Dishoom Shoreditch
The team behind Dishoom, the Bombay-style café in Covent Garden, has opened a second branch in Shoreditch. Like the original restaurant, Dishoom Shoreditch has a beautifully dishevelled interior, which pays homage to the Irani cafés that were once common in Bombay.

On the menu you’ll find lamb raan (the house special), chicken and pomegranate salad, masala prawns, and chole-chawal (a big bowl of spiced chickpeas with homemade sauce and fragrant steamed rice).

Dishoom Shoreditch is currently in a “soft opening” phase in the run-up to the official launch on 19 October, and is offering a 50 per cent discount.

Beard to Tail
Quirky cocktail bar Callooh Callay now has a sister restaurant, Beard to Tail. As you might guess from the name, the eatery serves a carnivorous menu of dishes made from all parts of the animal.

Head chef Dan Thrippleton buys whole carcasses and butchers the meat in-house, making sure that nothing is wasted. Meat lovers can try bearded pig cheeks with ginger and dill pickle or the signature Rumpie Pumpie Suffolk pork rump for two to share.

There’s also a deli counter where you can get tea, coffee and light bites, and a bar serving craft beers and whiskey and bourbon-based cocktails.

Colbert
Rex Restaurant Associates, owners of The Wolseley and The Delaunay, have opened a new restaurant on Sloane Square. Inspired by French pavement cafés, Colbert is an informal eatery serving classic Parisian food.

The menu includes moules marniniere, steak Diane and a large selection of eggs (from omelettes to Florentine) and croques (including monsieur, madame and more unusual varieties such as croque New York).

For those with a sweet tooth, there are breakfast patisseries, tartes, biscuits and ice cream. The wine list is exclusively French, with many wines available by the glass.

Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack
Billed as “a seaside restaurant in the city”, Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack has just opened in the West End following the success of a pop-up seafood shack in Hackney last year.

The menu focuses on simple dishes that make the most of the day’s catch, such as Isle of Lewis mussels with Aspell cider and Cumbrian bacon, and west coast Scottish lobster with shoestring fries and garlic butter. Food is available to take away at lunchtime.

Even the cocktails have a seaside theme. Try the Bonnie Mary ­- vodka with clamato (made from tomato juice and clam broth), sea-inspired spices and a choice of fresh oyster or grilled prawn garnish.

More New London Restaurants and Bars
Other recent openings include:

• Edwin’s French wine bar and restaurant in Shoreditch
• Chooks chicken restaurant in Muswell Hill
• 1776, an elegant dining room at 1 Lombard Street, where you order cocktails using an iPad
• Bounce, which combines cocktails, high-end dining and table tennis
• Be At One Guildhall, where you can enjoy cocktails and food in the heart of the City

Look out for more London restaurant news soon!