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December is here and that means it’s time for ou

December is here and that means it’s time for our annual roundup alongside our new reviews for this month. In this article a few regular contributors share their thoughts on 2025 and their hopes/predictions for next year. We also name the most promising new restaurant and the best new bar opening of 2025!* Tap the link in our bio or head to palatemag.co.uk to read it!

And in this post is a quick and random pictorial summary of the year’s highlights, in no particular order…

The apple crumble soufflé at 74 Charlotte Street (set to become an iconic dessert?);

The filet de boeuf at Josephine Marylebone (so much happened in Marylebone this year);

The return of the cheese board at Chez Bruce!;

A Gibson martini with Japanese pickles at Waltz in Shoreditch;

The saffron risotto with bone marrow at Town, the first of Stevie Parle’s two new restaurants;

The tofu at JIP in Paris;

The bouillabaisse croquettes at Maset;

The scallop with celeriac and spruce at Roots in York;

The grilled sugar pit Iberico pork chop with crassane pear, almond purée and gremolata at Wildflowers;

Red mullet with spiced celeriac and yogurt at The Waterman’s Arms in Barnes;

The Clem Fandango at Muse;

Oyster martinis bar The Suffolk in Aldeburgh; and

The Prince which recently opened in Barbican and their Campari Shakerato made on request. Cin cin!

*all entirely subjective and our opinion of course
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#roundup #yearinreview #december #restaurants #palate #cincin #eat #wheretoeat #journalism #foodwriter #goodtimes #foodphoto #martini #instachef #foodguide #bonvivant #reviewoftheyear

Ah, Le Bon Georges. An excellent bistro experience

Ah, Le Bon Georges. An excellent bistro experience and even more fun with a counter seat right by the kitchen, which felt like having your own private chef cooking for you. Oeufs mayonnaise, a veritable tome of a wine list, quail with grapes and roasted celeriac, steak (and the chef here remained very calm throughout - even seemed to be loving it - despite all the steak orders coming in and having to regularly replenish butter supplies). Then, tarte tatin arriving on the pass with a satisfying ping of the bell (guess who that was for). Good times
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#lebongeorges #paris #parisbistro #bistrot #frenchfood #parisrestaurants #classicbistro #parisguide #lunchmeanslunch #lefooding #steak #instachef #comptoir #counterdining #parislife #parisien #bonheur #déjeuner #tartetatin #parisfood #diningout #travel #instafood #foodgram #foodstagram #palate #gourmand #bonvivant #eat #moreismore

When you finally go to a place on your Paris to-do

When you finally go to a place on your Paris to-do list and it exceeds all expectations. Café de l’Usine, in the Belleville area to the east of Canal St Martin (an area full of great restos), is a relatively new bistro by chef and restaurateur Alice Arnoux in a former shoe factory. Not only was the service excellent and remarkably friendly on this visit but the set lunch menu was amazing value (35 Euros for three courses). All with spacious tables (very rare in Paris) and a minimalist, workshop vibe that is reminiscent of St John in Smithfield.

On this visit, a deliciously autumnal squash tarte tatin with a thyme sabayon (yes, tarte tatin in savoury form but pourquoi pas?), leg of venison with cabbage (described in the most impossibly gorgeous way: “embeurré de chou”) with a typically French reduction that probably took days to make, and a simple creamy dessert of mascarpone, pear sorbet and buckwheat. With a Negroni by the fire, glass of vin rouge and an espresso the whole thing came to about 50 quid. No-one is rushed either: your table is yours for the duration. Loved it. Will definitely return
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#cafedelusine #belleville #paris #eastparis #parisfood #autumn #restaurantreview #parisrestaurants #wheretoeat #vibes #cuisinefrançaise #topparisrestaurants #bistro #foodguide #travel #instatravel #traveltips #parisguide #hospitality #minimalist #design #foodie #instafood #instachef #gourmand #déjeuner #formule #lunchmeanslunch #valueformoney

