BOXCAR BAKER & DELI IS NOW OPEN - 7A Wyndham Place, W1H 1PN

An all-day bakery, store & deli, showcasing the best of British seasonal produce, available to eat in or take away. Open every day for breakfast & lunch from 7:30 am (8 am at weekends) until 7 pm. 

Your local bakery, store & deli, showcasing the best of British seasonal produce, available to eat in or take away.  From Swedish-inspired pastries & smoothie bowls to delicious salads & sandwiches, all our food is homemade daily on site. Pick up a bottle of wine or shop our locally sourced produce to cook at home, from fresh seasonal fruit & veg to meat & poultry from Boxcar Butcher.
7A Wyndham Place, W1H 1PN
020 3006 7000

@boxcarbaker

Visit

INTRODUCING BŌKAN: LONDON’S NEWEST SKY-HIGH RESTAURANT, BAR & TERRACE

With a talented team at the stoves, a duo of mixology masterminds behind the bar and 360° show-stopping views of the London skyline, Bōkan, London’s latest cloud grazing restaurant, bar and rooftop terrace offers an elevated dining and drinking experience.

In the kitchen is the exceptionally accomplished head chef Aurélie Altemaire (formerly head chef at Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon) whilst Danilo Tersigni (hailing from Mr Fogg’s) is in charge of the bar. Expect precisely executed yet relaxed modern European dishes and show-stopping experimental cocktails from this power team at the top.

Located in Canary Wharf, Bōkan is spread across the 37, 38 and 39 floors of the first contemporary Novotel. Accessed via an express lift, the unique space has been designed to make the most of the stunning views – floor-to-ceiling windows, reclaimed timber, brick, steel and polished concrete contrast with antique mirrors, delicate brass and antique bronze to hit just the right note; seamlessly blending the industrial with the elegant. 

THE RESTAURANT

The 37^th floor is home to the restaurant and Aurélie’s experienced team which includes sous chef Guillame Gillan (also from L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon) and head pastry chef and Paul Bocuse alumni, Pierre Coquil (formerly of Blue by Eric Ripert).  Watch the brigade in action as they prepare vibrant and seasonal dishes from Bōkan’s open plan kitchen.

Stand-out starters include a creamy Pugliese burrata served with Aurélie’s signature homemade focaccia bread; squid with classic ratatouille, spicy oatmeal dust and saffron sauce; or trompette & chanterelle mushrooms, hen’s egg and toast. This focus on quality ingredients, expertly prepared and beautifully presented, continues with mains of poached line-caught cod, brown shrimps and spinach; slow-smoked Blythburgh pork belly classically paired with apple sauce and crushed potatoes and, from the Josper grill, Rhug Estate grass-fed lamb cutlets with charred aubergine and chimichurri; and whole lobster with green mango salad, orange and jasmine sauce.

On Sundays, guests can enjoy a leisurely bottomless brunch of sharing plates and sensational cocktails. Come dusk, local jazz musicians will take to the terrace and play late into the evening. 

THE BAR

Danilo Tersigni is in charge of the 38^th and 39^th floor bars and he alongside Domenico Carella, a Bacardi Legacy Finalist, have created a range of innovative cocktails influenced by the Docks and its trading hub history with unique sharing vessels inspired by the Blackwell Levels.

Creative signature serves include the Royal Captain with Hendrick’s gin, lavender-infused Mancino Vermouth Bianco, elderflower cordial, cold jasmine tea, grapefruit bitters, topped with soda; Berth Wine with Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon, Lucano Anniversario, homemade cinnamon and rue herb syrup; and The Bōkan - a sharing vessel made with Reyka vodka, Crème de Framboise, pineapple juice, topped with prosecco.  A carefully curated list of craft beers, locally distilled spirits and wines is also available.

Bar food is designed for grazing and comfort with sharing tiles of British charcuterie and cheese and small plates such as crushed pea and mint fritters. More substantial dishes come in the form of lobster rolls with triple cooked chips and grass-fed beef burgers with ginger glaze.

UP ON THE ROOF TERRACE

Up on the 39^th floor, far, far away from the madding crowds, discover the most delightful all-weather open-air terrace with panoramic views and a relaxed ambiance.

