It hasn’t been a stellar year on here overall, as my priorities have shifted a little towards making some money from this site. Sorry — I’ll share some thoughts on this in an upcoming post, but in short, I’m self-employed now, and just keeping the lights on this site, before paying for any food, costs me hundreds of pounds. But 2026 will feature more of a mix of longer and shorter form content, not just reviews, but thoughts, opinion, and some things in between.
But these round-up posts are always popular, and a nice look back. As you can see, the list is dominated by homely, to go meals which probably reflects the state of the nation/difficult economy. Lots of sandwich shops, takeaways, and a distinct lack of three course meals here.
See my past lists from 2024 and 2023 here for more of the same. And in no particular order…
Duck ragu and smoked potato at Rebel
Rebel is usually pretty damn good, and this was part of their very accessible 4c for £30 menu. It was defo made to a cost, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be great — restaurants of 2026, take note.
Just the deepest flavoured ragu, almost overwhelmingly so, a sauce topped with a smoked potato sauce with only really a hint of texture from some (duck fat) crumb. Dishes styled like this have been in restaurants all over this year. Maybe there’s something about that need for comfort. Brief, nailed. Though it’s not a looker, it stayed with me all year.
Meat and gravy pies at Propa in Sunderland
I’ve been enamoured by Propa since it opened. If you’re yet to discover why, check this one out.
Si King’s restaurant, more hole in the wall than anything, and in Sunderland of all places, is cranking out these pies on the reg. From basics like this mince, to more interesting fillings changing daily, every single one is a banger. As they should be for £12, but again, in this landscape of comfort-seeking, pies are pretty high up on the list, and these deliver in every way possible.
‘Breakfast’ at The Fat Duck
At the opposite end of the scale, a restaurant I’ve wanted to go to for about twenty years. And sure, it’s less surprise and innovation is happening differently now, but it’s still ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for a good reason.
My pick of the wild dishes was the ‘breakfast’ which is a classic. A custom-made cereal box filled with your childhood favourite – it’s a distillation of the flavours of a Full English breakfast, designed to look like a breakfast cereal that you pour yourself at the table.
Quick snap probably doesn’t sell it – but to get the flavours of grilled bacon, sausage, egg, and baked beans through in a dish like this, with a stunning champagne on the side, is just 🤯. There’s pie and mash, and then there’s however many processes and team members come together to deliver a remarkably memorable eating experience.
Sunday Lunch at Faru
I got a bit bored of Sunday roasts in restaurants when they became A) too expensive for what they are and B) something I could make nearly as good as just at home with a quiet Sunday.
Over the last couple of years though, as £££ are tight, a lot of high-end places have started serving Sunday roasts to accrue a bit of extra revenue. They all tend to be pretty good, but this one at Faru blew me away, even when my expectations of it were quite high.
The best Sunday roast I can remember, just every single little bit refined 10x over your local pub. And only £40 for three courses which I think is a bargain really, you could easily spend that at some shite Mitchells & Butler pub.
Strawberries on Wimbledon Centre Court
What more can you say about it? One of sports iconic foods, in the July heatwave that hit London this year. We managed to get centre court tickets, and tick off all of the essentials, including a Djokovic match.
Famously not changed in price for fifteen years, I can let them off the 20p bump to £2.70 this year. I sort of thought they might be a bit disappointing really, but perhaps the occasion does a lot for the flavour. Strawberries are probably my favourite fruit, and these were plump, red, and juicy. Accompanying Pimms didn’t hit the spot in the same way, but it was of course, absolutely necessary.
Some ‘touristy’ checklist items aren’t worth the hassle. If you’re ever in SW11, these are an absolute must.
Tomatoes on bread
Again, no it’s not dish 6 of 21 from a tasting menu, but something so simple that puts a smile on my face. Throughout the lovely summer we had, the best tomatoes I could buy were always in the house. On the kitchen windowsill just trying to eke a little more ripening into them.
Most of them got grated, mixed with salt & loads of EVOO and put on some lovely toast. Probably one of my favourite ‘Spanish holiday’ influences, it’s super easy, and hits the spot so well each and every time — as long as your tomatoes are good. 2026 goals is to grow our own.
Fried chicken wings at Soku
Soku has raced out of the starting blocks and looks like it’s been one of the most popular restaurants in town this year. It’s easy to see why — refined Asian / fusion food isn’t something that really exists in Newcastle.
These wings, deftly fried and drowned in an addictive sweet and spicy sauce were as messy as they were delightful. I could have picked a few from our visits, but these lingered with me the most, and I cannot wait to eat them again.
The Oklahoma Burger at Burts
Following Patty Melts entry last year — which could have easily made this list again because it’s probably the best burger in town right now — is the new contender from Burts.
Trying new burger restaurants is a shortcut to disappointment, but from the softest bun (made, incredibly, in-house), jammy and gnarly onions, and overall ughhhhhhh good burger bite feeling, this is what dozens of burger joints have aspired to produce over the past decade, and next to none have achieved. Excellent all round, and one that’s kept me coming back for more.
Birthday chips at The Devonshire, London
Toss up between these and the OG tripe-cooked chips at The Hind’s Head in Bray, post Fat Duck. But these got it for me, only as they’re a little bit cheaper.
The Devonshire has had many-words written about it already, and I can confirm is a fabulous place from start to finish, whether you’re in & out for Guinness, or managed to get a reservation. I’ve written plenty about how good chips should be the cornerstone of pub cooking, and these are exceptional as you’d expect from Heston protégé. Cooked in duck fat for starters, and with Béarnaise, well just look at them. You won’t find better.
Saint Vincent, again
Yep, it’s here again. It’s impossible to ignore in these lists because just everything that comes out of the kitchen is top-tier. We only made it here a few times this year, but if I had to pick, Txangurro before the Jay Rayner show rekindled memories of San Sebastián, my favourite zucchini fritti, or this plate of pork (for 2) exemplified everything they’re doing here. Accurate cooking, quality ingredients, things that you Just Want To Eat. It’s gotten expensive for sure, but it’s as good as any restaurant, anywhere.
Abridged: The best things I drank in 2025
Seven massive Omnipollo beers at a Mosaic Tap: Mosaic has been a favourite since it opened (and I worked next door to it), but add in seven of Omnipollo’s biggest and daftest beers, and I’m there. Frothy milkshakes, huge TIPAs, and a hefty hangover.
Tied Vines at Donzoko Tap Room: Donzoko remains my fave taproom pick, also making another appearance on this list. From just supping the latest German release, to something more off piste, it’s just consistently good. I wanted to pick Slow Beam Pet Nat here, which was as surprisingly good as a Pet Nat could ever be, but the Cloudwater collab from a few years back, matured on the lees just pipped it.
The sweet taste of self employment: As of 2025, I’m no longer an employee, and long has been the dream of sitting during ‘working hours’ with a nice drink and not a thought about wiggling a mouse to keep your Teams status from going ‘idle’. From a cheeky fizz in VIN, to a cask pint in The Town Mouse, those first few ‘you’ve done it’ beverages have been as top-tier as I’d always hoped they would be.
Bottle of Crémant on Wimbledon centre court: Yeah, Pimms is great/quintessential, but unknown to me until this year, you’re allowed to take a bottle of wine of your own onto the courts (one per person). Given a bottle of Lanson Black is £96, treat yourself, try to keep it chilled, and uncork quietly.
Have a wonderful 2026, and as ever, I’ll say that I’ll be posting more on here in the new year (and then won’t).
