London's dining scene gains four new arrivals today, as a fried chicken specialist, a Kensington steakhouse, a Borough Market institution's second site and a salad bar all open their doors on October 21. Gold Flamingo's roundup of October openings puts all four launches on the same day.
The headline act is ROAST's second London restaurant, opening at Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch on Curtain Road after more than two decades above the market floor at Borough. The 135-cover room, designed by 3Stories with a Victorian-inspired urban conservatory look, nods to the nearby Columbia Road Flower Market with decorative ironwork, layered planting, timber, marble and brass. Reset Magazine reports the menu roams the British Isles — from a haggis and pork Scotch egg to Cornish scallop crudo — with a 42-day-aged roast beef with all the trimmings as the star.
In Kensington, the Wild Group replaces its former Greek restaurant Krokodilos with Lucky Grill, a steakhouse built around dry-aged beef cooked over an open flame, including whole ribs and Scottish wagyu, alongside dishes such as XXL anchovy toast and homemade sour cherry pie. Executive chef Anton Vasilyev leads the kitchen, with a six-seat chef's table beside the ageing fridge.
At Market Halls Canary Wharf, Coqfighter brings its fried chicken sandwiches — the Original with sambal mayo and Korean hot sauce, plus Honey Ginger Buffalo wings and loaded fries — to another London site. The brand was founded by Deacon Rose, Troy Sawyer and Tristan Clough in 2014. Completing the quartet, Urban Greens opens on Tottenham Court Road with 50 percent off between noon and 3pm through October 28, and a free chocolate mousse for the first 50 customers. The openings reflect London's continued strength as a dining destination, with operators betting on experience-led formats — open kitchens, chef's tables and destination food halls — to draw diners out this autumn. Reservations for the new rooms are expected to be competitive through the festive season.