New Kids on the Block

Osteria Vibrato

Charlie Mellor, former proprietor of the much-loved Laughing Heart on Hackney Road, is once again bringing his magical touch to our capital with the launch of Osteria Vibrato in Soho. Opening in the heart of Greek Street, this trattoria promises simplicity and conviviality in abundance, led by chef-proprietor Gaia Enria (of Burro e Salvia) in the kitchen and sommelier Cameron Dewar front of house. Meanwhile, handmade pasta dishes, grilled sea bass, brodetto vastese (a fish soup from Abruzzo), and an expansive list of both established classics and esoteric gems – over 250 different labels, in fact – is difficult to argue with. With its warm interiors, unpretentious spirit and what promises to be a lively bar, Osteria Vibrato is poised to become a destination dining venue –not just another six-month wonder. 

6 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DE

https://osteriavibrato.co.uk/

Osteria Vibrato opened 12 February

In Lamentation

In 2024, chef-patron Michael O’Hare ruffled feathers with the launch of Psycho Sandbar in Leeds - stark concrete, thumping heavy metal, smoke machines and plate after plate of innovative, Michelin-grade cuisine was the order of the day. Sadly, this brave venture closed in 2025, just seven months after its inaugural service. Yet O’Hare was never one to sit back and lick his wounds. Known for his culinary showmanship and precise technique, the no-holds-barred chef is opening the appropriately named In Lamentation in Boston Spa this February with a concept that defies preview. But we do know that this “super intimate”, to quote O'Hare, 16-cover restaurant will operate just four nights a week,  with no pre-announced menu; instead, diners are invited to surrender to his creative whim, with advance notice of any potential allergies, of course.  Bold flavour combinations and Instagram-friendly presentation are assured, as is a suitably lavish and broad wine list, incorporating more than a few vintages of blue-chip Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne.  Who says winter is a dead end for excitement-hungry gastronomes? 

174 High Street, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, LS23 6BW      

https://inlamentation.com/

In Lamentation will open in February – date TBA

Impala

Meedu Saad, erstwhile head chef at Kiln in Soho, is launching his solo debut this March with Impala in the heart of Soho's vibrant Dean Street. Billed as an open-fire restaurant that offers cooking through a deeply personal lens, it takes its name from a vintage Chevy that Saad drove across the wilds of Egypt during his formative years. Inspired by the finest home cooking of North Africa and the Middle East, seasonal produce, prime cuts of meat and sustainably sourced fish will take centre stage at Impala, charred and smoked to perfection. Saad's  long-established multicultural ethos – a fusion of North African spice, classical French technique and British produce – should work spectacularly well at Impala, with plenty of grilled vegetables and sides to balance the richness of the embers. Housed in a striking Soho space that is just the right side of nomadic, this could represent a new chapter for London's open-flame obsession. 

14 Dean Street, London W1D 3RS

https://impalasoho.com/

Impala will open March 2026