Great Britain might have long been famous for its love of tea and fish ‘n’ chips, but in recent years we have also made a name for ourselves as a centre for innovative, cutting edge cuisine. In the last decade or so, there have been more food related start-up businesses in the United Kingdom than in any other sector, which is extraordinary considering you need a considerable amount of start up finance to kick start a food venture. We look at four of the best new restaurants in the UK that you simply must check out.
Sushi Dog, London
When two lifelong friends were unsuccessful in their search for a Sushi restaurant that served the cuisine the way they liked it – freshly made and easy to eat – they decided to start their own.
The concept of the product is simple; sushi is made to order for each customer and is designed to be eaten on the go. Customers choose either a roll or a bowl to start which they can fill with a large range of delicious and freshly prepared ingredients. Customers can choose from a list of signature recommendations or can simply create their own with their favourite combinations.
If you go for the build-your-own option, there are four steps to follow. You first choose either the roll or the bowl which are priced at £6.95 and £7.95 respectively. The second step is picking your choice of filling with options including salmon, tuna, prawn tempura, chicken katsu and beetroot. There are options for meat lovers, vegetarians and even halal food. Selecting the sauce is the next step; there’s soy, Japanese mayo, sriracha mayo, sesame, ponzu and teriyaki to choose from. Lastly, you can go for add-ons such as avocado, cucumber, spinach, beans, seaweed salad, sesame seeds, pickles, onions, ginger and chilli flakes.
The founding duo set out with a mission to create a young, fun sushi brand that served up maximum convenience as well as taste to Londoners, and they have obviously delivered something people were looking for as it has done extremely well.
Address: Westfield London, Shepherds Bush, Ariel Way, W12 7GF
Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Cornwall
This two Michelin star restaurant is located at the top of Port Isaac, overlooking the rugged Cornish coastline, and is one of the most celebrated, highly rated restaurants in the UK currently.
The restaurant exclusively serves one set seafood menu for dinner in order to be able to highlight the best, most sustainable seafood that has been caught fresh off the Cornish coast that day. With a focus on simple, honest seafood cookery, coupled with respect for the fish and for the environment, the kitchen turns out truly exceptional food and a truly exceptional dining experience.
What does Nathan put the restaurant’s extraordinary success down to? Attention to detail and an honest approach to food. It is an ethos that has clearly paid dividends as it has won him legions of fans and two Michelin stars to his name.
Address: 6 New Rd, Port Isaac PL29 3SB, UK
EartH Kitchen
A recently launched venture by Auro Foxcroft and Chris Gillard, EartH Kitchen is situated in a former Art Deco cinema in Dalston, London.
Both founders have extensive experience in the food and retail business, and a passion for using the best available seasonal ingredients.
With a heavy emphasis also on music, good food is paired with a programme of specially curated musical themes: late night jazz sessions, weekend sets by top DJs and label takeovers and EartH Kitchen’s cocktail bar is also a great spot to finish, or start, your night. But the focus remains on providing good quality food in an enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere.
The lunch menu includes items such as Wild Garlic Soup, Spinach & Coconut Dahl with Rice, Rarebit & Bacon Toastie and Bella di Cerignola Olives and runs from 12 pm to 3 pm every day.
The dinner timings are from 6 pm to 11 pm, and some of the main dishes include Jerk Ox Heart & Aubergine, Brown Shrimp, Kohlrabi, Fennel & Cucumber, Pardina Lentils, Beetroot, Kale & Goat’s Curd, Braised Lamb Shoulder, Crispy Polenta & Pickled Raisins.
It also has a wide range of desserts and with dishes priced for affordability, it’s a hugely popular dining experience no matter what your budget.
Address: 11-17 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 8BH, United Kingdom
Deliciously Ella, London
Deliciously Ella is one of the best examples of how a simple blog can take you to extraordinary heights. Deliciously Ella started as a food blog that focused on how to live healthily by following a plant-based diet. The blog’s popularity exploded in the years that followed and has to date had over 130 million hits.
As the blog became more successful, Ella Woodward went on to start using social media to help launch supper clubs and cookery classes before moving on to the development of a Deliciously Ella app which went straight to number one in the food and drink category on UK app stores. Next followed a cookbook which was published in January 2015 and became the best-selling debut cookbook of all time in the UK, topping the New York Times bestseller list that year and has now been translated into 22 languages.
The next natural step was to enter the food business, which she did with her now-husband Matthew Mills. They joined forces and used their combined talents in business development and food to launch a deli which grew to a chain of delis. As has been much publicised, the delis closed after incurring considerable losses, but the remaining Deliciously Ella restaurant is still enduringly popular and remains a testament to the possibilities and hopes that lie in small beginnings; something that all startups can relate and aspire to. Now, in addition to the restaurant, the brand has expanded even further and Ella has created her own product line which is currently stocked in more than 6000 stores in the UK including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Aldi.
Address: 18 Weighhouse St, Mayfair, London W1K 5LU, UK
