Jackson + Rye (Closed Permanently) Formerly: Satsuma

Building on an empire that already includes the ever popular and/or classic Ivy, Le Caprice, J Sheekey, Scott’s, Dean Street Townhouse, Grillshack and Pizza East [see entries], members-only nightclub Annabel's and private media haunt Soho House, London-born Richard Caring turns his attention to the States to contrive a heightened American-style experience, albeit with an Anglo sensibility. The concept is quality New York diner, but with Martin Brudnizki Studio's all-consuming dark, warm and glowing interior it feels more like a smart and savvy speakeasy, worlds away from the Soho out the door while in tune with its naughty side. The two-floor space is as radical a reinvention of the location's previous orange-drenched noodle bar as is imaginable. The kitchen dishes out good portions of good food including shrimp and grits, the finer components of surf and turf, buttermilk fried chicken, burgers, meatballs, crab cakes, chowders and nice sauces such as peppercorn & rye, plus USA breakfast/brunch classics (eggs, hotcakes, bacon) and desserts including cobbler, pecan pie, sundaes and fritters. Servers scribble down the day's fish, grill and cocktail specials on a corner of the table in unstuffy Stateside fashion. And there's a cool bar too. It's not cheap, but it's not unreasonably pricey either. Opened December 2014. West London branches in Richmond, Chiswick High Road and Kingston followed.