11 New UK Restaurants Worth Getting Excited About Though it would be misleading to suggest that the UK’s food scene has emerged from the pandemic unscathed, it seems to have had little effect in quashing its brilliant creativity. There is certainly no lack of new restaurants to choose from, but we’ve picked the openings we think everyone should have on their radar. 1. Lina Stores, Marylebone Italian eatery Lina Stores has come a long way since opening its Brewer Street deli in 1944, earning a legion of loyalists – you’ll spot them wandering the streets of London with signature pistachio green and white striped bags in tow. The brand’s fifth restaurant in Marylebone is its most refined yet, with a delicatessen and Art Deco-style bar below. A summer menu shake up has ushered in a focus on sharing platters and all-new dolci, but our dont-miss dish has to be the Polpette di Melanzane. 13-15 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2NE 1. Lina Stores, Marylebone Italian eatery Lina Stores has come a long way since opening its Brewer Street deli in 1944, earning a legion of loyalists – you’ll spot them wandering the streets of London with signature pistachio green and white striped bags in tow. The brand’s fifth restaurant in Marylebone is its most refined yet, with a delicatessen and Art Deco-style bar below. A summer menu shake up has ushered in a focus on sharing platters and all-new dolci, but our dont-miss dish has to be the Polpette di Melanzane. 13-15 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2NE 2. Bubala, Soho Vegetarians didn’t realise what they were missing until Shoreditch haunt Bubala opened in 2019 and showed us just what you can do with oyster mushrooms, halloumi and kohlrabi. The team has now transplanted the Tel Aviv-inspired concept to restaurant mecca Soho, where it will serve familiar favourites alongside new offerings like fennel with saffron caramel, amba yoghurt and rose harissa. More than half of the menu is suitable for vegans, too. 15 Poland Street, London W1F 8QE 2. Bubala, Soho Vegetarians didn’t realise what they were missing until Shoreditch haunt Bubala opened in 2019 and showed us just what you can do with oyster mushrooms, halloumi and kohlrabi. The team has now transplanted the Tel Aviv-inspired concept to restaurant mecca Soho, where it will serve familiar favourites alongside new offerings like fennel with saffron caramel, amba yoghurt and rose harissa. More than half of the menu is suitable for vegans, too. 15 Poland Street, London W1F 8QE 3. Cavita, Marylebone Inventive Mexican cooking has proved hot stuff in the capital of late, and fresh opening Cavita is sure to prove a worthy addition to the burgeoning scene. It’s eponymous chef Adriana Cavita’s first solo restaurant, following a degree in gastronomy and time spent in the kitchens of world-famous restaurants like El Bulli. The intimate, greenery-filled space sets the right mood for sharing plates of whole sea bream cooked inside banana leaves and herb fed chicken with coal-roasted vegetables. 60 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RZ 3. Cavita, Marylebone Inventive Mexican cooking has proved hot stuff in the capital of late, and fresh opening Cavita is sure to prove a worthy addition to the burgeoning scene. It’s eponymous chef Adriana Cavita’s first solo restaurant, following a degree in gastronomy and time spent in the kitchens of world-famous restaurants like El Bulli. The intimate, greenery-filled space sets the right mood for sharing plates of whole sea bream cooked inside banana leaves and herb fed chicken with coal-roasted vegetables. 60 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RZ 4. Grace & Savour, Solihull, West Midlands This new concept at Hampton Manor, also home to Michelin starred restaurant Peel’s, offers a 15 course tasting menu served from an open kitchen within the estate’s pretty walled garden. There’s a focus on foraging and sustainable farming here, so expect inventive cooking with ingredients like apple kombucha and pickled magnolia alongside smoked beef brisket, monkfish and more. Bed in for the night in one of the restful garden rooms. Hampton Manor, Shadowbrook Lane, Hampton in Arden, Solihull B92 0EN 4. Grace & Savour, Solihull, West Midlands This new concept