The Best Things We Ate This Week

We eat a lot while researching the various guides and reviews you see on our site. And we want to share that food with you. Digitally, not literally, of course. This guide is where you’ll find all of our favourite things we’ve eaten recently, from memorable main courses, to sensational sides, to all the snacks and whatever else in between.

If you’ve eaten something great recently that you want to share with our team, send us an email at london@theinfatuation.com. Now, onto the dishes.

THE BEST THINGS WE ATE THIS WEEK

Jamón tortilla

“The sun has decided to reappear, like a diva making us hold our breath for an encore, which made my lunch at Broken Eggs—a Spanish restaurant in Fitzrovia—feel particularly fitting. The airy spot is straight out of a Kinfolk shoot. The tortilla was a similar butterscotch shade as the walls and had an oozy, gooey centre, a crispy top, and enough structure to hold in the fillings—smoky jamón and soft, buttery potatoes. I wish I lived closer so I could get a slice of Spanish sunshine, tortilla, and a glass of sangria on the regular. ” - Sinéad Cranna, Staff Writer

Cod spring rolls 

“When it comes to visiting a new restaurant opening, I’ve found the menus that read well are usually the ones that disappoint. So with Claude’s—a seafood restaurant in Leicester Square—I ordered from the exciting-sounding menu with caution. In the mix of starters, some were good, some were great, but one stood out. The cod spring rolls were a cross between nostalgic Birds Eye fish fingers and a classic spring roll—this deep-fried snack was filled with perfectly flaky white cod and came with a tangy dill mayo. It was a new twist on the trusty fish finger, and I was very into it.” - Rianne Shlebak, Staff Writer

Gujarati special thali

“Although it only opens at 1pm everyday, I found that Asher’s Africana already had a backlog of orders by quarter past. The cash-only Gujarati restaurant in Wembley has a social club feel to it, with family and friends eager to pile in for wafer-thin roti and comforting curries. Wanting a bit of everything, I opted for the Gujarati special thali. The tray came with five of those ghee-laden roti, two curries (a meltingly good aubergine and potato number, and a salty spinach one), daal, achaar, rice, sweet yoghurt, and two delightful little packed and fragrant samosas. Salty, savoury, sour, and full of spice—it hit all the marks.” - Jake Missing, Senior Staff Writer

Crab toast with shellfish sauce

“Those who have a soft spot for period dramas will fit right in at The Midland Grand Dining Room. The brasserie inside the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is as regal as a National Trust home and, in its flavour-packed crab toast in shellfish sauce, has something as moist, meaty, and daydream-worthy as Mr Darcy after a dip in the lake. The crab—formed into an artful pile and perched upon a square of butter wearing a brioche jacket—bursts with deep, silky flavour that’s only matched by the foamed sauce.” - JM

Chilaquiles 

“I’m fairly certain that the extra hot chilaquiles at Corrochio’s, a Mexican spot in Stoke Newington, can cure hangovers, heartache, and the common cold. The corn tortilla chips—some still crispy, some soggy after soaking up moreish salsa verde—came topped with tender shredded chicken, gooey cheese, and rings of crunchy red onion. The fried egg on top dribbled into the refried beans and the whole thing got mixed together to make a messy, delicious bite. The hot sauce is optional but encouraged, and one plate of these is never enough.” - SC

St. James halloumi sando

“Halloumi should always be crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. And the thick brick of halloumi inside this soft white bread sando in Tab x Tab—a quaint little cafe in Notting Hill—had that perfect balance. The confit garlic mayo and crispy kataifi coating just added to what was an excellent breakfast dish.” - RS

Takoyaki

“Put your trust in the man behind the counter at Jugemu and he’s unlikely to do you wrong. The low-key sushi bar feels uniquely at home in the heart of Soho’s chaos, and a plate of comforting takoyaki will comfort the most frazzled of midweek diners. The fried octopus balls were exactly what I needed, without knowing it myself—as is often the case with fried beige things. The shell was just crisp, and the inside was a wonderfully soft batter of egg and fish. All of which was smothered with kewpie, Worcestershire-heavy takoyaki sauce, and dancing bonito flakes.” - JM

