All good things come to an end and, with 2018 about to enter the history books, here are our 40 favourite restaurant launches from the past year to keep on your to-do list for 2019
1 Brat, Shoreditch (featured image)
Why go: 2018’s most talked-about opening is usually packed to the rafters with celebs, chefs, fashionistas and generally cool people
Must order: The puffed-up naan bread slathered with oil, chives and intensely flavoured anchovies
64 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ
2 Hide Above, Mayfair
Why go: Ollie Dabbous’ mammoth opening features three floors of eating and drinking opportunities, topped off with this tasting-menu only outfit on the upper level
Must order: The breathtakingly subtle red mullet served in a bread and saffron sauce
85 Piccadilly, W1J 7NB
3 Cornerstone, Hackney
Why go: Former Outlaw’s at The Capital head chef Tom Brown serves up spectacular seafood at his debut restaurant
Must order: The buttery crumpet dripping with warm potted shrimps
3 Prince Edward Road, E9 5LX
4 Sabor, Mayfair
Why go: The breakout star of Barrafina, chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho serves up elevated tapas and remixed Spanish staples at her first solo restaurant.
Must order: The bombas de chocolas, a trio of doughnuts dolloped with a sticky mess of chocolate and coffee sauces
35 Heddon Street, W1B 4BS
5 Imperial Treasure, St James’s
Why go: The renowned Asian brand’s luxurious three-storey UK outpost is the best Chinese restaurant to have opened in London since A Wong, with Peking duck carved tableside and deftly handled dim sum
Must order: A reinvented lemon chicken coated in almond flakes with a side of citrussy sauce
9-10 Waterloo Place, SW1Y 4BE
6 Roganic, Marylebone
Why go: Dainty but dynamic tasting menus are the draw at this resurrection of Simon Rogan’s much-lauded pop up
Must order: The seaweed custard with its savoury notes of caviar
5-7 Blandford Street, W1U 3DB
7 Scully, St James’s
Why go: Ex-Nopi chef Ramael Scully takes diners on a culinary journey, using his melting-pot heritage as inspiration
Must order: The barbecued beef tendons topped with smoky oyster mayo
4 St James's Market, SW1Y 4AH
8 Kerridge’s Bar & Grill, Whitehall
Why go: The Corinthia hotel plays host to Tom Kerridge’s first London restaurant, reproducing legendary dishes from The Hand and Flowers along with some sophisticated new classics.
Must order: The signature glazed Parmesan omelette, here pimped up with lobster
Corinthia Hotel, 10 Northumberland Avenue, SW1A 2BD
9 Two Lights, Shoreditch
Why go: The third restaurant from The Clove Club team serves a European-style menu with playful injections of Asian influence
Must order: The katsu sando, which swaps out the typical pork filling for fried breadcrumb-coated sardines and pickled lettuce
28-30 Kingsland Road, E2 8AA
10 Coal Office, King’s Cross
Why go: An on-trend brick warehouse in Coal Drops Yard with a seductively hypnotic buzz serves as a tremendous backdrop to Tom Dixon’s greatest design hits and a menu of Middle Eastern small plates
Must order: Addictive kubaleh bread to scoop up the sweet and sour of tomato confit
2 Bagley Walk, N1C 4PQ
11 Evelyn’s Table, Soho
Why go: In the cellar of Chinatown boozer The Blue Posts, you’ll find this chef’s counter turning out accomplished small plates with a southern European accent
Must order: The beautifully cooked hake, served with capers and olive oil-soaked croutons
28 Rupert Street, W1D 6DJ
12 Brigadiers, Monument
Why go: JKS restaurants has taken on the City’s suits with this expansive, riotous Indian barbecue grill
