September is already proving to be a busy one for London's food scene, with new restaurants opening, food festivals taking over the city and more than a few excuses to eat your way around London. From a brand-new Japanese restaurant in Notting Hill to a festival dedicated entirely to pickles, here's what we're eating and drinking this week.
Be one of the first to try Nakimushi
The big one for the start of the week. The team behind Dorian and Eel Sushi is opening Nakimushi, a three-storey Japanese restaurant bringing two popular former residencies under one roof. Downstairs, Robin Kosuge is serving up ramen, while upstairs Yuji Shimokawa Kelly is taking care of a broader Japanese menu. Expect lobster ramen, red prawn and courgette gyoza, quail tempura and Ibérico-Duroc pork. It opens today, so get in before everyone starts talking about it.
From Monday 7 September | Notting Hill
2. Try Beefbar's new Soho home
The Monaco-born steakhouse Beefbar arrives at Broadwick Soho this week, taking over the former Dear Jackie space. It's going big on Kobe beef, Australian Wagyu and its signature sauces, alongside slightly more playful London-only dishes including Wagyu shepherd's pie and truffle Cordon Bleu.
From Thursday 10 September | Soho
3. Spend Saturday eating your way around East Sheen
More than 20 independent cafés, restaurants, pubs, delis and food businesses are taking part in Sheen Food Fest. It's essentially an excuse to spend a Saturday grazing your way around SW14, with participating venues putting on special food and drink offerings. A subtle reminder that London's food scene transcends Zone 1.
Saturday 12 September | East Sheen
CelebrASIA Returns to Battersea
The three-day celebrASIA is back at Battersea Power Station, celebrating the food, culture and creativity of Southeast Asia. Expect food stalls, live performances, workshops and market stands representing the ASEAN nations, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. It's essentially a weekend-long excuse to eat your way around Southeast Asia without leaving Battersea.
Friday 11–Sunday 13 September | Battersea Power Station
Barnet Food Festival
The Barnet Food Festival takes over the RAF Museum this weekend, with food, drink and producers alongside the museum itself. It runs across both Saturday and Sunday, making it a decent option if you fancy something more street eats than restaurant-reservations.
Saturday 12–Sunday 13 September | RAF Museum
Follow the Twickenham Tasting Trail
On Sunday, A Taste of Twickenham's Tasting Trail returns from 12–5pm, turning the town centre into a giant food crawl. It's free to attend, so you can essentially build your own afternoon of eating and drinking your way around local businesses. Sunday lunch, but make it several lunches.
Sunday 13 September | Twickenham
London's Biggest Pickle Festival
Just when you thought London has enough food festivals, enter The Big Brine. It's taking over Hackney Bridge for a weekend dedicated to pickling, fermentation and all things briny, with more than 30 traders, chef demonstrations, tastings, workshops, talks, DJs and live entertainment. The chef line-up includes Gizzi Erskine, Jay Morjaria, Mursal Saiq, Scott Hallsworth and James Peck, while traders include Miss Kim, Eaten Alive, Sexy Pickles and Yew. There'll also be exclusive pickle-led creations from the likes of Gracey's Pizza and a special festival menu from Brindisa. Turns out all we needed was an entire festival dedicated to pickles.
Saturday 12–Sunday 13 September | Hackney Bridge
Have dinner with a soundtrack at Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound is celebrating its 35th anniversary with Last Orders, a two-night dining experience pairing a five-course menu from chef Brad Carter with a live soundtrack from DJ Ralph Lawson. The menu and music will celebrate three decades of house music, which is certainly one way to make dinner a little less predictable. Dinner and a dance, all under the one roof.
9–10 September | Ministry of Sound, Elephant & Castle
9. Eat bún chả at Godet
Godet is hosting a barbecue party with Ling Ling's on the grill and Two Flints taking over the taps. The menu is built around Vietnamese bún chả, with barbecued pork, beer-brined chicken and a smoked aubergine version, all served with rice noodles, pickled carrot and daikon and fermented pineapple hot sauce. £35 gets you a bowl and two pints of Two Flints, with sittings at 1pm and 3pm and DJs playing until 6pm.
Saturday 12 September | Godet, Essex Road
LPM Gets a Café
The team behind Mayfair favourite LPM is opening a new café inside The Lanesborough this week, bringing a little taste of the Côte d’Azur to Hyde Park Corner. Le Café LPM will be a one-year residency, with a fresh menu alongside a new cocktail list and terrace for those unexpectedly toasty autumnal days. Expect the likes of burrata tartine with tomatoes for lunch, croque monsieur for something more substantial, and of course, some frites. All is set to be served with the relaxed Riviera feel that LPM is known for.
From Wednesday 9th September | Hyde Park Corner
Marrion's new Hackney bar
There's a new neighbourhood bar in town. From Thursday, Marrion's will take over the former Big Night site on Morning Lane, with a drinks list built around classic cocktails, Spanish beers and by-the-glass wines starting at £5. Food is equally unfussy, with snacks including devilled crab rarebit and pork schnitzel Holstein topped with a fried egg.
From Thursday 10th September | Hackney
