People are returning from holidays, businesses are reopening from August shutdowns and there are a glut of new restaurants to coincide with the arrival of September. The month may have begun with a heatwave but we are preparing for autumnal menus as the retreat from summery rooftop establishments begins. South London welcomes a wine bar from Peckham Cellars with a European menu, while up on the South Bank, Forza Wine launches a new dining room at the National Theatre. Sydney gets a new bar and grill with a focus on open-fire cooking and New York’s West Village welcomes a venue for Francophiles. Read on to discover the best new restaurants to visit this month.
NEW RESTAURANTS TO VISIT AROUND THE WORLD IN SEPTEMBER 2023
Little Cellars
London, UK
Peckham Cellars moves up to Camberwell for its first outpost where Ollie Lawrence, previously of Terroirs, cooks a changing menu of European dishes such as confit chicken leg, courgettes Provencal and lamb brochettes. Its corner spot is cosy: just 24 covers inside and 16 on the terrace – so diners will want to run, not walk, for Saturday sandwich specials that get the weekend off to a delicious start. Like the menu, the by-the-glass wine list is short and sweet, with a chilled red, a Portuguese sparkler and (of course) some intriguing natural wines.
Open now, littlecellars.co.uk
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Libertine
New York, US
It’s difficult to imagine anything more ‘of the moment’ in the restaurant trade than the French bistro, and the West Village now has Libertine to offer to those in search of casual Gallic dining. From the chairs to the tiled floor, the fixtures and fittings to the simple menu, plus the all-French wine list, Libertine hits the right notes. The kitchen’s repertoire includes oeufs mayonnaise, ham hock terrine, duck cooked two ways and a côte de boeuf, and the menu is written in French on a chalkboard each day. The wine list runs to around 200 bottles, so there’s likely to be something to please everyone, and if you’re popping in on your own or just trying to be good, there are more than 10 choices available by the glass.
Open now, libertinenyc.com
Forza Wine
London, UK
A Peckham stalwart heads into town this month as Forza Wine opens its new venue at the National Theatre. The new restaurant serves a huge 170 seats, 70 of which are on a balcony terrace overlooking the Thames, which is sheltered for the upcoming autumnal rainy days. On the menu for its opening, fresh and innovative dishes including sole with fennel and pickled chilli and cauliflower fritti. Guests are welcome to snack as well as dine, and the bar stays open until midnight. Monday to Saturday. One to remember for late-night wanders on the South Bank.
Open now, forzawine.com
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Hectar
Paris, France
Another new bistro but as this one is in Paris, it seems immune to criticism about following fashion. Benjamin Schmitt is the chef at this small restaurant in South Pigalle and has experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, meaning the food served here is more refined than you might expect of the average ‘casual’ dining experience in the French capital. Duck pâté en croûte with foie gras, bitter leaves, pickles and grape must mustard is an example of the starters, while mains have included chicken served with guanciale, grilled asparagus and a fino jus. The menu is reassuringly short, so expect to choose from four starters and five mains, while an impressive wine cellar is stocked with ‘old vintages, rare wines, and gems for all budgets’.
Open now, hectar-paris.fr
Bébé Bob
London, UK
A little sister for Bob Bob Ricard, Bébé Bob promises to continue its namesake’s reputation for chic dining and a glittering wine list. Caviar has carried across to the new menu, as has the classic rotisserie-style chicken to share with truffled fries on the side. On the wine list, much of which is available by the glass, red and white Burgundy lead the charge followed by a host of rosés that pair well with chicken. Like Bob Bob Ricard, leather banquettes keep diners cosy and private. Fifteen years since the original opened, the magic persists.
Open 30 Sept, bebebob.com
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Roscioli NYC
New York, US
The US outpost of Rome’s Roscioli opened earlier this summer in Soho and September will see the upstairs floor of the restaurant open for the first time for à la carte dining. Until then, it’s ‘The Tasting’ on the ground floor, which is a four-course set menu paired with Italian wines for $105 per person. Expect authentic pasta dishes, salumi, cheeses and desserts like almond olive oil cake. For those without bookings, a wine cellar that doubles as a drinking den in the basement is a place for snacks with a glass of wine.
Open now, rosciolinyc.com
Chez Rowley
London, UK
Chef Rowley Leigh’s taking up residence at Laylow for an Italian-leaning changing menu for family-style dining. This month, diners can opt for his star dish for sharing – roast chicken with anchovies and black olives – or pick and choose from raw bavette with cep toast, cuttlefish and clams, and seared mackerel. Alongside a well-curated wine list, there’s a cocktail list specialising in Tequila and mezcal drinks to offer a balanced accompaniment to his hearty new menu.
Opens 13 Sept, chezrowley.com
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Poetica Bar & Grill
Sydney, Australia
An open kitchen at the heart of this new 120-seat restaurant is where a custom wood-burning grill sits. The use of charcoal and flame defines the food being served, with a range of steaks that are dry-aged in-house plus whole fish catching the eye on the menu. Side dishes aren’t neglected, with pickling and fermenting techniques used to help create contrasting flavour and textures to complement the mains. Diners can choose from around 450 bottles of mostly Australian wine, including some rare vintages of the likes of Moss Wood, and the 60-seat bar area is home to a series of signature cocktails that focus on native ingredients.
Open now, poetica.sydney
Llama Inn
London, UK
Peruvian dining makes a splash on the roof of the Hoxton Hotel this month as Llama Inn arrives from New York City. Led by Peruvian-American chef Erik Ramirez, the restaurant brings lomo saltado and pork buns to the table, alongside scallop and squid ceviche. As well as a wine list with plenty of New World gems, there’s a fun cocktail menu with the restaurant’s signature blue-cheese-olive Martini and its Llama Del Rey Pisco cocktail that includes rum, wine and pineapple.
Open now, llamainnlondon.com