Must order: The barbecue butter chicken wings, smeared with ghee and cashew cream
1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR
13 Titu, Mayfair
Why go: With only 15 seats, this unassuming gyoza bar is the definition of small but perfectly formed, and prices aren’t bad for Mayfair either
Must order: The warmly spiced chicken and foie gras dumpling
1A Shepherd Street, W1J 7HJ
14 Sorella, Clapham
Why go: Robin Gill has re-invented his Manor site with this neighbourhood-cum-destination restaurant which seduces diners with its excellent Italian fare
Must order: The sourdough bread served with a trio of melted parmesan, pressed olives and ricotta
148 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6BX
15 Kutir, Chelsea
Why go: An entrancing series of dining rooms, tricked out with Zoffany wallpaper, sets the scene for delicate and distinct modern Indian cooking
Must order: The 24-hour lamb rogan josh served alongside an offal samosa
10 Lincoln Street, SW3 2TS
16 Cora Pearl, Covent Garden
Why go: The fashionable follow-up to Kitty Fisher's is the rarest of all pearls, encompassing a raffish basement bar and high-ceilinged, ground-floor restaurant
Must order: Veal fillet accompanied by celeriac purée and a jug of Bordelaise sauce with bone marrow
30 Henrietta Street, WC2F 8NA
17 Leroy, Shoreditch
Why go: A 100-bin wine list and bistro-style food in the mould of a Parisian ‘cave’ ticks all of the boxes at this newbie from the Ellory team
Must order: Lamb sweetbreads with morel mushrooms and a nettle and wild garlic sauce
18 Phipp Street, EC2A 4NU
18 Greyhound Café, Fitzrovia
Why go: This zany, style-conscious café doesn’t always get it right, but its winning moments make a visit worth it
Must order: The crispy pork knuckle served with a box of sticky rice
37 Berners Street, W1T 3NB
19 Caractère, Notting Hill
Why go: The first restaurant from husband-and-wife Diego Ferrari and Emily Roux is a determinedly contemporary affair that passes its test of Caractère with flying colours
Must order: Roast wild duck breast with fondant chervil root and blackberries
209 Westbourne Park Road, W11 1EA
20 Ukai, Notting Hill
Why go: Ukai is a magnet for world-class drinks, live music and an astonishingly good Japanese restaurant tucked away at the rear
Must order: A lavish lobster tail tempura with yuzu mayonnaise
240 Portobello Road, W11 1LL
21 St Leonards, Shoreditch
Why go: Chefs Jackson Boxer and Andrew Clarke cook over a log-fired hearth at this sequel to Brunswick House
Must order: The whole red mullet with cucumber, garlic and yoghurt
70 Leonard Street, EC2A 4QX
22 RedFarm, Covent Garden
Why go: A Xerox of the West Village original, RedFarm’s first international outpost grafts a frenetic fast-food ethos onto Cantonese cooking
Must order: The banquet classic of shrimp-stuffed chicken
9 Russell Street, WC2B 5HZ
23 The Frog, Hoxton
Why go: Leapfrog your way to Hoxton Square to indulge in MasterChef alumnus Adam Handling’s inventive tasting menus
Must order: Butter whipped with chicken fat, topped with crispy chicken skin and served with sourdough
45-47 Hoxton Square, N1 6PB
24 Kym’s, City
Why go: Respectful updates of the familiar high-street Chinese repertoire await at Andrew Wong’s Bloomberg Arcade-based restaurant, with never-less than delicious results
Must order: The DIY crispy duck with pancakes and slices of sour plum
19 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR
25 Berenjak, Soho
Why go: JKS Restaurants have once again hit the jackpot with this snug Middle Eastern equivalent of their Sri Lankan smash-hit Hoppers.
