squaremeal.co.uk � 33

NEW OPENINGS

D

on't just take our word for it:

every top chef we speak to,

from Jason Atherton to Mark

Hix, says that Hoppers is their

favourite new restaurant. It offers knockout

Indian (specifically Sri Lankan) food at

hard-to-beat prices in an upbeat, vibrant

atmosphere that will send you out onto

the Soho street feeling joyous about life.

Hoppers comes courtesy of the Sethi

siblings, who are fast emerging as the most

surefooted London restaurateurs of this

decade and who do upmarket (Gymkhana,

Lyle's) and informal (Hoppers, Bao) with

equal and effortless élan. For us, Hoppers

encapsulates everything that is exciting

about eating out in modern, multicultural

London, a city that's home to the most

adventurous and open-minded diners in the

world - and an incredibly diverse restaurant

scene hungry to feed them. See p.34

HOPPERS

FRENCHIE

The London outpost of Fifteen

alumnus Gregory Marchand is,

like the Paris original, polished

but laid-back. See p.38

Ten pages of the most notable openings from the past six months kick o here

with the shortlist for The BMW Squaremeal Award for Best New Restaurant

Who doesn't love an Indian?

Especially when it's Gymkhana-

quality food at a fraction of the price

OUR RUNNERS�UP

QHOT TABLES

OUR WINNER PARK CHINOIS

A return to high-end Chinese

dining for Hakkasan founder

Alan Yau; dim sum lovers will

be in heaven. See p.36

SEXY FISH

The most talked-about

restaurant of the past 12

months has glamour by the

bucketload. See p.36

SOSHARU

The first Japanese restaurant

in Jason Atherton's Social

empire proves there's no end

to the chef's talents. See p.40

BMW'S BYRON DUDDING PRESENTS THE

HOPPERS TEAM WITH THEIR AWARD

AWARD PHOTO: LAURIE FLETCHER