New Year. New London Restaurants.

There isn’t enough time in the 365 days of the year to enjoy all the fabulous choices of feasting venues that London has to offer, but we all need some inspiration from time to time. As 2014 dawns and we get back into the groove of more work and less play, here are our suggestions on the hot seats to book to lift your spirits out of the January gloom.

Foxlow
The latest venture from the meaty minds behind London behemoth Hawksmoor, Foxlow keeps the carnivorous ethos alive with some gargantuan steaks (up to 950g T bones are listed on the blackboard), but diversifies with mains such as monkfish, Iberico pork and salmon. All are presented as a slab on an otherwise barren plate so make sure to stock up on the sides, which include the legendary bacon salt fries and very tasty broccoli with chilli and anchovy. Situated in the heart of Clerkenwell, Foxlow has hipster décor down to a tee, including a display-only salad counter – no helping yourself a la Pizza Hut! An unsurprisingly slick operation, Foxlow is one to indulge in if the January diet has already gone out of the window.

Hixter
If you are a fan of Mark Hix’s eponymous and originally titled ‘Hix’ restaurants, then the opening of latest outpost Hixter will be music to your ears. The first in what is set to be a bar and grill chain, Hix experimented with the Damian Hirst-styled Tramshed over in Shoreditch, before opening this much more ‘City’ orientated joint only open Monday to Friday. The menu is unchallenging fun with steaks, surf ‘n’ turf, burgers, club sandwiches listed, as well as a chocolate fondue with donuts and marshmallows for dessert. The prices are aimed at those on a City worker budget too, but if you can handle these then you are in for a treat as ingredients are great quality and dishes expertly cooked. Perfect for a Friday lunchtime with clients.

Chotto Matte
At the tail end of 2013, Chotto Matte took over a site in Soho’s Frith Street with an (all too fashionable) Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant and bar split over three floors. Buzzy from the moment you walk in, glitz and atmospheric house music permeate the big space, with the dark ceiling, lighting and flooring offset by the bright graffiti mural along one wall of the restaurant. Off an extensive menu of temptations, you can’t miss trademark Peruvian ceviche, fantastically presented soft shell crab sushi and succulent beef heart, amongst many others. This is a party place, make no mistake about it, so go with friends on a Saturday night to sample the tantalising cocktails and devour the sharing plates.

– Sophie