Escape the stresses and strains of London living and soak up the summer sunshine on cushion-covered daybeds, kick-back with sundowner cocktails and listen to chill-out lounge, Balearic beats and up tempo tracks from a line-up of renowned international DJs, on the decks from Thursday to Saturdayuntil the wee hours.

PRIVATE PARTIES

Bōkan is a brilliant venue for a range of events from grand celebrations on the roof top terrace, to working lunches in the restaurant to intimate gatherings in Bar 38, each floor offers an array of unique spaces ideal for your next exclusive soiree.

Bōkan – things are seriously looking up in Canary Wharf.

Bōkan – 37^th, 38^th & 39^th Floor

Novotel Canary Wharf

40 Marsh Wall

London E14 9TP

bokanlondon.co.uk

F: BokanLondon / I: bokanlondon / T: @bokanlondon

Opening Hours:

Bōkan 37 Lunch 12:00-14:00 & Dinner 18:00-22:00 (Monday to Sunday)

Bōkan 38 10:00-02:00 (Monday to Sunday)

Bōkan 39 11:00 – 00:00 (Sunday – Wednesday) & 11:00-2:00 (Thursday – Saturday)

One Canada Square

Modern European restaurant and cocktail bar by @ETMgroup on the ground floor at One Canada Square.
Visit Website

The Botanist - Sloane Square

Fabulous modern British restaurant and cocktail bar on Sloane Square, Chelsea
View Website

THIRTY SIX By Nigel Mendham, St James's Place

THIRTY SIX By Nigel Mendham, St James's Place 3 courses with a glass of champagne £35 per person

BOOK NOW

THIRTY SIX By Nigel Mendham Led by acclaimed Michelin-starred chef Nigel Mendham and awarded 3 AA Rosettes, THIRTY SIXshowcases exquisite modern British cuisine in a boutique setting. Accompanying your flute of champagne, select 3 of Mendham’s signature courses, like pork terrine with langoustines and pickled vegetables, or roasted apricot with chocolate custard and cookie crumble. Housing just 36 guests, this chic hideaway is found at the 5-star, award-showered DUKES LONDON, just 6 minutes’ walk from Green Park Tube Station. BOOK NOW   VIEW MAP

Sample Menu A glass of champagne on arrival Starters Pork terrine langoustine, pickled vegetables, granny smith Torched mackerel watercress, violet potatoes, sour cream Main Courses Rabbit braised leg, mustard, carrots, chard Wild skate cauliflower, coriander, almonds Desserts Roasted apricot chocolate custard, apricot sorbet, cookie crumble Peanut crunch caramelised banana, peanut parfait, banana sherbet SEE FULL MENU

Terms & Conditions Available dinner Mon - Sat until the 22nd November 2014, subject to availability. Dishes from a set menu and subject to change. Early bookings recommended. Includes VAT, excludes service.

The Landmark London, Marylebone - London Restaurants

The Landmark London, Marylebone 3 courses £25 per person

BOOK NOW

twotwentytwo A distinguished retreat within the 5-star Landmark London Hotel,twotwentytwo offers international brasserie dining in a beautifully ornate setting. Enjoy 3 oftwotwentytwo's favourite courses, like succulent grilled chicken with potato and broad bean fricassée, or warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. Underneath lofty corniced ceilings and surrounded by rich caramel leather and smooth wood-panelled walls, enjoy one of London’s most majestic dining rooms.twotwentytwo restaurant is just 2 minutes’ walk from Marylebone Tube Station. BOOK NOW   VIEW MAP 4.2 (See all 38 reviews) “We had a lovely evening at twotwentytwo. The food was great and the service was good. We had the £25 for three courses deal which was a set menu.” Elaine Mckenzie from London 27/07/2014

Sample Menu Starters Smoked salmon pickled cauliflower, capers, gherkin & shallots Blood orange & beetroot salad goats cheese mousse Main Courses Pan-seared pollock courgette Provençal & brioche herb crumb Grilled breast of chicken new potato & broad bean fricassée with sun blushed tomato & chive beurre blanc Warm plum tomato & red onion tart marinated vegetable & blue cheese salad Desserts Warm chocolate brownie vanilla ice cream Eton Mess mixed berries SEE FULL MENU

Terms & Conditions Available lunch Mon-Fri & dinner Mon-Sat until the 21st November 2014, subject to availability. Dishes from a set menu and subject to change. Includes VAT, excludes service.

