Amsterdam-based vegan ramen outfit Ramen Impossible makes its UK debut today, 16 June, in a summer-long pop-up at Mercato Metropolitano in London’s Elephant & Castle. Ramen is famously made with a meat-based broth, but Ramen Impossible’s founder, Japanese chef Atsushi Ishida, has developed an alternative using miso, cashew nuts and nutritional yeast. The brand only […]

Continue reading


Empire Empire, a double tribute to the Indian disco scene of the 70s and the traditional cuisine of the Old Punjab, has opened in Notting Hill ahead of a formal launch next Thursday, 15 June. The restaurant, in All Saints’ Road, is a follow-up to the successful Gunpowder trio from Harneet Baweja (pictured), and features a […]

Continue reading


Fresh pasta restaurant Bancone is to open its “biggest branch yet” in Borough Yards, adjacent to Southwark’s Borough Market – putting it in direct competition with pasta pioneer Padella. Bancone launched in Covent Garden in 2018 and followed up with a branch in Soho. Last year the business raised £900,000 via crowdfunding to finance expansion plans. […]

Continue reading


Kachori, a smart new Indian restaurant, opened this week at the Elephant Park development scheme in southeast London, with a kitchen run by highly rated Brinder Narula, a former head chef at Gymkhana and Benares. Named after the savoury or sweet-stuffed deep-fried batter balls sold as snacks in India, Kachori describes itself as a modern […]

Continue reading


An ambitious Greek seafood specialist opens next week in Marylebone. Kima – meaning ‘wave’ – is the latest restaurant from Andrews Labridis and Nikos Roussos (pictured), the duo behind nearby Opso and the Soho gastrobar Ino. Meals at Kima are structured around a central fish counter: guests choose a fish and the kitchen transforms it into a […]

Continue reading