London restaurant openings are a constant. The foodie scene in the capital is one of the biggest growing in the world, and 2015 will see no change.
Our calendars are set to rapidly fill up with this year's openings, with famous chefs and restaurateurs opening new ventures, and well-established brands expanding into new areas. There'll be so much to eat, your poor fridge might start to feel abandoned - and your bank account might have to take you aside for a word.
The only way to keep up a healthy relationship with the restaurants is to stay ahead of the game - and so we present to you a diary of the most exciting openings for the year.
Many of the restaurants often have a 'soft launch' before they officially open, although they are rarely announced in advance. Catherine Hanly, who runs the website Hot Dinners tells us:
"Keeping up with London's hectic restaurant scene can be ruinous to the purse, but there are ways to limit the damage. Most new London places open unofficially for a few days ahead of their official launch, often charging just 50% of the food bill while they work out any kinks in the service. To keep up to speed follow restaurant news websites like Hot Dinners on Twitter, like the Facebook pages of any restaurants you're interested in and sign up for their newsletters, as that's often how they announce soft launches."
Scroll down to see some of the best just-opened and upcoming restaurants for the year.
Bad Egg
Where is it? 1 Ropemaker Street, Moorgate
When does it open? Open now, and brunches begin in February
What's the story? Inspired by the modern diners of Chicago, Bad Egg offers a killer brunch as well as an all day menu, from the team behind the Princess of Shoreditch, Smokehouse (who are opening a second branch in Chiswick this February) and The Pig and Butcher.
What's the food like? In a word, egg-heavy. In a few more, a fresh, worldly mix of ribs, burgers and tacos, many of which feature eggs (think shakshouka, or huevos rancheros).
Kitty Fisher's
Where is it? 10 Shepherd Market, Mayfair
When does it open? It opened just before the end of 2014, get booking!
What's the story? Hot young chefs Tomos Parry of Climpson's Arch and Chris Leach of Pitt Cue Co have joined forces to create a fine dining venture in Shepherd's Market, a tiny hideaway in Mayfair. So far, so hoity-toity, until you hear the restaurant is named after a famous 18th courtesan from the area.
What's the food like? The wood grill (aka barbeque) cooks up British classics from lamb cutlets to sea bass. But vegetarians, fear not - the grilled vegetables are not to be missed.
Sky Garden
Where is it? 20 Fenchurch Street, The City
When does it open? Open now
What's the story? At the top of the new 'Walkie Talkie' building, the Sky Garden is a viewing platform within a beautiful conservatory, that also happens to include two restaurants, and a bar
What's the food like? The Fenchurch bar and grill focuses on seafood, as well as seasonal meat dishes, while the Darwin Brasserie offers lighter options like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes.
Pedler
Where is it? 58 Peckham Rye, Peckham
When does it open? Open now
What's the story? A "neighbourhood" restaurant offering seasonal brunch, afternoon tea and cocktails on top of its usual lunch and dinner fare
What's the food like? Changing daily, it's a mix of classic dishes cooked with seasonal vegetables and a wholesome twist
Pennethorne's
Where is it? Somerset House, Strand
When does it open? Open now
What's the story? Not content with the wealth of amazing restaurants within its walls, Somerset House's latest is Pennethorne's, a Grand Tour inspired cafe-bar.
What's the food like? The all-day menu is inspired by Somerset House architect James Pennethorne's travels around Europe with pastries baked on site and a strong French and Italian leaning.
Jinjuu
Where is it? 15 Kingly Street, Soho
When does it open? Open now
What's the story? Celebrated Korean chef Judy Joo, who has worked under Gordon Ramsay, is opening her first restaurant in London.
What's the food like? A collection of Korean small plates, such as kimchee, Korean fried chicken - that are becoming more and more popular on the London restaurant scene.
Fourteenth Colony
Where is it? 45 Clerkenwell Road, Clerkenwell
When does it open? Opening for a soft launch on January 26th, full opening on February 14th
What's the story? The former site for trendy diner/deli Giant Robot in Clerkenwell is being transformed into a "Brooklyn-inspired" eatery. That's Brooklyn the area in New York, not the eldest son of the Beckhams, by the way.
