Often called the capital of the Cotswolds, Cirencester is known for its Roman history and honey-coloured streets — but its food scene deserves just as much attention. From farm-to-fork dining in Cirencester Park to Neapolitan pizza, artisan cafés and historic coaching inns, discover the restaurants helping shape this charming Cotswolds town.

Chef Pankaj Sharma’s restaurant, Syah in Udaipur is built on a simple idea: the future of Indian cooking lies in its roots. From camel milk cheese and wild jujube to collaborations with local farmers and artisans, Sharma explains to The Knife how hyper-local ingredients and cultural storytelling are shaping one of India’s most thoughtful tasting menu experiences.

Behind a kebab shop façade in Covent Garden lies one of London’s most unusual dining rooms. At Kebab Queen, a 10-seat chef’s table led by Pamir Zeydan serves an immersive Levantine tasting menu directly onto the counter: no plates, no barriers, just bold flavours and front-row seats to the action. But is this London’s most unique chef’s table experience?

From a travel-inspired idea to one of London’s fastest-growing casual seafood brands, Shrimp Shack is making waves in Streatham and Camden, and soon the rest of the country. Built around bold flavours, seafood boils and customisable shrimp plates, the concept is redefining affordable seafood in the capital, with a new saver and lunch menu now adding even more value.

Chef Allister Barsby has quietly built one of Britain’s most exciting restaurants at Hide and Fox in Saltwood. In this interview with The Knife, the two-Michelin star chef discusses seasonality, the influence of mentor Michael Caines, building tasting menus that evolve with the seasons, and why exceptional dining can flourish far beyond the big cities.

Executive Chef Leo Tanyag of MA/NA in Mayfair sits down with The Knife to talk about the philosophy of mana, the quiet power of Japanese technique and why rice might be the most important ingredient on the menu. From Hamachi Onigiri to perfectly balanced cocktails, he reveals how food, atmosphere and energy will come together in one of London’s most anticipated restaurant openings.

MasterChef: The Professionals winner Alex Webb opens Orion in Wimbledon Village – a French-inspired, British seafood-led restaurant rooted in seasonality, storytelling and Michelin-level craft. Warm, personal and quietly ambitious, it’s a neighbourhood opening that already feels like a destination.

Thirteen years, one Michelin star and a new chapter underway. At Angler, Craig Johnston is refining one of London’s most respected seafood kitchens with a lighter touch, sharper identity and unwavering focus on British produce. We sit down with the Roux Scholar and MasterChef: The Professionals winner to talk precision, progression and the future of modern seafood dining.

In the depths of winter, Ivan Ramen’s first London restaurant was already packed shortly after opening. Tucked away on Farringdon Road, this intimate 26-seater delivers deeply satisfying bowls alongside a London-exclusive salt beef bun, blending Tokyo precision, New York attitude and a clear sense of place in one of the capital’s most exciting ramen openings.

Oxford may be famous for its academics and architecture, but beyond the historic colleges lies a quietly thriving food scene. From Michelin starred countryside pubs and vibrant Japanese kitchens to artisan bakeries and cult burger joints, The Knife explores the restaurants shaping Oxford’s modern culinary identity today.

At Edinburgh’s intimate Michelin starred Condita, Chef Tyler King is crafting tasting menus built on Scotland’s exceptional produce, bold flavours and a larder rich in ferments and preserves. In this conversation with The Knife, he reveals how unexpected flavour pairings, global techniques and close chef-to-guest interaction shape one of the city’s most distinctive dining experiences.

At Rogan & Co, Tom Reeves is championing a style of cooking that’s confident, ingredient-led and quietly precise. Drawing on produce from Simon Rogan’s farm just down the road, the Michelin starred chef shares how simplicity, preservation and a deep respect for flavour shape the menu, and why the dishes that look the most understated often take the most work.

Newly crowned Chef of the Year, Ayesha Kalaji opens up about identity, imposter syndrome, Jordanian heritage and the Glastonbury community behind Queen of Cups. Honest, funny and fiercely personal, this is a chef at the height of her powers, still surprised by the spotlight, but utterly certain of her voice.

Fresh from a major Cateys win, The Loch & the Tyne in Old Windsor is having a moment. Adam Handling’s countryside gastropub blends zero-waste thinking, serious cooking and laid-back hospitality. Proof that the future of British dining might just live in the pub.

From Patrick Guilbaud to Pollen Street Social and back home to Dublin, Library Street's Kevin Burke reflects on building a restaurant rooted in pure flavour, team culture and a city he says is "seriously cool". With The Knife, Kevin talks about Michelin pressure, coddle cravings, and why stripping a dish back is often the hardest – and most rewarding – move.

Chef Daniel Watkins is rethinking tofu at Holy Carrot. In collaboration with organic Japanese brand Clearspring, he’s created a limited-edition Koji Flatbread that showcases the ingredient’s creamy texture and versatility. In this interview with The Knife, Watkins talks traceability, technique and why tofu’s future in modern plant-based cooking is only just beginning.

After a decade abroad, Kevin O’Donnell returned to Dublin from 2 Michelin starred Kadeau to open Comet with his wife, Laura. In this candid interview with The Knife, he talks about creative risk, Bastible’s backing, the pressure of early Michelin hype, homesickness in an airport departure lounge, and why sometimes the most beautiful thing in the kitchen is simply peeling carrots.

At just 26, Francesco Sarvonio is quietly redefining modern Italian cooking in London. At Casa Felicia in Queen’s Park, the Naples-born chef cooks with restraint, clarity and soul, where semolina and water become a statement, dry-aged fish is handled with reverence, and tradition is interpreted, not performed. Less noise, more identity. This is Italian food that listens.

From a hidden Paddington basement to a bold new Shoreditch opening, Meet Bros is quietly reshaping what a modern halal steakhouse can be in London. Premium cuts meet Southeast Asian flavour, design-led spaces, and a dining experience that puts inclusivity and quality front and centre.

From Stockholm to Dublin via Finland, Mickael Viljanen’s journey is one of graft, instinct and quiet ambition. In this candid interview, the Chapter One chef patron reflects on immigration, pressure, Michelin stars and the responsibility of cooking at the highest level; why accolades matter, why humility matters more, and what it really takes to make people leave happier than they arrived.