Sushisamba
Latin American and Japanese fusion restaurant brand Sushisamba has opened its second site in London in Covent Garden, joining the brand's Liverpool Street location at Heron Tower, which opened in 2012.
The site is located at the Opera Terrace, on top of the Grade II-listed Market Building, overlooking Covent Garden's iconic plaza. It features a ‘living ceiling' in the bar area, made of South American and Japanese plants and foliage, an open kitchen and a sushi bar, as well as a private dining room with its own entrance and terrace.
Guests enter the restaurant via a spiral orange marble staircase featuring a large-scale street art mural depicting Japanese mythology. The dining room features black and white marble floors, Japanese lanterns and a Japanese ‘fan' ceiling above the sushi bar.
Opened 1 November
Covers Dining room: 128; bar: 26; sushi bar: 14; private dining room: 16
Design Too Many Agencies
Typical dishes Churrasco Rio Grande of ribeye, chorizo and aged picanha; and moqueca mista seafood stew with shrimp, squid and sea bass
Website www.sushisamba.com
Gridiron by Como
Gridiron restaurant has opened at the Como Metropolitan hotel in London's Mayfair in the former Met bar space. The restaurant, a partnership between chefs Richard H Turner and Colin McSherry, is focused on open-flame cooking and serves a modern British menu of ethically sourced ingredients.
Covers Restaurant: 50; bar: 12
General manager Liam Davy
Design Macaulay Sinclair
Website www.gridironlondon.com
Le Petit Citron
Mustard restaurant in London's Brook Green has relaunched as Le Petit Citron, a classical French bistro inspired by Provençal cooking. The restaurant offers à la carte, a set menu, brunch, a vegan menu and a cocktail list.
Owners Lawrence and Emily Hartley
Typical dishes Onglet steak frites; lemon and garlic poussin with French beans; and honey- and mint-marinated lamb with aubergine and olive tapenade
Website www.lepetitcitron.co.uk
Goose Island
US-based craft beer brand Goose Island Beer Company has opened its first European brewpub in London's Shoreditch. The pub serves Goose Island staples such as Old Man Grumpy, Fog Bowl and Next Coast alongside its Bourbon County Stout and local collaboration beers. The venue will offer live music, Chicago-inspired food such as pizzas, wings and pretzel bites, and brewery tours.
General manager Daniel Davies
Website www.gooseisland.com
Southside Scran
Tom Kitchin's fourth restaurant, Southside Scran, has opened in Edinburgh. The menu offers modern takes on traditional dishes and a daily seafood selection. The drinks list focuses on wines from small independent producers.
Chef-owner Tom Kitchin
Head chef Craig McKenzie
Head sommelier Joel Bastian
Design Michaela Kitchin and Stephen Paterson of Burn's Design
Website www.southsidescran.com
The Hummingbird
The Hummingbird pub has opened in Hertford town centre, offering a seasonally changing menu of comforting pub classics and a steak and wine night on Wednesdays.
Operator Aspley Pubs
General manager Jan Nova
Head chef Adam O' Sullivan
Typical dishes Shepherd's pie with lamb's leaf mash; and tandoori cauliflower with onion bhajis, lentil dhal and mango chutney
Website www.thehummingbirdpub.com