Now that we’re firmly in the throes of autumn, we’ve updated our list of the best seasonal dishes of the moment. We’ve labelled new dishes on the block, and rated each autumnal plate according to its food-porn prowess. Pick which dishes get your taste buds tingling and book a table with SquareMeal today.
Words: Eamonn Crowe
Angler, City
What: To ease yourself into the colder months, try out the new ‘Taste of autumn’ menu from Angler. The meal opens with a complimentary glass of Champagne, followed by mackerel with Cornish mussels, parsley and smoked kelp (pictured), and Newlyn cod accompanied by parsley root, Cornish squid and chanterelles…dreamy – book Angler now
How much: £45 set menu
Where: 3 South Place, EC2M 2AF
Food-porn factor: 7/10
Bocca di Lupo, Soho
What: This October, Bocca di Lupo will open up its private dining room every Sunday for a communal feast. Celebrating the Calabria region of Italy, dishes will include this generous helping of a rich and creamy spaghetti al capretto imbued with roasting juices from kid goat ribs – book Bocca di Lupo now
How much: £35 set menu
Where: 12 Archer Street, W1D 7BB
Food-porn factor: 8/10
Camino Bankside, Blackfriars, King’s Cross, and Monument
What: This Spanish mini-chain ticks taste boxes with its selection of tapas and larger plates. From its autumn menu, we love the look of the octopus served with a chickpea and beetroot purée, paprika and extra virgin olive oil (pictured). Probably best to try all the dishes though, for research purposes of course… – book Camino now
How much: Small plates from £5.50
Where: 5 Canvey Street, SE1 9NA; 33 Blackfriars Lane, EC4V 6EP; 3 Varnishers Yard, N1 9FD; 15 Mincing Lane, EC3R 7BD
Food-porn factor: 7/10
Cantina del Ponte, South Bank
What: Celebrating 25 years of serving hungry Londoners, Cantina del Ponte is serving up a menu inspired by its original 1992 offering. This also means 1992 price tags remain, so you can enjoy the likes of this fruity pannacotta topped with a mixed berry coulis for under a fiver – book Cantina del Ponte now
How much: £4
Where: The Butlers Wharf Building, 36c Shad Thames, SE1 2YE
Food-porn factor: 8/10
Charlotte’s Bistro, Chiswick
What: Charlotte’s Group has updated its menus across the boards to suit the shorter days and colder nights. At Charlotte’s Bistro, you’ll find this stomach-warming, slow-roasted ox cheek served with puréed and roasted artichoke, alongside kale and grated horseradish for a peppery kick – book Charlotte’s Bistro now
How much: Three-course dinner from a set menu, £34.50
Where: 6 Turnham Green Terrace, W4 1QP
Food-porn factor: 9/10
Coq d’Argent, City
What: Coq d’Argent is launching a six-course truffle tasting menu from 30 October-17 November. We particularly like the look of the rose veal cutlet, served in an apple and wild mushroom sauce, with black truffle mash potatoes – book Coq d’Argent now
How much: Tasting menu, £90
Where: 1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ
Food-porn factor: 8/10
Darbaar, City
What: Abdul Yaseen’s City haunt Darbaar is celebrating game season with a dedicated menu. Guests can tuck into the likes of masala-minced game chops with beetroot chutney, and spiced venison with oven-roasted root veg – book Darbaar now
How much: £8-£26 (set menu: five courses for £45)
Where: 1 Snowden Street, EC2A 2DQ
Food-porn factor: 8/10
Hutong at The Shard, South Bank
What: To celebrate the Chinese mid-autumn festival, Hutong is serving a menu based around chilli, a staple Chinese ingredient. Pick from the likes of this beef-tenderloin with dried chilli in spicy chilli broth…hot stuff – book Hutong now
How much: Tasting menu, £70
Where: Level 33, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
Food-porn factor: 8/10
Hush, Mayfair
What: To mark truffle season, Hush is transforming its courtyard into an enchanted Italian forest for two whole months. Against a backdrop of foliage and fairy lights, guests can enjoy truffle specials, such as truffle scrambled eggs with toasted brioche, truffle cacio e pepe pasta and truffle porcini mushrooms with parmesan polenta – book Hush now
How much: Truffle specials from £18
Where: 8 Lancashire Court, Brook Street, W1S 1EY
Food-porn factor: 6/10
Jamavar, Mayfair
What: If you’re looking to warm yourself up this autumn, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Mayfair hotspot Jamavar, which serves up hearty, warming dishes full of spice and flavour, including laal maas; eight-hour slow-cooked Hampshire lamb shank pepped up with Rajasthani chilli – book Jamavar now
How much: £23
Where: 8 Mount Street, W1K 3NF
Food-porn factor: 9/10
Launceston Place, Kensington
What: Wunderkind chef Ben Murphy took over the reins of Launceston Place last year and his menu of pretty-as-can-be plates includes this grouse, blackberry and salsify dish right in time for game season – book Launceston Place
How much: £60 for three courses (£6 supplement for this dish)
Where: 1a Launceston Place, W8 5RL
Food-porn factor: 7/10
Meraki, Fitzrovia
What: Contemporary Greek restaurant Meraki is the place to go for a feast with friends – it’s offering a huge slow-cooked leg of lamb with herb crust and caper salsa verde, which serves six – book Meraki now
How much: £90
Where: 80-82 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7QT
Food-porn factor: 7/10
Park Chinois, Mayfair
What: Park Chinois isn’t normally the place to go for a bargain, so its express business lunch is practically a steal. You can choose from dishes including this juicy Cantonese roast duck coated in an orange sauce – book Park Chinois now
How much: Two/three course set menu, £26/30
Where: 17 Berkeley Street, W1J 8EA
Food-porn factor: 8/10
Shoryu Covent Garden and Liverpool Street
What: Autumn may mean miserable weather, but you can brighten your day with a poké bowl from Shoryu Ramen. Available exclusively at the Covent Garden and Liverpool Street branches, you can try the likes of Salmon poke; sushi rice topped with avocado, stem broccoli, baby corn, edamame, radish and half a nitamago egg – book Shoryu Ramen now
How much: £11
Where: 35 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5AA; 33 Broadgate Circle, EC2M 2QS
Food-porn factor: 8/10
STK at ME London, Covent Garden
What: Although steaks are the obvious choice at this glam restaurant, there are other meaty mains that go down just as well. We like the look of the wild boar cutlet with roasted apple and parsnip – book STK now
How much: £24
Where: 336-337 Strand, WC2R 1HA
Food-porn factor: 7/10
Union Street Café, South Bank
What: If you love an autumnal bargain, head to Gordon Ramsay’s Union Street Café, where you can enjoy three courses and a cocktail for only £45. On the menu, you’ll find the likes of risotto served with smoked Sardinian ricotta, tarragon and truffle, and an almond, grappa and chocolate cake, topped with Muscat grapes – book Union Street Café now
How much: £45
Where: 47-51 Great Suffolk Street, SE1 0BS
Food-porn factor: 7/10
If you only ever want to eat from the very latest menus hitting London, you’ll love our list of new restaurants coming soon to the capital.
This article was modified 17 October 2017