What’s new?Bronte (named after Nelson, the first Duke of Bronte), a shiny new all-day bar and restaurant designed by Tom Dixon, joins the pigeons, lions and backpackers of Trafalgar Square.
Behind the scenes? Bronte is brought to us by Trevor and Adam Davies, the father-and-son duo behind Circus, one of London’s classier cocktails ‘n’ cabaret joints. The executive head chef is Andrew Lassetter, a talented chef who has made a career out of feeding the rich and the skinny, first at the Hempel, later at Eight Over Eight, Cocoon, and the late Joseph Ettedgui’s Il Vaporetto. Jonathan Villar (ex-Providores) is head chef.

What’s cooking?Being the gluttonous type, I boggle at some of the dishes racking up “likes” on Bronte’s Instagram feed: quinoa and chia seed porridge? Dragon fruit, pomelo and smoked bulgar wheat salad? It’s not what I wake up craving, but for greedies like me, Andrew Lassetter has provided Longhorn steaks slathered with blue cheese butter, eggs with Marmite and cheddar soldiers, and melting chocolate fondants with a chilli kick.

Signature dishes? Nori-salted skinny fries. The dusting of dark green seaweed doesn’t do a whole lot but that doesn’t stop this exotic-sounding side order being a contender for the chip de nos jours. Watch your back, truffle fries.

Best for: Gym bunnies
Bronte, Grand Buildings, 1-3 The Strand, London, WC2N 5EJ
020 7930 8855
bronte.co.uk