Duck ragù, fazzoletti, crackling

“If there’s a deep, rich pasta ragù on the menu—even in the height of summer, dripping in sweat, makeshift fan fluttering aggressively—I'll order it. The duck ragù at fresh pasta spot Bancone in Borough Yards was eaten under these exact conditions. And it was worth getting the meat sweats for. Tender pieces of duck coated al dente fazzoletti, with pretty scalloped edges. But the best bit was the crackling, broken up into a chunky breadcrumb size. It was a meaty crispy topping I’d like jarred so I can sprinkle it on everything.”- SC

Sogliola alla mugnaia

“I bet you’re sick of hearing things described as buttery, but this whole dover sole gave me no choice but to do it again. This fish from Italian restaurant Sale E Pepe in Knightsbridge was Buttery with a capital B. Deboned and lightly pan-fried to give it those lovely crisp edges, the airiness of each bite could’ve convinced me that they’d plucked it from the water and stuck it in a steamy sauna. There was no need for knives here, this piece of fish flaked away at the touch of a fork. And the olive oil, lemon, and herb sauce was an excellent citrussy addition.”- RS

Comté fries, saffron aioli 

“I would get on a Southeastern train on a weekly basis to eat these fries—and that is the highest compliment I can give anything. It was raining when I sat inside Levan, a wine bar in Peckham, and ate this Jenga stack of fries. They are essentially bougie cheesy chips, but cut into chunky oblongs, coated in chickpea flour, and fried until they’re burnished brown but still fluffy and light inside. Nutty comté is piled on top and provides a satisfyingly gooey cheese pull moment. A generous dollop of garlic-heavy aioli was the perfect condiment for dunking, and almost made me forget I had an hour-long journey home.” - SC

Bitcoin

“Like any sane person I know that sauce is integral to a good burger. And the beef burger at this casual spot on North End Road was filled with a creamy house sauce that tasted like something between Big Mac sauce and spicy mayo. It should be noted that Crypto Burgers didn’t give the option of a single beef patty. You’re having two of these excellent smash patties whether you like it or not. Spoiler: you will. Because when topped with American cheese, house sauce, and grilled onions (choose these instead of regular onions)—it had the perfect ratio of everything.” - RS

Jerk pork and chicken

“The eating, writing, and Rennies lifestyle that this job entails doesn’t point to the mediocrity of most meals eaten. Sometimes it’s necessary to go back to the best of the best to remind my taste buds how good things can be. Tasty Jerk near Crystal Palace never fails in this regard. There’s a reason why we featured it in our Summer 25 bucket list—it’s the #1 jerk in London. Pork belly, so scorched it tastes like it’s got a 50-a-day habit, yet is still meltingly juicy inside. Smoky chicken that surrenders from its bone, begging for a sip of scotch bonnet-charged jerk sauce. It’s always guaranteed to be the best thing that week.” - JM

Sourdough breakfast muffin

“The breakfast muffin at Ozone Coffee Roasters in Shoreditch is exactly what I needed when I didn’t have breakfast and had an all-encompassing hunger pang at midday. The bread was firm enough to support its hefty fillings but with a soft centre and a generous smear of sweet, tangy ketchup on either side. The egg yolk was perfectly runny and the addition of a peppery sausage patty and slice of red Leicester cheese put this into burger territory—which I was not mad about at all.” - SC

Tsofi and plantain

“Much as I love the history that seeps out of every traditional pie and mash shop’s walls, after a liquor-filled afternoon I was thrilled to sit down at Kate’s Cafe, a Ghanaian spot in Plaistow. A plate of tsofi and plantain, complete with fiery shito and pepper sauce, was exactly what my taste buds needed. The meat was crisp and tender, the sauce filled with scotch bonnet, and the plantain irresistibly sweet. You’d think that an afternoon of old-school East End carbs would nullify appetite but for these flavours, never.” - JM

