wharf and opposite The O2) and a cosy historic interior too. Its days as a foodie magnet are long gone nowadays though – expect OK scoff, but no better than at others in the Fullers chain.
11. Alec's
British, Modern restaurant in Brentwood
Navestock Side - CM14
“In the heart of Essex, this fabulous fish restaurant” (est. 2010, and revolving around the “plush conversion of an old pub”) “offers amazing dishes and attentive service in a truly beautiful setting”. “It can be fun watching the TOWIE types amongst fellow diners”, but if that loses its appeal, divert your eyes to the “pleasant views from the terrace on a sunny day”.
12. The Ivy in the Park
British, Modern restaurant in Tower Hamlets
50 Canada Square - E14
What does it say about the culinary tastes of the British middle classes that this spin-off chain, with about 40 locations based on the original Theatreland icon, has been such a rip-roaring success? True, there’s some “great people-watching” at the “always buzzing” Chelsea Garden venue (which has one of SW3’s best gardens). And, without doubt, those branches in Kensington, Tower Bridge and Kingston also particularly stand out amongst the rest for their “super atmosphere”. In general though, the knock-off look of their locations “isn’t a patch on the original on West Street, yet pretends to be exactly the same”. And when it comes to their brasserie dishes: although its many followers tout them as “acceptable, albeit nothing special”, their rating-average identifies them as “underwhelming tick-box fare”; all offered by service that’s very “indifferent”. And yet they are “always busy”! In June 2024, it was announced that billionaire Richard Caring had successfully sold his entire Ivy restaurants stake. Now that he is laughing all the way to the bank, it will be interesting to see if ratings reverse, continue or deepen their southward trend.
13. Humble Grape
British, Modern restaurant in Tower Hamlets
18-20 Mackenzie Walk - E14
It’s “all about the wine, as you might expect” at James Dawson’s “relaxed” wine-bar group, whose branches boast a “splendid list” of “high-quality and well-sourced” bottles. The food is very much “second fiddle”, though “unobjectionable”, while the most interesting venue is the original one, off Fleet Street, “hidden in the vaults of St Bride’s Church”. Top Tip – “go on a Monday night for wine at shop rather than restaurant prices”.
14. No 35 Mackenzie Walk
British, Modern restaurant in Canary Wharf
29-35 Mackenzie Walk - E14
2022 Review: A marvellous waterside location, plus large terrace – in the heart of Canary Wharf overlooking Middle Dock – is a key strong point of this early 2020 newcomer. It’s not a foodie hotspot, but a good-looking after-work rendezvous or somewhere to head to at weekends for a bottomless brunch.
15. Darkhorse
British, Modern restaurant in Stratford
16-19 Victory Parade, East Village - E20
“Love this restaurant which we’ve been going to regularly since it opened!” – this large, modern brasserie has established itself over eight years as one of the best bets for a meal in Stratford’s East Village, thanks to its “friendly service” and a selection of dishes majoring in steaks and roasts from the charcoal oven. “First time and the hard surfaces made the restaurant very noisy, but the food is very tasty!”
16. Yardarm
British, Modern restaurant in Leyton
238 Francis Road - E10
2022 Review: Leyton deli and bottle shop that’s a fave rave for anyone living within striking distance (but we also received a very good report on it from a reporter living in SW19!). In autumn 2019, they opened an adjoining café serving snacks and small plates.
17. Silo
British, Modern restaurant in Tower Hamlets
Queens Yard, White Post Lane - E9
“Wow! Every dish has a story to tell and some of them are especially yummy!” at Douglas McMaster’s groundbreaking ‘zero waste’ project, in Hackney Wick’s ‘White Building’ (above the Crate brewery) in a high-ceilinged, white-walled post-industrial space. Considering its hipster credentials and admirable ethos, it has made surprisingly few waves here in the capital since the move from Brighton in 2019. Covid-19 didn’t help, but it now seems to be gaining more recognition. “Sitting at the bar you get an excellent view of the kitchen mechanics creating the delicious dishes. The whole dining experience from source to fork is explained by friendly and knowledgeable staff. A unique dining experience that’s extremely enjoyable”.
18. The Perry Hill
British, Modern restaurant in Perry Vale
78-80 Perry Hill - SE6
2023 Review: A welcome 2021 relaunch after being closed for years – this roadhouse on the South Circular between Sydenham and Catford serves “generous” dishes that “elevate it beyond pub grub, but without pretending to be a gastropub”. The food comes courtesy of Jamie Younger, who runs Peckham’s Begging Bowl and was formerly at the Palmerston in East Dulwich; his “smoked and slow-cooked options are a triumph (red chicken, short ribs)”. The “huge outdoor areas” make “weekend lunch en famille with toddlers a jolly affair” – a market sector enticed by a discount club for parents with young kids.
19. Bread Street Kitchen on the River (FKA The Narrow)
British, Modern restaurant in Limehouse
44 Narrow Street - E14
2023 Review: “Great views” are by all accounts the main highlight of a meal at Gordo’s Limehouse pub overlooking a bend in the river. But perhaps we expect too much of a chef happy to dish out a roasting to his peers: “I know a lot of people don’t like it, but it did what it said on the tin – it’s good pub food, and it’s only if you anticipated more that you’ll be disappointed”.
20. The Swan
British, Modern restaurant in West Malling
35 Swan St - ME19
This “independently owned and managed” old village inn “in a lovely setting” has been thoroughly stripped out and modernised, providing a comfortable venue for an upbeat menu that features oysters, Cornish caviar and a 500kg Chateaubriand steak to share.
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