October Round-up

Hi Fellow Foodie! What a month it's been – from stormy days at Italian neighbourhood spots to Michelin-starred lunch bargains and a stunning new restaurant, October has delivered some real treats. All the news including exciting new openings, Christmas market dates confirmed, and some cracking set lunch deals, let's get stuck in!

This Month's Restaurant Reviews

1. Nipotino - Billed as Mayfair's neighbourhood Italian restaurant, we ventured out during a stormy day in London to experience some of that Italian neighbourliness. Find out how we got on once we dried out. Read my full review and discover if it lives up to the neighbourhood hype →

2. Starling's £30 Special Lunch Deal - From the feedback I receive, many of you take advantage of the set lunch and dinner menus on offer, and why not? It's a great way to experience different restaurants without raiding the piggy bank. We visited Nick Beardshaw's Michelin-starred Starling to sample their £30 3-course lunch menu. See if this Michelin-starred bargain delivers →

3. Lilibet's - This stunning new fish restaurant at 17 Bruton Place has only been open a few weeks, and it sits on the site of the birthplace of none other than our late Queen, hence the name. I was very fortunate to be invited for lunch, and it was a truly special experience. Find out what makes Lilibet's so impressive →

I've also found time to cook and write up more recipes, including a tried-and-tested Christmas cake recipe.

Latest News

Novikov's Christmas Market

Mark your calendars: from Thursday 27th to Saturday, 29th November, Mayfair Place transforms into London's most glamorous Christmas market. Having attended last year – and had a great time – I can confirm this is one festive event worth circling in red.

Best of all? Entry is completely free this year. Expect the Champagne Ice Bar, Novikov's gourmet stalls serving caviar bumps and oysters, theatrical Parmesan wheel pasta, plus artisan exhibitors offering everything from sustainable fashion to gourmet treats. The whole stretch between Berkeley Street and Stratton Street becomes a traffic-free winter wonderland with gently falling snow, live music, and DJs turning up the energy from 6pm. Saturday brings Santa with real-life reindeer.

Free entry. 27th-29th November, 11am-9pm.

An Evening of Sardinian Food and Wine at Franco's St James's

Looking to splash out? Marking its 80th anniversary, Franco's presents an intimate Sardinian Wine Dinner on Monday, 10th November at 7 pm.

Head Sommelier Paolo Pellegrino has curated rare Sardinian vintages to pair with Head Chef Stefano Turconi's four-course menu featuring Lobster alla Catalana, Malloreddus with venison ragout, and roasted Sardinian suckling pig. Guests will meet acclaimed winemaker Gianluigi Deaddis, making this a truly special evening at one of London's most storied Italian restaurants.

£280 per person. Book online.

Private Dining Rooms

I've started to receive a few requests for private dining rooms in London, so I've updated last year's guide. If you're looking for a PDR for a Christmas party, check out our guide here, but be quick, as word is there's a lot of interest in midweek bookings for PDRs this year.

New Restaurant Openings

Another busy month of news of restaurant openings in London, in fact so many I cannot feature them all

74 Charlotte Street by Ben Murphy

Acclaimed chef Ben Murphy is bringing his first solo London venture to Fitzrovia this autumn with 74 Charlotte Street, partnering with WSH Restaurants for what promises to be an accessible yet refined dining experience . The London native, who's worked in prestigious kitchens including The Berkeley and Launceston Place, is focusing on food that people simply love to eat—think Beef Wellington with Braised Beefy Chips, Anchovy and Timur Pepper, alongside a nostalgic ice cream trolley circulating the dining room. The 75-cover space, features an open-plan layout with natural light, a marble-topped bar and scallop-shaped cocktail bar, plus a 300-bottle wine list showcasing established and emerging labels . Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner..

Motorino

Fitzrovia has a new heavyweight on the scene with MOTORINO, where Michelin-starred Irish chef Luke Ahearne (formerly of Lita in Marylebone) has teamed up with Stevie Parle (the chef-owner behind Town and Pastaio) to bring their vision of modern London-Italian dining to Pearson Square.

The 150-cover restaurant serves up contemporary Italian fare with Ahearne's refined technique meeting Parle's crowd-pleasing sensibility, whilst Bar Motorino offers seven draught beers, classic cocktails and properly cold Martinis alongside a comprehensive wine list that spans old and new world options by the glass, half bottle or carafe. There are three private dining rooms for groups of 12-30 if you're after something more intimate, and the whole operation is pleasingly inclusive—wheelchair friendly, child friendly, dog friendly, and just generally friendly. Expect the kind of place where serious cooking doesn't take itself too seriously, which is exactly what Fitzrovia's been waiting for.

1 Pearson Square, London W1T 3BF

Berenjak Mayfair

Mayfair is getting a taste of Persian hospitality with the arrival of Berenjak on Duke Street, next to the Barley Mow. It's the latest outpost from the group behind the popular Soho and Borough Market restaurants (not to mention their international ventures in Doha and Dubai).

Known for their home-style Persian cuisine, Berenjak has built a loyal following with their signature kababs—think Jujeh Kabab Tond with poussin marinated in chilli, garlic, somagh and red pepper paste—and the Mayfair iteration promises a slightly different take with new dishes tailored to the neighbourhood. The space will feature primarily banquette seating with a small terrace on the ground floor and what looks to be a bar area in the basement, bringing that same warm, mezze-focused energy that's made their other locations such hits. Opening early 2026.