at Hampton Manor, also home to Michelin starred restaurant Peel’s, offers a 15 course tasting menu served from an open kitchen within the estate’s pretty walled garden. There’s a focus on foraging and sustainable farming here, so expect inventive cooking with ingredients like apple kombucha and pickled magnolia alongside smoked beef brisket, monkfish and more. Bed in for the night in one of the restful garden rooms. Hampton Manor, Shadowbrook Lane, Hampton in Arden, Solihull B92 0EN 5. Lisboeta, London Much fanfare preceded Nuno Mendes’ new Charlotte Street restaurant (such is the reputation of the Chiltern Firehouse former head chef). Described as a ‘love letter to Portugal’, it’s named for the inhabitants of his Lisbon hometown, which also inspired much of the cooking. It turns out that there’s plenty more to Portugal than piri piri – though you’ll spot an appearance alongside grilled trombetta courgette, leek heart and orange – as evidenced by plates of carabineiro prawns and copita dry-cured black pork. 30 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NG 5. Lisboeta, London Much fanfare preceded Nuno Mendes’ new Charlotte Street restaurant (such is the reputation of the Chiltern Firehouse former head chef). Described as a ‘love letter to Portugal’, it’s named for the inhabitants of his Lisbon hometown, which also inspired much of the cooking. It turns out that there’s plenty more to Portugal than piri piri – though you’ll spot an appearance alongside grilled trombetta courgette, leek heart and orange – as evidenced by plates of carabineiro prawns and copita dry-cured black pork. 30 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NG 6. Updown Farm, nr Deal, Kent While Britain might not boast the farm-to-table heritage of Italy’s agriturismos, it’s a growing movement that has produced exemplary sites such as Cornwall’s Coombeshead Farm. Newly launched Updown Farm, a restaurant with rooms set within rolling Kent countryside, sounds just as authentic, with a succinct but hyper-seasonal menu that makes the most of the county’s produce. It’s all overseen by Ruth Leigh and Oliver Brown, who ran it as a supper club concept before making the leap. Updown Farm, Updown Road, Betteshanger, Deal, CT14 0EF 6. Updown Farm, nr Deal, Kent While Britain might not boast the farm-to-table heritage of Italy’s agriturismos, it’s a growing movement that has produced exemplary sites such as Cornwall’s Coombeshead Farm. Newly launched Updown Farm, a restaurant with rooms set within rolling Kent countryside, sounds just as authentic, with a succinct but hyper-seasonal menu that makes the most of the county’s produce. It’s all overseen by Ruth Leigh and Oliver Brown, who ran it as a supper club concept before making the leap. Updown Farm, Updown Road, Betteshanger, Deal, CT14 0EF 7. Sur Mer, Aldeburgh, Suffolk We’d advise being quick off the mark when this Suffolk restaurant with rooms opens its doors at the beginning of August – its previous iteration as a pop-up seaside offshoot of London’s L’Escargot has placed it firmly on the foodie radar. Positioned in a seafront spot in the pretty town of Aldeburgh, it’s well-placed for weekends and locals alike, who will relish plates of roasted langoustines, oysters, crab and razor clams plucked from England’s east coast and beyond. 152 High St, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5AQ 7. Sur Mer, Aldeburgh, Suffolk We’d advise being quick off the mark when this Suffolk restaurant with rooms opens its doors at the beginning of August – its previous iteration as a pop-up seaside offshoot of London’s L’Escargot has placed it firmly on the foodie radar. Positioned in a seafront spot in the pretty town of Aldeburgh, it’s well-placed for weekends and locals alike, who will relish plates of roasted langoustines, oysters, crab and razor clams plucked from England’s east coast and beyond. 152 High St, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5AQ 8. Emilia, Ashburton, Devon This bijou Devon restaurant and bar flirts with the ‘osteria’ moniker, signalling its instinct towards relaxed Italian fare with real authenticity. The rustic-look dining room is all part of the charm, as is the swiftly changing menu that champions lesser-loved cuts of meat and offal. There is serious pedigree behind the project, as owners Claire Lattin and Tom Hill are also behind Soho’s Ducksoup and Hackney’s The Little Duck. It’s certainly something of a coup for rural Ashburton. 