I remember when August was a sleepy month in the restaurant world - with many clients shutting up shop to venture on their holidays, and pockets of London deserted too. It just doesn’t feel like that this year - instead there’s a buzz of energy, anticipation and excitement, and at Tonic we’re proud to be opening some brilliant new restaurants this month. We look forward to welcoming you into Oriole, Cornus, Marceline and Kolamba East very soon.

Latest News

Parisian-inspired brasserie MARCELINE to open in Canary Wharf on 5th August

Canary Wharf gets its own corner of Paris this summer, with elegant, contemporary brasserie Marceline opening its doors in Wood Wharf. From chef Rob Aikens, diners can indulge in playful French dishes such as Warm cheese soufflé with gruyère cream and truffle and Skate Kiev with pomme purée. A Two Sips Martini can be enjoyed in its plush bar Salon Marceline, while the terrace is an exquisite summer perch. Read more here.

CORNUS to launch on Belgravia rooftop on 6th August, from chef Gary Foulkes and the MEDLAR team

On 6th August, Cornus will open in London's Belgravia, offering ingredient-led fine dining and rooftop views courtesy of Medlar founders David O'Connor and Joe Mercer Nairne. Gary Foulkes, formerly of Michelin-starred Angler, will serve a French-inflected, supplier-focused menu. Expect Hand rolled spaghetti, native lobster, Amalfi lemon and caviar and Hubert Lacoste’s tomatoes, cherry juice, soft curd and fig leaves. Read more here.

Contemporary Sri Lankan restaurant KOLAMBA EAST to open its doors in east London on 6th August

Kolamba East - the highly anticipated follow-up to Aushi and Eroshan Meewella's original Soho restaurant - will also open its doors on 6th August, serving the duo's take on Sri Lankan home cooking to east Londoners for the first time. The brand new menu will serve feasting plates such as Ceylon Moor king prawn string hopper biryani and Jaffna lamb shank with flavour-packed sambols to diners enveloped in its refined interiors. Read more here.

ORIOLE to return to London with second site opening in Covent Garden on 28th August

Earlier this year we were treated to the PRELUDE by Oriole pop-up, but the award-winning bar team are now back for good. Acclaimed cocktail spot Oriole will open the doors to its second permanent home in Covent Garden at the end of this month, welcoming guests as both a bar and restaurant. Innovative drinks can now be enjoyed with an à la carte food menu which celebrates the fusion cuisines of Latin America. Read more here.

MARGO to open in Glasgow this September, from the team behind KA PAO and OX AND FINCH

Fans of beloved Scottish restaurants Ox and Finch and Ka Pao will be delighted to hear that the Scoop team are set to open flavour-led small plates restaurant Margo in Glasgow next month. Chef and native Glaswegian Robin Aitken will celebrate Scottish seafood with Smoked haddock churros, manchego and saffron and Margo focaccia with prawn head butter, and serve meat butchered in-house, along with homemade breads and pastas. Read more here.

What's On This Month

Keep your cool on The Laundry's terrace this summer with its new Soft Serve Series, with weekly changing flavours ranging from Strawberry & lime to Coconut and Caravan coffee. Elsewhere in iced treats, Pastaio's Slushy Series continues with Guava Margarita Slushy from Rome’s La Punta Expendio de Agave, available throughout August. For the consummate taste of summer, Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO will be serving a limited edition Tomato Menu at lunchtimes from 6th-24th August. It's all go in the Scottish capital this month with the Edinburgh Festival: local distillery Electric Spirit Co. and roasters Origin Coffee will join forces for a pop-up bar serving 'Kegronis' on tap, while visitors to the city can try Cardinal's new à la carte menu, with three courses for £69 - don't miss the Hokkaido milk bun, grilled cheese and wild garlic compote.

Dish Spotlight: Rice Pudding

Payasam with cinnamon and raisins at Kolamba East

Hailing from the north of Sri Lanka, this traditional rice pudding is flavoured with toasty cinnamon and raisins, and finished with chopped nuts and saffron.

Caramelised oat milk rice pudding at Cornus

Gary Foulkes's refined yet comforting take is enriched with caramelised oat milk, and served with fresh cherries and cherry ripple ice cream.