Top 10 Best BBQ Restaurants in London

Sunny skies and warmer temperatures bring out the culinary chefs and carnivores in all of us, and so it’s no surprise that summer is the season of the BBQ here in Britain. Whether you’re after a relaxed BBQ joint or something a little more sophisticated, we guarantee to have something to whet your appetite. Here’s our pick of the best BBQ restaurants London has to offer, serving up succulent steaks, tender ribs and juicy burgers just the way you like them.

1. Q Grill  BOOK Q GRILL

Camden

Q Grill

Situated in the heart of buzzy Camden, Q Grill is a chic and industrial-looking BBQ restaurant in London, filled with chesterfield sofas, stripped wooden floors and low-level lighting. Succulent meat cuts, juicy poultry and fresh seafood is infused with BBQ flavours and cooked over the charcoal pit. Tuck into the Bannockburn rib eye for 2, or the whole garlic and lemon chicken. With sides including creamed corn and house slaw, this is BBQ fayre at its best.

2. Pitt Cue Co

Soho

Image: Hotel Club

 Sometimes good things come to those who wait. With space for only 30 diners at any one time, bagging a table at Pitt Cue Co BBQ restaurant in Soho is a feat to be celebrated, and when you’ve tasted the food, you’ll definitely want to go back for more. Offering informal BBQ dining in the intimate restaurant, slabs of steaks and meaty ribs are served up along with side dishes that include bone marrow mash and grilled lambs hearts. A carnivore’s paradise.

3. Forge Bar  BOOK FORGE BAR

St Paul's

Forge Bar

Searing cuts of succulent steaks and sizzling spit roasts are cooked up before your eyes at Forge Bar in St Paul’s, with meats made to order and barbequed over the open-plan furnace. Signature specials from the charcoal pit include rack of coca cola-glazed pork ribs and a 20oz tomahawk sharing steak for 2, while the spit offers cider-infused belly pork and spit-roasted chicken, marinated in fennel seeds, cumin and coriander. Arguably one of the best BBQ restaurants in London.

4. The Blues Kitchen  BOOK THE BLUES KITCHEN

Camden

The Blues Kitchen

With all the heady glamour of a New Orleans blues joint, and with a liquor selection to boot, The Blues Kitchen in Camden serves up a hearty BBQ menu, perfect for a slab of summer indulgence. Cooked over fruit woods in its own BBQ pit, the beef brisket joint, glazed with a beer and hickory BBQ sauce, is slow smoked for 20 hours, while the pork ribs is smoked for 12. Melt-in-your-mouth BBQ meats never tasted so good.

5. Duke’s Brew & Que 

Haggerston

Duke's Brew & Que

Taking residency in a former 18^th-century brewery, Duke’s Brew and Que BBQ restaurant in Haggerston prides itself on its classic southern American BBQ fayre and craft beer selection. Excellent meat cuts are smoked slow and low over the imported American wood burners to create an intense BBQ flavour. Norfolk pork and Irish beef ribs are offered alongside 21 day aged sirloins and pulled pork.

6. Smokehouse

Islington

Smokehouse

Seamlessly fusing classic BBQ fayre with something of a fine dining experience, Smokehouse BBQ restaurant in Islington focuses on locally-sourced ingredients and quality food. Highland cattle meat sourced from farms in Yorkshire is barbequed or smoked over sustainably-sourced English oak. Dishes include short rib Bourguignon and smoked ham hock with pig cheek, and pulled pork features on the menu as a side dish. For sophisticated BBQ dining in London, look no further.

7. Sticky Fingers  BOOK STICKY FINGERS

Kensington

Sticky Fingers

The brainchild of Bill Wyman, original bassist from The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers BBQ restaurant serves up classic American BBQ food in a relaxed and buzzy environment. Menu favourites include 12 hour slow-smoked beef short rib, and a classic ‘pig’ burger, topped with honey-seared bacon and pulled pork. Classic BBQ sides include pulled pork beans and fries with chicken salt, and the bar serves up bourbon milkshakes and fragrant cocktails.

