7 walk-in restaurants a step above the rest

If I were entirely selfish, I'd advise you to look elsewhere for your evening supper, for the one-hour wait for my mid-week bite was long enough. Slightly boozed and giddy from John Smiths at the pub next door, our time had come to enter the stainless-steel counter-topped, stool-filled, wooden-table-cluttered, former chippy now San Sebastián pintxo bar. Is it luxury? No. Is it comfortable? Again, not really. But the food is hands down some of the best I've tasted in London. From the chunky chips topped with the richest bravas sauce and cod neck covered with golden salty crumbs and doused in layer-after-layer of garlicky-green butter to rice slow-cooked with chunks of lobster and their iconic Piri Piri Dory, it suddenly felt like an hour's wait wasn't so long after all.

The menu is scribbled on a chalkboard and popped on their Instagram at the start of the week. So, if the plaice fritters served with creamed fennel and pickled chanterelles or cauliflower cheese croquettes sound like a slice of heaven, you know to join the troops of fellow Maltby Street fiends and queue for a spot at this DIY decor resto. It may have started as a natural wine importer, but head chef Stephen Williams has transformed this place into one of the top kitchens for small plates. 

A Notting Hill newbie that, while currently only open for lunch, is a spot worthy of a queue no matter the time of day. There are hearty bowls of porcini risotto, a courgette-stuffed ravioli swallowed in nasturtium butter and the creamiest polenta topped with an overnight beef ragú in store. Make it a late wine & dine lunch, grab a spot by the open kitchen and be swept away by the delicate dance of the chefs working their magic (and keeping their aprons pristinely clean in the process). 

What would a list of London restos be without at least one natural wine bar? This week, 107 is taking the coveted spot. Coined a "cave à manger", 107 sees flocks of chic east Londoners gather for stellar wine, great food and groovy tunes. On the nights that Julie Hetyei (the current chef in residence) takes to the kitchen, the place transforms into a communal table eatery. The menu? French-focused but not without a personal touch. The apple & almond cake is a must. 

We're long-devoted fans of Dim Sum Duck, so naturally, it had to find its way into this roundup. Again, come armed with patience or, at the very least, prepare enough to arrive a tad on the earlier side. Serving the best crisp roast duck and dim sum at a price that doesn't break the bank, Dim Sum Duck pulls hefty queues of eager crowds. 

We will never say no to a slice of NYC-style pizza. The English have mastered the art of the queue, and that mastery becomes wildly apparent on a trip to Alley Cats Pizza. The line may twist and turn down Paddington Street (or the King's Road if you happen to stop by the Chelsea branch), but it's an orderly affair. Once inside, become brothers in arms with a rowdy crowd of friends, families, lovers and singletons all eager to get their hands on a 14" blistered tomato, cheese-covered, topping-of-choice pizza pie. 

Last but certainly not least is Kiln. Your tummy should grumble and your mouth should water at the sheer thought of one of their well-spiced, ever-so fiery Thai dishes. Order the classic Tamworth belly & brown crab clay pot, perfectly charred over the coals, and you're in for a treat. What is more, you don't even need to wait in the all-too-often rainy, cold London streets for a table. Pop your name on the list and hop on over to the Ham Yard Hotel for a drink.