80 Duke Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 6JG.

Ria's

Soho is about to get its fix of Detroit-style pizza and natural wine with the arrival of Ria's second outpost on Fouberts Place, just off Carnaby Street. After proving their winning formula in Notting Hill over the past couple of years, David and Ria Morgan-Ratcliffe are bringing what they're calling "the older sibling: same DNA, a little wiser, still a lot of fun" to the West End.

Expect Detroit pizzas available by the slice or whole pie—think Dave's Hot Pep loaded with pepperoni, Calabrian chillies, pickled jalapeños, stracciatella, hot honey and aged Parmesan, or the Smokey Nico with its béchamel base, Chianti pancetta and smoked provolone—alongside a natural wine list featuring chillable reds, juicy oranges and pink pét-nats from small, independent producers.

The 38-cover space spans two floors with a marble sharing table downstairs nestled among dough mixers and bags of Cotswold flour,  with a 50% off food launch offer from 1-3 November.

29 Fouberts Place, London W1F 7QF

Bonheur by Matt Abé

One of London's most anticipated openings has arrived, as Matt Abé brings Bonheur to the iconic former Le Gavroche site on Upper Brook Street. After 18 years under Gordon Ramsay's mentorship and most recently as chef patron of the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, this marks Abé's first solo venture. The menu is classically rooted but brought to life with a contemporary touch, featuring à la carte alongside two tasting menus – the 5-course Journey and 7-course Dream. Reservations opened at midnight on 31st October for the next four months, and given the pedigree of both chef and location, securing a table might prove challenging.

43 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QR

Market Place - New Food Hall Coming to Leicester Square

It seems every month, London has another food hall opening, this time bang slap in the middle of Leicester Square. This December sees the arrival of Market Place's flagship food hall, a five-storey building that's set to be one of the largest and most ambitious food hall experiences the UK has seen.

The Market Place gang—who've already won over Londoners with their popular outposts in St Paul's, Vauxhall, Peckham and Harrow—are going all out for their West End debut, with sixteen kitchens and three bars spanning the entire building, plus a dedicated events space complete with a big screen for major sporting and cultural events.

Whilst the specific traders haven't been announced yet, expect the usual Market Place mix of London's best-loved street food vendors dishing up global flavours, alongside a packed programme of comedy, live music and DJ sets.

Set Lunch Deal Offers

This month, we have some cracking set lunch deals, including a fine dining treat in the lovely Bruton Place.

Nipotino

Hopefully, you've had a chance to read my review of Nipotino (see above), but if not, circle back to get a flavour of Mayfair's neighbourhood Italian. Whilst I was enjoying lunch at Nipotino, I noticed they offer a great value set lunch menu: two courses £23 and three for £27.

Franco's

The iconic Italian based in St James's (est. 1945) has launched a new set lunch menu, with a first starter course, a pasta and soup course and then a main. The three courses will set you back £46 (add £4 to include dessert), but if you just want two courses, it's £38.

The Cocochine

If fine dining is your thing, I'm hearing very good things about Larry Jayasekara's set menu at his restaurant on Bruton Place. I hope to experience the set menu for myself next month (the things I do for this website). The main selection includes their slow Rowler Farm beef pie, not to be missed. Anyhow, to experience the set lunch, it will cost you £29 for two courses and £39 for three courses.

Lilibet's Mayfair

On the fine dining theme, the newly opened Lilibet's special lunch menu provides a 2-course menu for £29 and a 3-course menu for £34. Mains include fillet of gurnard and chicken Milanese, and dessert choices include their signature strawberry and vanilla cheesecake or a chocolate mousse. If their set lunch menu is a good as the meal I had last week we are in for a treat.

Trending Articles on the mayfairfoodie

A few of the most viewed articles on the Mayfair Foodie website this month:

First up, my recent review of Marjorie's in Soho is trending; I popped in for a drink last week and it was busy. It is well worth a visit.

Obviously, there were a lot of thirsty people in or going to Mayfair this month, judging by the views on my Best Pubs in Mayfair article.

Recipes: two standouts in terms of traffic are Skate Wing in Brown Butter and Prawn & Pea Risotto. I'm so pleased, as both dishes are big favourites in our household.

Lastly, my updated review of my beloved HexClad pans has been receiving a lot of attention.

Next Month

Next month looks busy, and it's my last month of restaurant reviews this year, as December is silly season for restaurants, so they don't need me getting in the way.

We kick off with a night out at the new cocktail bar Kamara, which opened in Soho recently. Then next week it’s a visit I'm checking out another lunch deal, this time at fine dining The Cocochine in Bruton Place and the following day its off to Thai Square in Trafalgar Square for na Jubilee Christmas tasting and a Christmas light switch-on celebration. There might be one or two other restaurant visits but as we speak these are yet to be confirmed.

I'm also planning more on adding recipes, and advanced warning: I'm starting work on the Christmas quiz, which will be published in our pre-Christmas newsletter. Last year's quiz was very popular, even if I did get one of the answers wrong!

Have a great month, and look forward to catching up with you at the end of November. As always, thanks for taking the time to read.

Best,

Martin (The Mayfair Foodie)

[email protected]
www.mayfairfoodie.com
Instagram @themayfairfoodie

If you missed Septembers round-up please click here