Baklava cheesecake

“It is rare to trust someone within an hour and a half of meeting them, but by the time I ordered the baklava cheesecake at The Lacy Nook, I would’ve trusted the chefs with the small child I don’t have. The creamy, smooth slice of vanilla cheesecake was topped with crispy, flaky layers of filo pastry, speckled with pistachio and sweet with honey. It was a sizable end to a hearty meal, but suits this holiday-feeling restaurant which serves generous Balkan dishes and glasses of crisp white wine in this residential corner of Walthamstow.”- SC

Parihuela

“The anticipation of your order coming is a feeling like nothing else, particularly when you quickly see it could feed an army. The pariheula from Costa Azul, a lively Ecuadorian spot in Elephant and Castle, comes in a bowl big enough to be worn in battle as a helmet. In fact, I think this seafood stew would be an excellent pre-scrap meal. Swimming in tender octopus rings, juicy tilapia, a couple of king prawns, mussels, loose clams, and more shrimp, this restorative stew—salty, peppery, and piled with Rizla-thin red onions—could bring anyone back to life.” - JM

Courgette flowers, ricotta, anchovies

“I ate this while sipping on an Aperol spritz, waiting for a plate of pasta to arrive. But this delicate dish made me momentarily forget both. The courgette had a light, thin batter that had a satisfying crunch. Inside, delicate petals wrapped around creamy ricotta and subtle flecks of anchovy and lemon. It was a summery bite that felt decadent yet vaguely healthy, and would surely convert any anchovy-hater or courgette-sceptic.” - SC

Roasted broccoli taco

“Forget calling them ‘mighty trees’ or hiding them in blitzed pasta sauces. To get children or adult babies to enjoy broccoli, feed them Homies on Donkeys’ roasted broccoli taco. Charred broccoli sits in a chewy, soft taco that’s piled high with sweet, crispy onions, creamy refried beans, and a nutty salsa macha. Sitting at the counter of this Leytonstone Mexican spot, two tacos and one icy horchata deep, I decided this is the only way I want to eat broccoli from now on.” - SC

Spring onion Korean fried chicken

“They say that heat and humidity suppresses appetite but I appear to have found a workaround for that seasonal problem, and it goes by the name of fried chicken. After recently making and enjoying three schnitzels, I was compelled to order a large portion of spring onion KFC from Bonga. This little Korean spot in Kentish Town knows its stuff. The chicken, all tender thigh and perfectly golden batter, arrived in a mountainous pile that was topped with a wig of spring onion salad and slathered in honey mustard dressing. Sweet, savoury, and, for me at least, a taste of summer.” - JM

Fatayer sabanekh

“The average spinach fatayer hides the forest green mixture away like a tangy surprise inside the bready package, but the fatayer at Ishbilia—a Lebanese spot in Knightsbridge—prefers to wear its dough off the shoulder. Chic, right? The ratio of leafy filling to pastry was not what I’m used to, but it didn’t take a lot of convincing to get me on board. The pockets were generously filled, every inch of spinach tasted like it had had a three-hour bath in sumac, the lemons provided just the right amount of citrus, and the bready case was baked to crispy perfection.”- RS 

Mince on toast

“This mince on toast comforted me in a way that previously only Bake Off and a tub of sour cream Pringles had. A thick wedge of toasted brown was topped with rich, sticky mince and lots of cheese, which slowly melted into the still-soft-inside bread. Anything that makes eating toast for dinner socially acceptable is a win for me. And The Pelican in Notting Hill—a pub with dried flowers and flickering candles—made this a more elevated toast experience than my usual one in front of the TV in fluffy pyjamas. ” - SC

Pappardelle guinea fowl

“When money’s tight and you’re boycotting Ryanair, a trip to Anima e Cuore will temporarily sate your needs for an Umbrian getaway. A silky smooth bowl of handmade pappardelle from this local’s favourite Italian in Kentish Town temporarily turned me into a Poundland Stanley Tucci, all closed eyes and pinched fingers. The noodles—soft, springy, and with an all important bite—were slathered in a rich but delicately flavoured ragu packed with strands of gamey, wine-enriched guinea fowl. Molto bene.” - JM

