Forget running sushi, London’s “Pick & Cheese” is where the cheese takes center stage! This innovative restaurant is the world’s first cheese conveyor belt, offering an ever-changing selection of cheeses paired with delicious condiments and snacks. With 40 meters of cheesy goodness, you’ll find a wide variety of options to satisfy your cravings. The conveyor belt also features charcuterie and other non-cheese delights, but cheese takes the spotlight. Think grilled cheese sandwiches and baked cheese, all available “off-belt”. Like running sushi, you pay per plate and color, but with a twist: every Wednesday, you can enjoy bottomless plates for one hour and 15 minutes. It’s the perfect opportunity to indulge in your cheesy desires!
Bob Bob Ricard: A Touch of Glamour with a Champagne Button
Soho is known for its vibrant nightlife, shopping, and culinary scene, and Bob Bob Ricard is a shining example of this. Opened in late 2008 by Leonid Shutov (known as Bob) and Richard Howarth, this restaurant exudes glamour and sophistication. Named after the two owners (Bob invested twice as much as Richard), Bob Bob Ricard is famous for its opulent dining room and a unique feature: a “Press for Champagne” button at every table. That’s right, you can have champagne on demand, and Bob Bob Ricard pours more champagne than any other restaurant in Britain! The menu features an array of luxurious dishes, from caviar and oysters to seafood and steak, alongside more casual “comfort food” like French fries and mashed potatoes. Dessert lovers are in for a treat, with options like Chocolate Caviar, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Flaming Crème Brûlée all served in an Orient Express-themed ambience.
Dans le Noir: Dining in the Dark for a Sensory Experience
Buckle up for an extraordinary culinary journey at “Dans le noir”, where you dine in complete darkness. This unique restaurant, opened in 2006, offers a truly immersive experience. After placing your order at a brightly lit bar area, you’ll be guided by a waiter to the pitch-black dining room. The staff, all blind or partially sighted, expertly serve gourmet and seasonal cuisine, with 80% of the fruits and vegetables sourced organically. The lack of sight heightens your other senses, making each bite a sensory surprise. Before heading into the dark, you can let the staff know about any dietary restrictions, and they will adapt the surprise menu accordingly. After your meal, you’ll be shown photos of the dishes you enjoyed, offering a unique “Aha!” moment.
Bunga Bunga: Italian Feast with a Side of Entertainment
Looking for a traditional, quiet Italian dining experience? Then Bunga Bunga is definitely not for you! This lively establishment is all about fun, food, and entertainment. Imagine a colorful variety show unfolding before your eyes as you enjoy a delicious Italian feast. DJs, house bands, jugglers, hula hoop performers, and more provide non-stop entertainment. Bunga Bunga is known for its silliness, its non-stop party atmosphere, and its funky interior design. You’ll find unique features like a speedboat table and meter-long sourdough pizzas, perfect for sharing with friends.
Inamo: Interactive Dining and Pan-Asian Flavors
Inamo is a technology lover’s dream and a haven for Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Korean cuisine. Forget telling your kids to put down their phones at the table, Inamo encourages interactive play. Interactive projections transform your table surface into a digital playground, allowing you to play retro games, explore the neighborhood, and even spy on the chefs in the kitchen. With two branches in London (Soho and Covent Garden), Inamo offers a vibrant and engaging dining experience. The Soho branch features an additional games room with over 150 games, including an arcade game table with over 2000 retro games and consoles. Inamo is also famous for its Dragon Roll and offers a variety of sushi, sharing dishes, pan-Asian desserts, and a Tasting Menu.
The Clink: Where Prison Becomes a Culinary Classroom
The Clink restaurant concept is more than just a dining experience; it’s a prison rehabilitation initiative. The Brixton location, one of three across the UK, trains prisoners to become chefs, waiters, and baristas. Each year, 50 former prisoners receive the training and experience needed to secure employment in the culinary field. This innovative project, founded by Alberto Crisci, has received over 60 awards. The first Clink restaurant opened in 2009 in Surrey, and it now offers European lunches and gourmet dinners in a historic governor’s house dating back to 1819. The interior is a testament to the prisoners’ skills, with much of it crafted by them. The restaurant even boasts its own bakery, producing freshly baked treats like cinnamon buns, whole loaf cakes, a variety of cookies, tarts, and desserts.
The Tube Gourmet: Underground Dining with South American Flavors
Step inside a retired 1967 Victoria line tube carriage and prepare for a unique gourmet adventure. Three nights a week, this vintage train transforms into a hip restaurant, offering six-course tasting menus crafted by Chef Beatriz Maldonado Carreño. Dimmed lighting, jazz music, and intimate tables create an ambiance of romance and adventure. Chef Carreño, a 15-year veteran from Colombia, takes pride in her South American cuisine, using local ingredients and traditional techniques. She personally explains each course, sharing her passion for her craft with guests. The tube carriage accommodates up to 35 guests, with shared tables and private booths for couples or small groups.
The Jazz Cafe: Music, Food, and a Touch of Soul
The Jazz Cafe in Camden is a legendary venue that has hosted some of the greatest names in jazz and soul. But it’s more than just a music venue; it’s also a fantastic restaurant. The unique upstairs restaurant overlooks the stage, offering guests a front-row seat to the musical entertainment. With a seating capacity of 69, The Jazz Cafe offers a gourmet menu featuring dishes like 34-day dry-aged sirloin steak, but caters to vegetarian and vegan appetites with options like roasted eggplant, vegan cheeseburger, and salt and pepper tofu. Cocktails, draft beers, and ciders set the stage for a night of music, food, and dancing.
