BELON

Belon certainly isn’t an everyday dining experience. Young chef Daniel Calvert’s ever-changing menu sees classic techniques combined with contemporary sensibilities and the finest seasonal ingredients, resulting in dishes that range from refined takes on bistro favourites (such as the restaurant’s famous roast chicken with petits pois a la Francais) to intriguing creations you are unlikely to find anywhere else (a stellar tomato terrine with anchovies and burrata on our visit).

Whilst a couple of items do feel rather expensive for the portion size, there is little to fault in terms of flavour or execution—and the evening is much enhanced by the restaurant’s friendly but knowledgeable staff, and relaxed unstuffy atmosphere.

The décor exudes a fittingly understated kind of luxury, with onyx-marble tables, blonde wood fittings and hanging globe lamps that exude a warm welcoming glow, making it an ideal location to enjoy a long lingering meal with a tipple or two (the wine list is especially well-curated—look out for the restaurant’s Rare Wine Nights on Wednesdays). In the continually changing streets of Soho, Belon’s assured cuisine and unpretentious ambience means it definitely deserves to stick around for the long haul.

Belon’s signature roast chicken is a favourite of regular guests Shane Osborn’s magic comes from using tiptop seasonal ingredients to create deceptively simple food that requires a mastery of technique