New Kids on the Block

Ardor

Cornwall's food scene has been given a shot in the arm with the arrival of Dorian Janmaat, a Dutch-born, Spanish-raised chef who cut his teeth at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire. Yet his first solo venture in St Ives, Ardor, will be an altogether more relaxed affair:  a glorious fusion of Andalusian culinary accents and Cornish produce should get both locals and tourists salivating. Expect a generous selection of Spanish drops, including super-fresh Albariño and voluptuous Godello which, paired alongside gambas al ajillo and decadently rich croquetas, should go down very nicely indeed. Ardor is open now.

45 Fore Street, St Ives, TR26 1HE

https://www.ardorstives.co.uk/

Plates

With a résumé that includes The French Laundry and Restaurant Sat Bains, Great British Menu star Kirk Haworth is a force to be reckoned with. His latest enterprise, Plates, eschews any meat (or fish) in favour of a wholly plant-based tasting menu that encompasses “lightly smoked tomatoes, house ricotta, seaweed jam and English strawberry” and “mung & urid bean lasagna”. According to Haworth, his diagnosis with Lyme disease in 2016 led him to “overhaul his lifestyle and explore a plant-based diet in pursuit of health”. In that spirit, ethical sustainability plays a major role at Plates, both in terms of the positive employee culture and the business' commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. To great acclaim, Plates opened on 3 July.

320 Old Street, London EC1V 9DR

https://plates-london.com/

Kaso

East London is on fire in 2024, with new venues popping up like magic mushrooms in Shoreditch, Hackney and Stoke Newington. Among these tasty new morsels is Kaso, the brainchild of chef Ilknur Celik and the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel. Head up to the hotel’s seventh-floor rooftop to experience hot and cold mezzes – harissa chicken and Kaso cod gets our vote – served alongside a bespoke selection of cocktails and some esoteric wines by the glass. With its lively atmosphere and al fresco dining scene, Kaso should prove to be a massive hit. The restaurant opened on 5 July.

100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ

https://www.onehundredshoreditch.com/

Mary's

Named after an erstwhile customer at Pollen Street Social, Mary's represents the more relaxed face of  Jason Atherton's restaurant empire. Gone is the emphasis on Michelin-starred fine dining – Mary's is an achingly on-trend grill restaurant that also incorporates a 10-seater burger counter and cocktail bar. Head chef Alex Parker, formerly of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, has curated an eclectic menu of fish and meat dishes, including Cornish halibut, gurnard ceviche and Berkshire pork T-bone. The wine list, meanwhile, contains a section dedicated to leading female winemakers, not to mention an eclectic range of superlative wines by the glass. The prix fixe menu (two courses at £29) is bound to be a massive hit with the lunchtime crowd. See you there!

8-10 Pollen Street W1S 1NQ

https://www.maryslondon.co.uk/

Sotto

Sotto is a welcome addition to Edinburgh's burgeoning wine scene. According to its founder, Edinburgh-born sommelier James Clark, over 200 different Italian drops will be available at this split-floor enoteca & trattoria restaurant,  including the great and the good of Piedmont, Tuscany, Campania, and Sicily. Moreover, you can accompany your Greco and Nebbiolo with some choice Italian dishes prepared by chef Francesco Ascrizzi; venison ragu, sole with caper butter and beef carpaccio with radicchio should get your pulse racing.  There's even a hybrid element to the place: guests can purchase bottles to enjoy at home, in addition to a selection of “Italian pantry classics”. Magnifico indeed.

28 Deanhaugh St, Edinburgh EH4 1LY

https://www.sottoedinburgh.com/

Topa

The much-loved Provisions Wine & Cheese deli is adding a new string to its bow: the business' small kitchen is serving up a feast of pintxos (tapas)  to rival the best of San Sebastian.  Open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, chef Simon Sand knows his way around a Basque menu; you can't fault Albariño paired with wild mushrooms and raw egg yolk, or silky Rioja served alongside Ibaiama ham and piquillo spread. Cheese aficionados are also going to love Topa – owner Hugo Esquerre stocks over 100 different varieties from Manchego to Neufchâtel. The wine refills, available in carafe, are likely to flow freely in this exciting new addition to Islington's dynamic restaurant scene.

167 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LX

https://provisionslondon.co.uk/