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In case you hadn’t noticed, It’s almost Christmas. That means there aren’t too many new restaurants opening this December (though there are plenty of Christmas sandwiches doing the rounds).
But a few brave souls have decided to launch their foodie babies into the world during the rowdiest month of the year. Good for them! Here’s the ones we’re looking forward to the most.
1.The hot chef and his cool pub
The Brave, Islington
We were a little sad when James Cochran shuttered his excellent Upper Street restaurant 12:51 back in September, but the storied chef isn’t wasting any time getting back out there. Still in the same-ish neighbourhood, he launches his brand new pub venture The Brave on Essex Road on December 5. Food will be inspired by both Cochran’s Scottish roots. Expect the likes of smoked eel with bacon and cheese toastie, as well as potato dumplings with slow braised shin of beef, and a sharing platter of roast haunch of Aynhoe venison, venison sausage, slow braised venison pie, and neep & tattie hash browns.
340-342 Essex Rd, N1 3PB
2. The cult spicy chicken shop
Dave’s Hot Chicken, Soho
Setting up shop in an East Hollywood parking lot back in 2017, it’s only taken seven years for Dave’s Hot Chicken to become one of the US’s favourite fried chicken chains. Specialising in zingy Nashville-style hot chicken with six different heat levels, Dave’s are opening their first UK branch on December 7. Right on Shaftesbury Avenue, they’re aiming for central London, late-night snack dominance and will be open until midnight on the weekends.
40 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7ER
3. The fancy Italian
Babbo, St John’s Wood
Come to papa? Babbo – which means ‘daddy’ in Italian – is bringing plates of pasta to St John’s Wood High Street from December 9. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, and with a heated terrace, it takes over the site once occupied by the much-loved and much-missed Jewish deli Harry Morgan's which closed in 2021 after almost eight decades in the game.
29-31 St John’s Wood High St, NW8 7NH
4. The canal-side Hackney taproom
Pretty Decent, Victoria Park
It’s a new month in London, which means it’s time for another new brewery tap room! Opening December 4, this new east London venue comes from Blackhorse Beer Mile and Forest Gate residents Pretty Decent Beer Co, and has 14 Czech-style side-pour taps on site. It’ll serve everything from hazy IPAs to fruit sours, low intervention wine, cocktails and beer-infused soft serve ice cream. Food trucks Hanoi Cà Phê and Emerald Eats will be on offer to line your stomach and next year Mexican Seoul will open a permanent kitchen.
Bow Wharf, Unit GF1, 212 Grove Rd, Old Ford, E3 5SN
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