A London Italian restaurant with ‘luxurious pasta’ dishes guaranteed to fill you up has just opened

Welcome back to The Slice – our exclusive guide to what’s on in London, where we bring you trusted reviews, sneak previews, and amazing deals and discounts.

We can finally wave goodbye to January. Whether you embraced Dry January or indulged as much as you wanted, we’ve got a line up of things to get excited about this February. 

It’s LGBTQ+ History Month and the month of love, so there is plenty to celebrate. Next week we’ll be running a romantic special to give you some delicious inspo for the big day.

See you next week!

Things to do this week in London

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, here are 11 of the best activities, dining, and drinking spots in the capital.

1. Indulge in a good old roast by the river at Scott’s Richmond

By Courtney Pochin

A pub roast is a dime a dozen, but if you’re looking for a truly unforgettable Sunday lunch, head to Scott’s. If the riverside setting doesn’t impress you, the opulent dining room and five star service undoubtedly will.

The roast options are limited, but you can’t go wrong with beef sirloin. At £34.50 per person it’s definitely pricier than the average, but worth every penny. The meat is perfectly pink and tender and you get a generous amount too, served with crisp yet fluffy rosemary roast potatoes, veg slathered in garlic butter and, of course, a large Yorkshire pudding.

It was by far one of the tastiest and most memorable roast dinners I’ve ever had (outside of Christmas). To really treat yourself, finish off with tea, coffee and Lemon Madeleines, which are made to order and served warm and fresh from the oven.

Available every Sunday (subject to availability after 4pm). 4 Whittaker Avenue, Richmond, TW9 1EH. Book here.

2. Get hot Asian buns and Cantonese small plates at Bun House Disco

By Patrycja Zaras

Founder Z He takes diners back to her hometown with a new menu inspired by the vibrancy of late-night 1980s Hong Kong. Bun House has long been a go-to for Canton-style buns and now it is adding four new dishes to the line-up – each well worth trying, though two are truly unmissable. The prawn toast stands out from the first bite, with its delicate crumb and subtle spice. The Prawn XO Skillet Rice with Chinese Lap Cheong was another standout: spicy, satisfyingly crisp in places, and a more polished spin on a street-food classic.

Pair it with a refreshing, lightly sweet Earl Grey oat bubble tea, which softens the spice without dulling it, and you’ve got the closest thing to an evening in Hong Kong without leaving London.

Martinis from £12. St. Pancras, Euston Road, Euston, NW1 2AR. Book here.

3. Surprise a loved one with the help of Trü Frü

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Ring ring! Trü Frü have launched the ultimate hotline service making it easier than ever to send an unexpected surprise to that special someone – it could be a partner, bestie or just someone who deserves a bit of love.

So how does it work? Message +44 7404 104971 on WhatsApp with: ‘I want to send my Trü Love a gift’. Let them know your recipient type, and share an optional message to be included on a personalised note. Provide your details and your Trü Love’s, confirm they’ll be home on 13 Feb and Trü Frü will handle the rest! Hotline opening hours: 9-10 Feb 10am-5pm. 

4. Slurp on some spaghetti at the new Harry’s in Covent Garden

By Maicey Navarro Griffiths

Harry’s new restaurant has landed in Covent Garden with a bang, complemented with an elegant speakeasy downstairs, and thoughtfully Venetian-inspired classic feels throughout. The atmospheric lighting enhances the intimate feel, perfect for a pre-West End meal.

With a menu curated by Executive Chef Simon Gregory, this Italian haven doesn’t disappoint. The selections include steak cooked at an idyllic level, fresh tomato on light pizza, crispy, seasoned calamari with garlic aioli on the side and exceptional burrata. And for dessert? Lemon tarts ensure a blend of soft cream and tangy lemon, and chocolate filled sugar covered donut balls, nice and sweet without being too dense.

Pair this with a classic Negroni or Aperol spritz from the bar, to top off a fantastic meal that will undoubtedly impress. This is the place for a la dolce vita feel.

Antipasti from £10.25, pizze from £16.95. 11-12 Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5HZ. Book here.

5. Bite into the ultimate burger collab from Dumbo x Rita’s

The ultimate collab is here, Dumbo x Rita’s. The Parisian burger guys and Soho institution have launched a smash burger inspired by New Mexico green chile cheeseburgers. It’s got a smoky relish and is paired with a cocktail crafted by Rita’s co-founder and mixologist Missy Flynn. Available as part of a set lunch menu at Rita’s from 4-7 February and at DUMBO Shoreditch for one week.