Busy old week soothed by a cheeky jaunt to Paris,

Busy old week soothed by a cheeky jaunt to Paris, heading straight to the ever-reliable Chez Georges of course. Jambon persillé, filet de bœuf, crème caramel, Champagne, Bordeaux splishy-splashy, that slightly hectic service and those hemmed-in tables where you sit so close to your voisins you share the salt and pepper… bliss. All preceded by the Fête du Beaujolais at Noble Rot (photo 5) and checking out the new St Pancras Martini Bar (photo 6). Bon week-end !
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#chezgeorges #paris #weekend #france #bonheur #bonvivant #resto #parisfood #parisguide #wheretoeat #goodtimes #steakfrites #beaujolais #cincin #travel #instatravel #instafood #jambonpersillé #cremecaramel #hospitality #delicious #londontoparis #eurostar #palate #gourmand #moreismore #beautifulmoments #imbibe #carpediem #francophile

As the weather has turned arctic this was the perf

As the weather has turned arctic this was the perfect time to return to the warm embrace of Otto’s. A few new items on the à la carte menu to try this time including the king scallop ravioli with a luxurious lobster bisque, a lightly smoked fillet of sturgeon with a champagne beurre blanc (and caviar, of course), magret de canard à l’orange and those divine pommes soufflés (with Périgord sauce), finishing with a staple dessert, a very well-made tarte tatin. And, as always, such old school but thoughtful service, a phenomenal bottle of Chateau Batailley already decanted ahead of time and a martini just materialising upon sitting down. Wonderful hospitality every single time!

“If less is more just think how much more MORE could be” - Niles Crane
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#ottos #ravioli #lobsterbisque #magretdecanard #carpediem #bonvivant #duckalorange #oldschool #toplondonrestaurants #frenchrestaurant #cosy #vibes #londondining #wheretoeat #moreismore #londongram #foodgram #foodguide #indulgence #lifeistooshort #batailley #pauillac #hygge #goodtimes #tartetatin #gourmet #cuisinefrançaise #londonrestaurants #foodstagram #frenchfood

A delightful and overdue return to Theo Randall’

A delightful and overdue return to Theo Randall’s restaurant at The Intercontinental - now slightly rebranded Theo Randall Cucina Italiana and with a brighter interior design to boot but the food is still excellent, Theo was actually cooking on this visit and they still have the “create your own Negroni” menu which is always a lot of fun. Glad to see it was a full house too with every table occupied. Pictured here are the delicious (and generous) lamb, guinea fowl and pappardelle con ragù di manzo
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#theorandall #italian #italianrestaurant #hydepark #cucina #italianfood #pappardelle #ragu #lamb #comfortfood #instachef #instacook #delicious #toplondonrestaurants #londondining #londonfoodspots #londonfoodscene #hospitality #londonfoodie #foodstagram #eat #moreismore #goodtimes #gourmand #wheretoeat #foodguide

The guinea fowl agnolotti draped in lardo di Colon

The guinea fowl agnolotti draped in lardo di Colonnata and tiramisù at Cicoria in the Royal Opera House (“come for La traviata, stay for lasagne”). A bit of a mixed experience but Angela Hartnett’s new restaurant is generally sound. Link in bio for the full review or head to palatemag.co.uk along with our other new content for November
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#agnolotti #tiramisu #cicoria #coventgarden #royaloperahouse #newrestaurant #restaurantreview #foodie #foodgram #foodstagram #londongram #wheretoeat #londonfoodguide #londonfoodscene #delicious #italian #italianfood #pasta #comfortfood #eat #moreismore #londonrestaurants #tasty #gourmand #lardodicolonnata #latraviata

It’s November and our new full-length reviews an

It’s November and our new full-length reviews and articles are online on the main site, including reviews of Stevie Parle’s Town (pictured here), Angela Hartnett’s new restaurant Cicoria at the Royal Opera House, Didi & Franc in Kennington, and an essay on hidden bars. But first, back to Town where writer Amanda David was generally impressed over two visits (now this has had time to settle in whilst Motorino has just got going). Pictured here: crudo with tomatoes, Todoli grapefruit, basil oil and tomato water; the saffron risotto with bone marrow (ubiquitous on Instagram but it’s divine); and the day boat fish. To read the full review head to palatemag.co.uk or go to the link in our bio

✍️📷 Review and photos by Amanda David
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#town #coventgarden #restaurantreview #londoneats #londonfoodguide #foodwriter #palate #bonemarrow #stevieparle #toplondonrestaurants #londonguide #foodgram #foodstagram #wheretoeat #diningout #foodphoto #design #londonrestaurants #foodie #review #goodtimes #november #thingstodo #weekend

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