FOOD & DRINK – This Month’s Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings

For summer 2014, London has some very exciting ventures of the gastronomic kind coming up. Here is our round up of the most exciting restaurant openings London has to offer…

HIXTER , Hixter, created by Mark Hix, is a celebratory British restaurant with a portion of indulgence. With dishes on the menu such as giant Yorkshire puddings, whipped chicken livers and Atlantic prawn cocktail as starters, and surf and turf with a half or whole grilled lobster, whole roast Indian Rock Chicken and steaks served in incredible 250g and 500g weights on the mains, Hixter has become a favourite. Having created a substantial noise on the restaurant scene with their place in Shoreditch, Mark Hix will be bringing a second Hixter to Southwark this summer, and it is being eagerly anticipated. The site for the new Bankside restaurant is an old tin box printing factory, sticking to the British traditional theme, and will be divided into two dining rooms and an accompanying Mark’s Bar in the basement.

To find out more, visit hixter.co.uk

PORKY’S, Also in Bankside, Porky’s is set to open another restaurant on June 6th. Perfect for the summertime, Porky’s offers a variety of whole hearted barbecued treats, the food is both mighty and meaty, and at a completely reasonable price. The Camden restaurant has racked up quite the following of hungry customers, so this opening is expected to be oversubscribed, for sure.

To find out more, visit porkys.co.uk

DUCK AND RICE

London’s first Chinese gastropub is set to open in Soho this summer. Alan Yau, the restauranteur behind Hakkasan and Yauatcha, is launching the Duck and Rice which will be the first of it’s kind. Yau has proven himself as an expert in Chinese cuisine, having earned himself a Michelin star for his creations at Hakkasan. There is no reason why the Duck and Rice shouldn’t follow suit. Always a busy man, Yau is also launching two other restaurants this year, one in Shaftesbury Avenue and one in Mayfair. Everything about the Duck and Rice is being kept fairly quiet, so it’s definitely one to watch.

POLPO , Amid the restaurant hype, Polpo opened in Notting Hill on 31st May. Russell Norman and Richard Beatty have taken on this venture with Jason Wass, former head chef of the Benugo group, heading up the kitchen, and Alexis Ross of Mishkin’s taking control of front of house. Already holding it’s own in Soho, Smithfield and Covent Garden’s crowded restaurant and bar scene, the Venetian bacaro is opening it’s fourth restaurant in idyllic Notting Hill just in time for summer. And with prices that are beyond reasonable, it looks like there’ll be no stopping the growing chain.

To find out more, visit polpo.co.uk

THE FEATHER & HIDE, The Feather and Hide – aptly named for its focal points, the chicken and the cow – is set to open in Covent Garden’s Drury Lane this summer. Another one to be kept quiet, the Feather and Hide will be a rotisserie and spit roast restaurant with a rumoured nightclub adjoining. Following on from the duo trend of Burger and Lobster and Hotdogs and Champagne, it seems the Feather and Hide is set for success. Even if it is an enigma.

By Gemma Baldwin – @gemma_baldwin