8. Joe's Southern Kitchen & Bar  BOOK JOE'S SOUTHERN KITCHEN & BAR

Covent Garden

Joe's Southern Kitchen & Bar

Serving up the taste of the Deep South in the heart of London, Joe’s Southern Kitchen & Bar offers hearty southern-inspired BBQ fayre that would make even Louisiana residents head in droves. 8 hour slow-roasted beef short ribs are marinated in Joe’s BBQ rub and plated up with house slaw, while shaved beef rump with horseradish onions is sandwiched in a bun and served soaked in gravy.

9. Hawksmoor  BOOK HAWKSMOOR

Seven Dials

Hawksmoor

Serving up dictionary-thick slabs of prime British cattle, hailing from award-winning Yorkshire farm The Ginger Pig, Hawksmoor at Seven Dials is a paradise for meat lovers, making it the perfect joint for a BBQ in London. Hawksmoor plates up enormous cuts of succulent fillet, rib-eye and bone-in prime rib steak, weighing in at 500g, and are tenderly cooked over BBQ to give them an intensely deep flavour while maintaining all the natural juices. For steak barbequed to perfection, look no further than Hawksmoor - a heaven for carnivores.

10. Bodean's BBQ

Fulham

Image: Food I Fancy

Intent on bringing the authentic taste of Kansas City, USA to London, Bodean’s BBQ restaurant in Fulham isjust the ticket for classic American fayre in a modern and stylish diner setting. With all manner of accolades including ‘Best Ribs this side of the Atlantic’ (Time Out), Bodean’s menu cooks up a charm with its in-house oak-burning smoke pit, serving baby back ribs and slow-smoked chunks of beef brisket with pulled pork. 

About The Author

Grace is a freelance writer currently based in Newcastle. Her main loves in life are food, fashion and the Queen. She is a keen baker and mean cupcake maker. 

As a child with a long list of food allergies, until the age of 14 Grace lived on a diet of sausage and chips and chocolate biscuits. Since then, she has branched out and discovered her love of authentic Italian and Indian cuisine. She is also something of an afternoon tea connoisseur, and as a result is a self-confessed jam snob. 

Her favourite London eateries are The Tea Rooms and The Hummingbird Bakery. 

You can follow her on twitter @graceelisabethc View profile

Top 10 Best Quirky Restaurants in London

Think you’ve discovered everything the London dining scene has to offer? If you fancy exploring the kookier side of dining, we have a selection of unusual restaurants in London that define the epitome of quirky. Check out these off-the-wall eateries to indulge in dinner with a difference.

1. Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium 

BOOK LADY DINAH'S CAT EMPORIUM

Bethnal Green

Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium

Hitting London in a storm of fur, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium is the first cat café to pop up in the capital. Frazzled city folk can increase their endorphins amongst the mélange of moggies, who
will be on hand whilst diners sip tea and graze on a menu of hearty Ploughman’s platters, local bagels or fresh scones. Upon first opening, bookings went off-the-hook-crazy so there’s a little wait to experience the kitsch kitty fest at London’s only cat café.

2. sketch Lecture Room  BOOK SKETCH LECTURE ROOM

Mayfair

sketch Lecture Room

Day-glo Art Deco surroundings couldn’t get more sophisticated than sketch Lecture Room, and with 2 Michelin stars for its innovative French cuisine, the vibrant artistry continues into the food. Masterchef Pierre Gagnaire leads the uber-innovative cooking at this gastronomic retreat, with masterpieces such as langoustine five ways, guineafowl with green tea stuffing and wickedly decadent chocolate soufflé. With all the creativity you would expect from the former House of Dior, sketch exudes an eclectic-mad-hatter fashion feel in it glorious technicolor design. Perhaps its most absurd quirk is its lavatorial one, as there are few places in London that have such surreal toilets. Think futuristic dinosaur space eggs manned by Victorian maids: it has to be seen to be believed.