What's the food like? Promising New York-style (aka endlessly decadent) brunches and tasty burgers and grills in the evening, it sounds very easy to like.
Duck and Rice
Where is it? 90 Berwick Street, Soho
When does it open? January
What's the story? Hot Dinners say "Alan Yau (the chef behind Wagamama and Busaba Eathai) is back with a bang in 2015 with a host of new openings. These two sound the most interesting. Duck and Rice will be Yau's Chinese take on the gastropub, while Park Chinois will be a diner inspired by 1940s Shanghai."
What's the food like? Delicious Chinese food, of course. On the site of former gastropub The Endurance, Yau will add a Chinese twist to the British tradition.
Social Wine
Where is it? James Street, Marylebone
When does it open? Late January
What's the story? Jason Atherton's mighty restaurant empire (with Social restaurants dominating what seems like half of Soho) continues to expand with this tapas and wine bar. Atherton is also launching Sosharu, a Japanese-inspired restaurant this year.
What's the food like? Informal, but certain to be delicious, tapas - the emphasis really is on the wine bar feel, but with Atherton's touch, you can trust the food won't be an afterthought.
Bocca di Lupo spinoff
Where is it? Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho
When does it open? Spring
What's the story? Catherine from Hot Dinners says, "Jacob Kennedy's Bocca di Lupo (and its spin-off ice cream bar Gelupo) is a much-loved Soho institution. Little is known about this new building, right next to the Ape and Bird on Shaftesbury Avenue, but expect it to be a huge hit."
What's the food like? Italian, we expect, but there are no further details at present.
Blixen
Where is it? 65A Brushfield St, Spitalfields
When does it open? February
What's the story? Catherine from Hot Dinners tells us "Clive Watson (who opened Riding House Cafe) is in charge here and he always brings an incredible energy to his projects - he's billing it as an 'informal take on a grand European brasserie' which sounds just right for Spitalfields."
What's the food like? Blixen will be an all-day brasserie, moving from breakfast through to dinner with classic dishes as well as a pared-down wine list and a cocktail selection.
Le Chabanais
Where is it? 8 Mount Street, Mayfair
When does it open? March
What's the story? Hot Dinners say "Chef Paul Boudier is at the vanguard of the new Parisian food movement, so news that he was bringing his style of cooking to London's had foodies in a froth of excitement. The buzzword you'll want to bandy about here is bistronomy."
What's the food like? French. Bistronomy is a movement amongst French chefs similar to the more relaxed gastropub feel of many London restaurants today, rejecting the requirements for cooking school qualifications, so expect some classics, with a twist.
Streetxo
Where is it? 15 Old Burlington Street, Mayfair
When does it open? June
What's the story? Hot Dinners say "Another famed European chef coming our way is Spain's David Muñoz, who is behind Madrid's three Michelin starred Diverxo. He's bringing his paired down venture StreetXO to the UK this summer."
What's the food like? Spanish-inspired - but forget the tapas, this will be inspired by Muñoz's travels around the world for a "unique representation of streetfood".
11 Park Walk
Where is it? 11 Park Walk, Chelsea
When does it open? August
What's the story? Hot Dinners say "Gordon Ramsay's return to Chelsea is a little slice of restaurant history - as this is the site where he made his name with Aubergine. It won't be fine dining, but Big Sweary is keeping schtum on his exact plans for his old restaurant."
What's the food like? No one knows yet. Mysterious...
New branches of old favourites
But it's not just all 'out with the old, in with the new', some of our favourite restaurants are rapidly expanding too, with highly-anticipated second (or third, or higher numbers) branches opening in different areas. Posh fish and chip shop Kerbisher and Malt are opening an EC1 branch on Rosebury Avenue in late January, Boom Burger is expanding to Brixton in February, Grind and Co are opening the London Bridge-based London Grind in February and a Covent Garden branch in May offering coffee, cocktails and an evening menu. But, of course, the most highly anticipated is MeatLiquor's Islington store, due to open in the height of summer.
For more restaurant news and updates on new openings, visit hot-dinners.com
Words: Victoria Gray, Images: Rex Features/restaurants' own
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