11 Abingdon Road, London
11 Abingdon Road is the latest addition to Rebecca Mascarenhas's portfolio of neighbourhood restaurants, which includes Sonny's in Barnes and the Phoenix in Putney. The restaurant offers a seasonal menu of modern British food with daily specials. It has four interconnecting rooms decorated with Mascarenhas's contemporary art collection.
- Opened: 24 October
- Owner: Rebecca Mascarenhas
- Head chef: Greg Blampied
- General manager: Ian Powrie
- Capacity: 100
- Food: Typical la carte dishes include spiced chickpea and carrot soup, veal saltimbocca, pan-fried Cornish plaice with braised lentils, buttered leeks and coriander pesto, and chocolate brownie with hazelnut ice-cream.
- Prices: Expect to pay about 27 for three courses la carte without wine.
- Address: 11 Abingdon Road, London W8 6AH
- Telephone: 020 7937 0120
Pied à Terre, London
This two-Michelin-starred restaurant in London's Fitzrovia has risen from the ashes after a fire forced it to close last year. It has been refurbished with suede walls, cream leather banquettes and rosewood furniture to give it a more spacious feel. It now has a private dining room and a new bar, too.
- Reopened: 3 October
- Owners: David Moore and Shane Osborn
- Head chef: Shane Osborn
- Capacity: Restaurant 40, private dining room 12
- Food: Expect signature dishes such as seared and poached fois gras alongside lighter options like pan-fried wild sea bass with creamed shallots, roasted salsify and cèpes.
- Prices: Set lunch is priced at £24.50 for two and £29.50 for three courses; ˆ la carte dinner is £45 for two and £55.50 for three courses; the tasting menu is set at £75.
- Address: 34 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NH
- Telephone: 020 7636 1178
Bash Bar, Birmingham
Bash Bar is housed in a former "spit-and-sawdust Brummie boozer", which has been transformed into a bar based on a 1920s speakeasy style. Interiors feature low lighting, walnut floors, dark red walls and couches. Tapas are served with cocktails and the bar also offers an extensive whisky list. Resident DJs play on weekends.
- Opened: 3 October
- Owner, head chef and general manager: Ami Sanobar
- Capacity: 100
- Food: Choose from the tapas menu or try the moules marinires, seared red mullet or home-made free-range burger with hand-cut chips.
- Prices: £10 per person for drinks and a mixed bowl of tapas; £7 for a main course
- Address: 84b New Street, Birmingham B2 4BA
- Telephone: 0121-633 3852
Isis, London
Formerly a Moroccan bar and nightclub, Isis has reopened after an eight-month refurbishment in a new Lebanese guise. The restaurant now features typical "Middle Eastern" interiors, with draped curtains, lanterns and cushions. Menus include a mixture of classic and contemporary Lebanese dishes. Isis opens from 5pm to 3am Monday to Saturday.
- Opened: 3 November
- Owner: Wahid Mekhaiel
- Executive chef: Abo Mahmoud
- General manager: Anthony Rawlence
- Capacity: Restaurant 100, bar 70
- Food: Start with hot or cold meze including hummus or falafel, then have lamb for your main course in dishes such as lahem meshwi or kibbeh bil sayniyeh.
- Prices: Three-course ˆ la carte menu £25, excluding wine
- Address: 50 Dover Street, London W1S 4NY
- Telephone: 020 7409 0822