Tuna focaccia

“When walking through Covent Garden, hungry and hot, I caught a glimpse of pizza slices and focaccia through the window of this laid-back Italian spot with outdoor seating. And it immediately made me want to sit down. The airy focaccia was nicely toasted and filled with a tuna mayo mix, a light mozzarella, and seasoned, bright red and orange cherry tomatoes that brought a nice freshness to the whole thing. A great sandwich option in the area, plus the outdoor seating doesn’t hurt either.”- RS

BBQ cucumber, almonds, salt lemon

“This plate of charred, smoky cucumber, from modern European spot Ploussard, got me in the mood for summer. Toasted almonds added a nice nutty crunch and the hits of citrussy lemon throughout were perfectly refreshing after my sweaty train ride to Clapham. The smooth, garlicky sauce underneath was the perfect silky dip for those barbecued cucumbers. And the dainty, edible flowers demanded to be angled every which way in the sun, so that I could commit this picture-perfect dish to my Instagram hall of fame.” - SC

Rabbit agnolotti

“Restaurants are fertile ground for compliments. There’s always opportunity for ‘mmms’ and ‘wows’ but nothing feels quite as emphatic as a dish that needs to be enjoyed more than once. My friends and I were barely a spoon into this luscious agnolotti, all glowing yellow pasta and shimmering velvet sauce, before we ordered another. Having ordered every dish but one from the menu at Leo’s, a new Italian spot on Chatsworth Road, it could’ve felt like overkill. But by the time everyone enjoyed their final chew of these elegant pinches of pasta, and bread had cleaned the last of the meaty brown glaze, there was no doubt. Compliments to the chef and compliments to our greedy decision-making.” - JM

Calzone

"I’ve been following this Hammersmith spot’s Instagram page for months, spying pictures of the paper-thin pizza bases and wondering if the crimson tomato sauce tasted as incredible as it looked. My expectations were high and my patience low after several failed attempts to visit before they sold out. One bite in confirmed Crisp Pizza W6’s pies were worth the hype. However, it was the calzone that had me silently chewing, not knowing whether it was the creamy ricotta or the dough, delightfully soggy from the tomato sauce, that made me push through and have three slices too many. I’m already planning my next visit to this excellent pizza pop-up inside The Chancellors pub.” - RS

Tarte tatin

“If my grandma was French and lived in a farmhouse with blue shutters in the countryside, I imagine this is what her tarte tatin would taste like. Eating this wholesome dessert at La Poule Au Pot, a French restaurant in Belgravia, made me wistful for a relative I've never had and a place I’ve never been. The apples were buttery and perfectly caramelised; the pastry thin, golden, and crisp; and it came with a massive dollop of chantilly cream on top. New core memory unlocked.” - SC

Cochinita pibil

“Some tacos can be gulped seagull-like in one bite. Others collapse from poor structural integrity. And then there are some, like those from Paladar, where the juice runs from your hand towards your elbow after just one chew. The cochinita pibil from this Latin American spot in Elephant and Castle wasn’t just moist, but gloriously wet. The blue corn tortilla held the tender pulled pork resolutely and there was a degree of jaw dislocation required to fit the mound of pig, the pineapple relish, and its pickled onion crown into my mouth in one chomp. Once breached, the floodgates opened—achiote juice spilled, flecks fell, and my hand, quivering in anticipation, went to grab the next.” - JM

Banoffee pie

“The cloud of thick, airy cream made up the majority of this wedge of banoffee pie I hesitantly ordered after eating one too many pizzas at Al Forno, an Italian spot in Wimbledon. And it’s part of the reason why it’s one of the best banoffees I've ever eaten. Each spoonful had a beautifully uneven ratio of biscuit-y base, fresh bananas, and rich toffee sauce. Together it combined into a malty, sweet, fluffy mouthful that’s a great example of when keeping things simple pays off. I could’ve easily polished off another slice after this one. In fact, next time, bring me the whole pie.”- RS