6. Meet some of the best new bites in London

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LAVO’s Italian Sunday Roast

Best for: an elevated roast

I’m usually the type of person who demands a Yorkshire pudding with a roast dinner, no matter the meat nor circumstance. And the Italian-inspired Sunday menu from sophisticated and suave spot Lavo is an intriguing departure from the traditional. I try the porchetta, which is supported by an ensemble of roast vegetables and a panini semidolci (in place of the Yorkshire). It’s extremely succulent and, perhaps controversially, I didn’t miss the Yorkshire as much as I thought I would.

This isn’t the place for a traditional British Sunday roast. It’s elevated and on the pricier side. But don’t let that discount Lavo from your list of roasts to try as to celebrate the launch, you can get 30% off throughout February! 

Roast from £20. Sunday sharing feast, £30pp. The BoTree London, Marylebone. Book here.

Review by Alex Goldsmith.

HOAX

Best for: the pre pay day lifesaver 

It’s the little things that make HOAX more than just another Italian restaurant. Yes, their cacio e pepe is to die for, yes the house tiramisu is a delicious family recipe and yes, the negronis are perfectly balanced. But the details shine through: robiola cheese and hazelnut bring an extra creamy dimension to the beef tartar starter and a sweet bread – dyed to look like a sponge – makes mopping up those luxurious pasta sauces even more fun.

Prices reflect the experience – it feels like a special occasion meal but you won’t leave feeling even close to hungry. A ‘secret’ downstairs bar beckons once you finish eating, where owner Simone, who also runs the highly-rated Callooh Callay in Shoreditch, has put his twist on Italian classics.

Starters from £11, first course from £13, second course from £16. Desserts from £8. 390 Kingsland Road, Hackney. Book here.

Review by Dylan Mangan.

Hg

Best for: feel good food 

Making waves in Spain (known as Honest Greens over there), Hg is the newest feel-good restaurant on the block. They’re all about ‘real ingredients’ and ‘open fire cooking’. On the menu there are colourful meals bursting with flavour – hummus topped with pistachio, brussels sprouts with cranberries and caramelised walnuts miles apart from the sad ones you might have had at Christmas, and zesty lemon chicken breast.

While you eat you’ll be surrounded by hanging foliage, and there are plenty of comfy sofas you can sink in to while you tuck into your food.

Sharers from £4.45, mains from £9.95, sides from £3.95. 21 St Anne’s Court, Soho. Just walk in.

Review by Lola Christina Alao.

7. Try the new opening from the team behind Daddy Bao and Mr Bao

Cafe Kowloon – a modern Cantonese restaurant inspired by Hong Kong’s diverse dining culture – opens this week. It’s from the team behind Daddy Bao and Mr Bao and will include a menu of tasty specials like the Chargrilled Ibérico Secreto Char Siu. Look out for The Slice’s review.

8. Fall for the heart shaped treats at Café Mama & Sons this Valentine’s Day

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Filipino bakery Café Mama & Sons are launching heart-shaped croissants this Valentine’s. Choose between their Ube Heart Croissant (£7) filled with silky ube cream and finished with ube white chocolate drip and their Cheese Heart Croissant (£6) filled with lightly sweetened cream cheese and calamansi ketchup. 

9. Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with Queer Britain

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Queer Britain, the UK’s only museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history, is reopening this week. Look forward to six new displays and an exciting line up of special temporary exhibitions like ‘Live, Laugh, Love’, which tells stories of queer domesticity and relationships.

10. Get ready to be amazed at the Ramadan Lights as it returns for its fourth year

Ramadan Lights London are returning to the West End this month. Coventry Street near Piccadilly Circus will be beautifully lit up, with a display of over 30,000 lights inspired by Islamic geometric patterns.

11. Get tickets to Dracula starring multi-award winner Cynthia Erivo

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Tony, Grammy, Emmy Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo is returning to the stage for the first time in over a decade. She’ll play all 23 characters including the naïve solicitor Jonathan Harker, his fiancée Mina Murray and Count Dracula themself. On her theatre comeback, Cynthia said ‘it feels like a homecoming, one that I’ve been craving for a long time.’ This is a reimagining of the immortal gothic horror, and combines combines cutting-edge technology, beautiful design, and a thrilling performance.

Tickets from £30. Noël Coward Theatre. Until 30 May. Book here.

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