Must order: The kabab torki, a gourmet reboot of the post-pub guilty pleasure of chips and kebab meat
27 Romilly Street, W1D 5AL
26 The Petersham, Covent Garden
Why go: A sibling to the Richmond original, serving a menu of Italian-accented grown-up dishes in an elegant setting
Must order: The delightful fish stew of lobster, red gurnard and squid
27-31 King Street, WC2E 8JB
27 Zuaya, Kensington
Why go: Ambitious Mexican street food and clever riffs on ceviches are the draw at this foliage-strewn restaurant
Must order: Suckling pork belly in a Peruvian stew of pepper, chillies and tamarind
35 Kensington High Street, W8 5BA
28 Neptune, Bloomsbury
Why go: Seafood-centric cuisine brings a welcome flourish of glamour and personality to Bloomsbury’s Kimpton Fitzroy London hotel
Must order: A fresh seafood platter accompanied by soda bread and seaweed butter
Kimpton Fitzroy London, corner of Guilford Street and Russell Square, WC1B 5BE
29 Aulis, Soho
Why go: Chef Simon Rogan sets the bar high with his intimate eight-seater chef’s table, an interactive dining experience set in a Soho alleyway
Must order: Pork with smoked eel and hay
St Anne’s Court, W1F 0BN
30 Freak Scene, Soho
Why go: This firecracker of a chef’s counter features Kurobuta’s greatest hits to the tune of an indie playlist and wall projections of Japanese game show Takeshi’s Castle
Must order: Grilled aubergine with a crunch of caramelised walnuts
54 Frith Street, W1D 4SL
31 Kyseri, Fitzrovia
Why go: Selin Kiazim of Oklava fame has repeated her success with this little slice of Turkish heaven right by Warren Street station
Must order: The dainty, but punchy lamb and loquat skewer
64 Grafton Way, W1T 5DN
32 Hicce, King’s Cross
Why go: A warehouse-style space in the hot new Coal Drops Yard complex provides a sleek backdrop for Pip Lacey’s healthy wood-fired cooking
Must order: Lamb neck with mojo and tomatoes
Unit 2, Eastern Coal Drop, N1C
33 Sushisamba, Covent Garden
Why go: This Covent Garden outpost of the glamorous Sushisamba might have lost its spectacular skyscraper view, but its stylish interiors and buzzy atmosphere are still bang on the money
Must order: The El Topo sushi roll layered with salmon, mozzarella, jalapeños and crispy shallots
Opera Terrace, The Piazza, WC2E 8RF
34 Daddy Bao, Tooting
Why go: A buzzy atmosphere and great-value pillowy bao buns make this a truly exciting addition to Tooting’s restaurant scene
Must order: The slow-braised pork belly bao pepped up with house pickles, peanuts and coriander
113 Mitcham Road, SW17 9PE
35 Onima, Mayfair
Why go: Cartier’s former watchmaking HQ sets the glitzy backdrop for this five-storey members club serving sunny Mediterranean cooking
Must order: The standout chocolate cookies semifreddo with a salted caramel sauce
1-3 Avery Row, W1K 4AJ
36 Bryn Williams at Somerset House, Covent Garden
Why go: In a dramatic Somerset House setting, Bryn Williams (of Odette’s fame) showcases the power of vegetables, placing them centre stage on the plate
Must order: The kale and pesto tagliatelle served with a mound of grated parmesan
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
37 Stem, Mayfair
Why go: Chef Mark Jarvis’s third restaurant in as many years is a touch more high-end than his previous offerings, but succeeds with excellent main courses and slick service
Must order: The roast saddle of lamb with artichoke, courgette and basil
5 Princes Street, W1B 2LF
38 Lina Stores, Soho
Why go: The legendary Italian deli now has its own pasta joint, tiny in size but big on flavour
Must order: The gamey veal ravioli, given added crunch via a smattering of breadcrumbs
51 Greek Street, W1D 4EH
39 Parsons, Covent Garden
Why go: This jolly little seafood joint, decked out in fishmonger-style tiles, is perfect for pre- and post-theatre dining
Must order: Octopus tentacle with pork-fat potatoes
39 Endell Street, WC2H 9BA
40 Inko Nito, Soho
Why go: This stylish restaurant from Zuma founder Rainer Becker is one to watch, boasting a theatrical wraparound dining counter centred on the action-packed Japanese robata grill
Must order: Fatty cubes of pork belly with a Japanese whisky glaze
55 Broadwick Street, W1F 9QS