RESTAURANTS • First Word
King for a day
The Skinny: Chef Aktar Islam is known for Opheem, a tasting menu restaurant in his native Birmingham. In May, he made his London debut with Oudh 1722, a more casual, multi-space Indian spot close to Borough Market. It serves his version of Awadhi cuisine, a historic style from the royal courts of northern India, with warm hospitality.
The Vibe: Homely, laidback and varied. The three-storey listed Victorian building is a special find, full of character, nooks and crannies. While the ground floor (above) is spacious and offers kitchen views, the first is more intimate. The attic lounge and bar feels like a living room, with its plush green velvet sofas, hand-painted ceiling and exposed brick walls. (FOUND Pro: you could really impress a date with a first drink or nightcap here.)
The Food: The vast menu is divided into sections denoting different parts of the cuisine of Awadh (or Oudh), beginning with shorba, a traditional broth of lamb or morels. The standout appetiser is gol guppa (also called panipuri), a fragrant street-food snack of hollow, fried dough balls filled with crisped rice and a punchy pouring liquid of mint and spices.
Next is gilawat, translating as melt-in-the-mouth, a style of kebab originally created in Lucknow. Oudh’s make-your-own version features soft Herdwick lamb patties, along with red onion and sauces to be spread onto thin roti and folded into a wrap. A large dahi paneer sandwiched with cultured cream is visually stunning, encrusted with honey and flower petals, but almost dessert-like in its sweetness. Curries are generously portioned, with both confit masala goat and ox cheek pleasingly endowed with accompaniments. There are naans and rice too and, if you’re flummoxed by the extensive menu, a Feast selection.
The Drink: Oudh’s mango chutney margarita might be the drink of the summer – a refreshing mix of mezcal, tequila, chilli and mango chutney syrup. Other Indian-spiked cocktails include a sharma chai of masala cordial and naan bread distillate (!), plus classics and wines, too.
The Verdict: A fun spot with delightful service guaranteed to impress clients, friends and dates alike, especially with a cocktail or two. –Laura Price
→ Oudh 1722 (London Bridge) • 66 Union St • Wed-Sat 12-230p & 530-930p, Sun 12-5p • Book.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: Canary Wharf’s landmarked HSBC tower submits transformation plan, would be world’s largest office retrofit • In Ealing, developer wins battle to convert offices into flats • Beers and Sid Motion galleries are closing • Should London shut down in August?
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale flats in Mayfair that recently came to market:
→ Curzon St (Mayfair) • 3BR/2BA/2R, 125 m2 flat • Asking price: £3.75mn • 3rd-floor flat w/ day porter and two passenger lifts • Ownership type: leasehold • Agent: Strutt & Parker.
→ Green St (Mayfair) • 3BR/2BA/1R, 121 m2 flat • Asking price: £4.15mn • 2nd-floor flat in classic building, short walk from North Audley St • Ownership type: leasehold • Agent: Wetherell.
→ Farm St (Mayfair, above) • 8BR/4BA/1R, 390 m2 town house • Asking price: £8.25mn • expansive living space over 5 floors, plus roof terrace and private south-facing patio • Ownership type: freehold • Agent: Aldersley.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Bakery
Inverted pastry
At Prestige Patisserie, the beauty, elegance, daintiness, craft and deliciousness of the cakes and pastries are inversely proportional to the drab industrial park setting. While navigating here, you’ll think you’ve been sent the wrong way… until you find this oasis, in one of London’s less-celebrated corners.
Choosing a favourite is impossible: creamy or fruity? Iced or encased? Layered cake or towering tart? Banoffee tart is an exemplary execution of the classic; sticky toffee apple pudding takes one of our most beloved puds, adds apples, and somehow, only improves on it. But the Malibu rum and coconut cake is the star order here, with its moist, sweet, boozy layers of sponge interrupted by smooth, coconutty buttercream.
Prestige isn’t limited to transcendental cakes and pastries with tea or coffee. It’s licensed, open beyond traditional café hours, serving savoury snacks too. And in the event you rate by pedigree, just take a look at the plaques on the wall, which tell the story of owners George and Geanina Ursache, quietly doing their thing for years, racking up deserved recognition over that time from various awards bodies, as enamoured with what they do as you’ll soon be. –David Bard
→ Prestige Patisserie (South Tottenham) • 20 Enterprise Row • Tue 12-5p, Wed 1030a-5p, Thu-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 1030a-5p.
ASK FOUND
In response to the query, “I need a caterer for a casual summer party,” a FOUND subscriber recommends:
Ailsa Petterson. Dinner parties and cocktail parties, and picnics. Fabulous and healthy since 1991.
Today, last call on these two PROMPTS for which we seek your response:
What’s your favourite specialist bookstore in London?
What London goods or services do you always recommend?
If we publish your answer, we’ll comp you a 90-day paid subscription to FOUND LDN. Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@foundldn.com.
CULTURE & LEISURE • The Nines
Walking tours
The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best in London and further afield. Paid subscribers access the complete Nines archive.
Secrets of the Underground walking tour (Marylebone, above), insightful exploration of London’s Tube network
London Loo Tour (Waterloo), themed around toilets and sanitation
Classic rom-com tour (Covent Garden), locations from movies like Love Actually
Shoreditch Street Art Tour (Shoreditch), best graffiti installations
Drink London Tour (St. Paul’s), pub crawl to London’s most famous boozers
Ultimate London Food Tour (Borough), food and drink w/ tastings along the way
Jack the Ripper Tour (Aldgate), east London journey through the serial killer’s haunts
Hidden London (City of London), historical walk through City and Fleet Street
Women of Westminster Walking Tour (Westminster), stroll past memorials to significant women in British history
GETAWAYS LINKS: New sky walkways plan set to transform STN • In Northumberland, historic hotel Matfen Hall completes six-year transformation • Five English country houses to hide away • French towns and villages that match the charms of the Cotswolds • Checking in at new Menorca boutique Riviera Hotel.
CULTURE & LEISURE • All Points East
Jorja Smith + Tems • All Points East • Victoria Park (East London) • Fri @ 230p • primary entry, £98 per
Mahler’s ‘Song of the Earth’ • BBC Proms • Royal Albert Hall (South Kensington) • Fri @ 7p • grand tier boxes, £59 per
Outbreak Fest • Deftones, Idles, Interpol, more; All Points East • Victoria Park (East London) • Sun @ 130p • primary entry, £120 per
RESTAURANTS • FOUND Table
A pizza the pie
Vincenzo’s original site in Bushey has built a dedicated following since opening in 2022, with devotees willing to travel for what many insist is the closest thing to a proper New York slice this side of the pond. I can confirm: it’s close – and now, we don’t have to travel so far.