3. Galvin La Chapelle  BOOK GALVIN LA CHAPELLE

Shoreditch

Galvin La Chapelle

Having dinner in a converted church makes for an awe-inspiring setting, and Michelin star-awarded Galvin La Chapelle is also arguably one of London’s most beautiful dining rooms. Dining under the 100-foot high vaulted ceiling in this Grade II listed church will mean all of your prayers are answered, especially when it gets to luxurious signature dishes from the Galvin brothers, like Dorset crab lasagne and chateaubriand.

4. Shaka Zulu  BOOK SHAKA ZULU

Camden

Shaka Zulu

A tribal-themed setting provides the backdrop to Shaka Zulu, with the adventurous menu matching the audacious surroundings. From the traditional South African braai grill, sizzling game meats like springbok and zebra accompany ostrich and crocodile, alongside tropically exotic desserts. Love or loathe it, this place takes a tribal twist on chintz, with a brash zebra-print bar and a flamboyant space covered by elaborately carved murals. 

5. Bel Canto  BOOK BEL CANTO

Paddington

Bel Canto

Never been to a restaurant where the staff are trained opera singers? ‘Singing for your supper’ takes on new meaning at Bel Canto, with bursts of song and live piano music accompanying your meal every 15 minutes at this quirky London restaurant. Gastronomes wanting to indulge in a side of eccentric opera with dinner can sample the classically French fare, including rabbit stuffed with prunes and Armagnac or tart tatin.

6. Blue Elephant BOOK BLUE ELEPHANT LONDON

Fulham

Blue Elephant

Like a leafy replica of a quirky royal Thai palace on the river, Blue Elephant blooms with lush foliage and opulent orchids. Culinary delicacies indulging the scents of Thailand take on new flavours, so you can feast on luxurious Thai tamarind foie gras or juicy scallops with green peppercorn butter, alongside the more traditional pad Thai. With fresh ingredients flown in weekly from Thailand, Blue Elephant also has a reputation as one of the best Thai restaurants in London.

7. Dans le Noir 

Clerkenwell

Dans le Noir

Dining in the dark represents a journey into the unknown at Clerkenwell favourite Dans le Noir, the British venue of the Parisian restaurant concept where you’ll find (or not) the dining room blacked out completely. The concept centres around eating your meal in pitch-black darkness, so you can leave behind food-based prejudices and open your mind by solely having a sensory focus on taste and smell. If you dare to take a stab in the dark, go for the French-inspired cuisine on the surprise ‘chef’s special’ menu, served by the blind waiting staff at this famously unusual London restaurant. 

8. inamo BOOK INAMO

Soho

inamo

Cyber-dining at inamo has a futuristic vibe, with the world’s first interactive ordering system, allowing you to order from virtual touch-screen menus projected onto the tables. Popular with first-daters looking for an ice breaker, interactive jinks include a chef cam of the boisterous kitchen, battleship games and an order-your-own-taxi button. Fusing an east-meets-west vibe on its menu, you’ll find Pan-Asian creations like miso yuzu salmon and rich ribeye steak cooked on sizzling hot black stone.

9. Archipelago 

Fitzrovia

Archipelago

Offering a jungletastic journey into the unknown, Archipelago serves up a melting pot of exotic meats and tantalising bugs to a courageous crowd. Indulge your adventurous side by feasting on python carapaccio, love bug salad or crocodile with honey poached plums. An entrancing peacock lounge and trinket-heavy collection of exotica lend a bohemian feel to the surroundings, and combined with the bug-tastic menu, earns Archipelago a reputation as one of the more unusual restaurants in London.

10. Garlic and Shots 

Soho

Garlic and Shots

Garlic and Shots does what it says in the tin, with 101 different garlic-flavoured vodkas on offer, including the brain-busting signature Blood Shot of garlic, chilli and vodka. A garlic-inspired menu of culinary specialities and a skilled kitchen team means that the food is surprisingly good at this heavy metal joint: expect hearty mains like grills and rustic fish stew with garlic bread. The vampire-evading restaurant owners say, ‘you can always order more garlic, but never less.’ Be warned!

About The Author

Lili is a bit of a foodie and loves cooking for dinner parties. 

Her favourite restaurants in London are Sketch Lecture Room and L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon. View profile