Slip sole and smoked butter

“Anyone who has played the board game Operation knows how satisfying it is when you manage to pull out a bone cleanly. Eating the slipsole at Noble Rot, the European restaurant in Bloomsbury, was the adult equivalent. Delicate, soft fish fell away from the bone with the kind of resistance I put up at the mention of takeaway—feeble. The generous, orange pool of butter it bathed in was flecked with charred bits and spiced with something smoky. I don’t know what, but it was delicious and I would like it poured over my eggs every morning. It’s a deceptively simple-looking plate with just two elements—fish and butter—but both have been elevated to their most decadent form.” - SC

Bún bò huế

“Having tried and failed to go to Hoa Phuong a few times (the tiny cash-only Vietnamese spot in Elephant and Castle has either a hint of mystique about its opening times or is a wind-up merchant), I was thrilled its bún bò huế was worth the wait. The lurid shrimp broth looked positively volcanic and it tasted that way too. Flecks of lemongrass, garlic, ginger, and chilli were all there, on the eye and electrifying my tongue, while cuts of beef were chewy and fatty alongside perfect slices of chả bò. It was made to order by Hoa Phuong’s sole owner and chef who has customers waiting and playing by her rules for very good reason.” - JM

Baked alaska

“I religiously study this Leeds-based dessert spot’s Instagram page and have stared at pictures of the cartoon-looking sundae every day for the last two weeks. But that still didn’t prepare me for just how intense this baked alaska was. Get Baked’s new residency at Neighbourhood in Islington is a one-stop shop for sugar heads. The dark chocolate brownie, with a nice bitterness that complements the tonga vanilla ice cream, blends with the soft Italian meringue that’s been blowtorched to perfection—and collapses in on itself at the touch of a spoon. This is a messy, larger-than-life dessert that you shouldn’t wait until after dinner for.” - RS

Aubergine fatteh

“Aubergine fatteh—a dish that I’ve had many variations of, and made at home plenty of times—is a creamy, yoghurt-heavy dish that, when made well, is a tangy, wholesome combination of flavours. The aubergine fatteh at Fairuz, a charming, rustic-feeling Lebanese spot in Marylebone, is excellent. The aubergine and chickpea concoction is cooked in a smooth garlic yoghurt. The aubergine dissolved in my mouth and the chickpeas, although softened, kept their shape and added a nice bite to the dish. Served with buttery, almond-topped vermicelli rice, this might be my favourite fatteh in London.” - RS

Garlic bread

“There’s much to admire about the creative combinations scattered across Papi’s European-leaning small plates menu. And that extends to the cheesy garlic bread at this buzzing London Fields spot. How will it come? Melted, surely? Oozing, must be? I was wrong on both counts. The light-as-a-feather fermented potato bun is doughnut-like in appearance and texture: grilled to a crisp on top, full of hot pockets of air, and lovely stodgy bits. As for the cheese, that would be the silken ricotta. Smooth enough to claim anti-aging properties, topped with a dusting of dehydrated wild garlic and a pile of the leaves for good measure. A taste sensation, but not as everyone knows it. ” - JM

Chocolate terrine

“The chocolate terrine at St. John in Farringdon is pretty much perfect. And yes, I plan on taking this picture to the hairdressers so they know the exact glossiness and richness I’m aiming for. Know that it’s not just the British restaurant's lighting, this soft, melting terrine was shining like a holy relic. The pistachios dotted throughout gave it a pleasing crunch, but it was otherwise satin-level smooth. Equal parts sweet and bitter, the chocolate was offset by the cream, which was tangy and slightly sour. Eating this terrine while staring at St. John’s stripped-back, cathedral-white bare walls was the closest I’ve come to being able to meditate. Which means I should go daily, right?” - SC

