UNUSUAL EATS

Words

We’re always on the search for something new, aren’t we? After a while, even our most favourite restaurants can seem a little stale, a little repetitive, a little…well, just the same as anywhere else. So, to help you combat this, we here at EJ have searched high and low to compile a list of restaurants turning the world of fine-dining on its head. From fantastically ghastly looking plate serves to invitingly obscure locations, these places are sure to refresh your restaurant experience.

SOCIAL @ikoyi_london

WEB ikoyilondon.com

ADDRESS 180 Strand, London.

Ikoyi occupies a unique space in London’s fine dining ecosystem; pairing culinary evolution, personal character, and a combination of styles rarely found in the capital. Ikoyi, the eponymous Nigerian hometown neighbourhood of co-owner Iré Hassan-Odukale, has shaped best friend Chef Jeremy Chan’s vision for West African cuisine at the highest level. Chan’s drive for knowledge, variation, and aesthetics exposes diners to his love for seasonal British produce and a menu of West African mainstays. Chicken efo riro, smoked jollof rice and mushroom suya have all received Chan’s two-time Michelin star touch. The tasting menu is served Monday to Friday, starting at £300.

A kebab, at least here in the cobbled streets of England, denotes a greasy spoon at the end of a night out; a full-stop of carbs to curb the wild evening you’ve just experienced. But what if I told you, that hidden somewhere in the haute cuisine of Covent Garden, resided a restaurant offering a highend twist on this classic night out grub? The crew behind Maison Bab have been working quite a while on renovating the ‘kebab’, with Maison Bab itself propagating a ‘posh kebab experience’; however, tucked underneath their flagship restaurant, the team have crafted an even greater premium experience: Kebab Queen. In this speak-easy style corner, you’re served a unique and tantalising kebab tasting menu, with elements of prim and propriety one would expect of a suitably dignified restaurant but with a distinct retention of fun. If you’re after a refreshing take on a classic, look no further than here.

SOCIAL @eatkebabqueen

WEB eatlebab.com/kebab-queen

ADDRESS 4 Mercer Walk, Covent Garden, London.