2 East Street, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7AA 8. Emilia, Ashburton, Devon This bijou Devon restaurant and bar flirts with the ‘osteria’ moniker, signalling its instinct towards relaxed Italian fare with real authenticity. The rustic-look dining room is all part of the charm, as is the swiftly changing menu that champions lesser-loved cuts of meat and offal. There is serious pedigree behind the project, as owners Claire Lattin and Tom Hill are also behind Soho’s Ducksoup and Hackney’s The Little Duck. It’s certainly something of a coup for rural Ashburton. 2 East Street, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7AA 9. Yellowhammer, Stockport Taking its name from the songbird known for its distinctive ‘a little bit of bread and cheese’ call, Yellowhammer is the much-anticipated second venture from Sam Buckley, whose acclaimed Stockport restaurant Where the Light Gets In quickly won fans for its seasonal approach. With collaborators Rosie Wilkes and Joe Hartley in tow, Yellowhammer is a curious hybrid of bakery and pottery studio, open later on Wednesdays and Thursdays for relaxed plates and natural wines. 15 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ 9. Yellowhammer, Stockport Taking its name from the songbird known for its distinctive ‘a little bit of bread and cheese’ call, Yellowhammer is the much-anticipated second venture from Sam Buckley, whose acclaimed Stockport restaurant Where the Light Gets In quickly won fans for its seasonal approach. With collaborators Rosie Wilkes and Joe Hartley in tow, Yellowhammer is a curious hybrid of bakery and pottery studio, open later on Wednesdays and Thursdays for relaxed plates and natural wines. 15 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ 10. Compton, Clerkenwell When did Clerkenwell become London’s best neighbourhood for buzzy dining spots? New restaurant, bar and deli Compton will hope to hold its own among some illustrious neighbours with a focus on small-scale British suppliers and a gently Mediterranean-inspired menu. The serene, pink-hued dining room makes a brilliant backdrop for dishes like hand rolled pappardelle with asparagus, broad Bean, fresh peas and ricotta and grilled figs with honeycomb and fig leaf oil. 47 St. John’s Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ 10. Compton, Clerkenwell When did Clerkenwell become London’s best neighbourhood for buzzy dining spots? New restaurant, bar and deli Compton will hope to hold its own among some illustrious neighbours with a focus on small-scale British suppliers and a gently Mediterranean-inspired menu. The serene, pink-hued dining room makes a brilliant backdrop for dishes like hand rolled pappardelle with asparagus, broad Bean, fresh peas and ricotta and grilled figs with honeycomb and fig leaf oil. 47 St. John’s Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ 11. Tatale, London Occupying the ground floor of the new-look Africa Centre – fresh from its move across town to Southwark – Tatale is Akwasi Brenya-Mensa’s debut London restaurant. Resolute in his belief that African food ‘is not a trend’, its menu was inspired by a family trip to Ghana, where roadside Chop Bars attract a diverse, convivial crowd. Tatale takes its cues from across the continent, offering nostalgia-tinged dishes like black eyed bean hummus with red palm oil and dukkah, followed by a spiced rice pudding with hibiscus poached pear. The Africa Centre, 66 Great Suffolk Street, London, SE1 0BL 11. Tatale, London Occupying the ground floor of the new-look Africa Centre – fresh from its move across town to Southwark – Tatale is Akwasi Brenya-Mensa’s debut London restaurant. Resolute in his belief that African food ‘is not a trend’, its menu was inspired by a family trip to Ghana, where roadside Chop Bars attract a diverse, convivial crowd. Tatale takes its cues from across the continent, offering nostalgia-tinged dishes like black eyed bean hummus with red palm oil and dukkah, followed by a spiced rice pudding with hibiscus poached pear. 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