KOL - Marylebone, London

It's been a long time coming, but we're very happy to see one of the year's most anticipated restaurants arrive on the scene, spearheaded by Santiago Lastra! The thirty-year-old chef, born and raised in Cuernavaca in Mexico, has made quite a name for himself. Hired by René Redzepi to take the reigns at Noma Mexico in Tulum, Mr Lastra has earned a  spicy reputation for his unique cooking, seasoning his native Mexican cuisine with foraged and gleaned seasonal British produce. Backed by the MJMK Group (Casa Do Frango), KOL opened its doors on Seymour Street in Fitzrovia and has been greeted with much fanfare. The dining room is a sight to behold. Designed by A-RND studio, it's all earthy minimalism, with a colour palette that leans heavily into ochre and taupe with a dose of Nordic restraint. There's also a superb 20-cover chef's table downstairs for those who'd like to get up close and personal with Lastra's creative process, with the added opportunity of sampling bespoke dishes. Their winter tasting menu is £135 per guest, with £110 for a drinks pairing and £130 for mezcal pairing. There's also a standalone mescaleria and adventurous oenophiles will be rewarded with a list that leans heavily into wines of the natural and biodynamic variety. KOL has finally opened its doors and it's everything London had hoped for and very exciting to see a restaurant this on point.