Banoffee pie

“As a self-diagnosed sugar addict, dessert is just as exciting as dinner. And Pizzeria Pappagone—an Italian spot in Elephant and Castle—has the kind of dessert menu that would appeal to both your four-year-old nephew and your grandmother. The banoffee pie, a simple and comforting creation, had enough banana that it could be classed as one of my five a day. The thick cream layer was light yet firm, the banana was sweet and nostalgic, and the caramel biscuit layer on the bottom was something I want packaged and sold in chocolate bar form.” - RS

Marmalade doughnut

“Zapote is a Mexican restaurant in Shoreditch with a classy, expansive black dining room, speckled ceramic plates I’d like to steal, and oak dining chairs with arms that demand to be stroked like a Bond villain’s cat. So I was surprised that, after dishes like beef tartare tacos with bone marrow, dessert was a humble-sounding marmalade doughnut. But it turned out to be a doughnut for grown-ups. The dough was fluffy and dyed black, hundreds and thousands were replaced with crunchy sesame seeds, and a bitter, tangy marmalade gave it a deep, rich flavour.” - SC

Smoked mutton sausage

“For all of the grilling and smoking going on at Kentish Town pub The Parakeet, it was a sausage on a plate that got the biggest tick from me. Said sausage was of the smoked mutton variety, and it oozed and glistened with fat and gamey flavour. This isn’t the kind of sausage you’d degrade between two slices of bread, it’s the kind that deserves to be eaten with your fingers while the fat is still spitting. On the side there was a quenelle of wholegrain mustard that seemed cursory at first, but was a necessary swipe of acidity that this meaty starter needed.” - JM

Beef suadero

“My love for tacos runs deep. So deep that I found myself outside Tacos Padre at the exact moment the shutters opened at 11:55am, and was swiftly asked to wait for five minutes and stop creeping everyone out. The last part was non-verbal, but heavily implied. At the Mexican stall in Borough Market, I opted for the crispy, browned beef cooked in its own fat. It’s a technique I’m calling beef squared, or you could just use the existing name—suadero. It came in a soft, slightly chewy, corn tortilla, topped with finely chopped coriander and white onion, which was the perfect accompaniment to that rich meat and smoky morita salsa. The squeeze of lime shouldn’t be skipped—it brought some much-needed freshness.” - SC

Peshawari chapli kebab

“There’s little room for dithering at a restaurant like Namak Mandi. The cash-only Pashtun restaurant in Tooting is a constantly fizzing, bubbling, flaming, moving, and smoking box. Families and friends bag one of their tables early and for the chaotic, like myself, there’s a row of chairs to patiently wait for your takeaway. It’s a stomach-rumbling wait. Enormous hanging Afghan naans float past like edible comfort blankets and flame-torched woks full of fresh karahi are stirred and swapped. But it’s the flattened, discus-like, crispy chapli kebab—fatty beef mince mixed with chilli, coriander seeds, tomato and ginger—that got me on the phone booking a table.” - JM

Laal maas  

“It’s not a shocker that this Michelin-starred Indian restaurant on Mount Street would have a dish worth raving about. Jamavar has been around since 2016 and it’s still packed out on a Wednesday night, so they must be doing something right. They are, and that something is this incredibly tender slow-cooked lamb shank. Although it took eight hours to cook, it took about eight minutes to disappear off the plate. Beautiful blushing pink lamb slid off the dramatic-looking bone without leaving behind a trace of meat, the red curry sauce was rich and tomatoey, and it could only be improved with a fluffy garlicky naan.” - RS

Mexinese nachos

“When I’m recovering from an argument with my boyfriend about Interior Design Masters (no, you can’t ever have too much rattan), Chick ‘n’ Sours is a safe space where, between the crunch of crispy chicken and soft seeded buns, rattan hate speech can’t hurt me. This week I discovered the Mexinese nachos at the laid-back Seven Dials spot. A perfectly balanced and layered pile of sturdy chips came drizzled with nacho cheese, which didn’t overpower, and topped with tangy kimchi which cut through all the delicious orange goo. A welcome surprise was the accompanying szechuan chicken and bacon ragout, which was chased around the plate with a chip-shovel until there wasn’t a speck left. ” - SC