I love a new restaurant lunch spot in St John’s Wood. Suzy likes to drive the Mercedes down and have a day shopping with lunch. Or a five o’clock glass of wine and me drive home. We love DRUNCH and go to the Ivy a lot but everyone likes a change and to try something new. And who doesn’t love a wine bar. As kids of the 1980s it’s a concept that’s been and gone but we definitely need places that encourage coming together for a glass of wine and a bite to eat. I am all for more socialising over a drink. An art we seem to have lost over the last few years post COVID.

Before child development specialist Maggie Bolger moved in To 49 St John’s Wood High St and launched the b_together family club and its eco-brasserie, AT Feast, in the summer of 2021, this big space opposite the famous Ivy restaurant in St John’s Wood was a retail space downstairs and offices upstairs.

I liked At Feast and went quite a bit, they did a good spinach, beetroot and raisin salad (sounds weird I know but tasted great) and good smoothies too, but it never really settled and found it’s identity. I am not sure locals really understood the family club offering and in a couple of short years the eco cafe closed.

Delighted to see the new restaurant cafe open No. Forty Nine.

By pure conicidence we happened to be there on the opening day and got to see the refurbishment and take a look at the menu which is giving Ottenleghi vibes, fresh homemade salads, fish and Mediterranean style dishes for lunch. They are definitely catering to vegetarians and vegans. And I have to say the big freshly prepared deli style plates on the counter looked delicious, colourful and very inviting. Suzy had a bottle of decent plonk, while I sipped on a glass of zero alcohol wine on an outdoor table which was also decent to be fair.

The menu is a hybrid concept created by Cinder owner Jake Finn and Head Chef Ella Williams (formerly of Mountain and Crispin). You’ll find the live fire place Cinder further down the High Street next to Sahara where I get my Fresh Mint tea. I haven’t been as I am not really a meat eater. The new No 49, says it transitions from a morning artisan bakery into an all-day bistro that blends New York-style bistro food with Mediterranean influences.

It wasn’t busy inside when we popped in, everyone was outside on the patio which was packed. I have to say the staff were very friendly, up beat and excited, even though the area at the back still looked a little dishevelled and unfinished.

I am sure they’ll get that sorted in the next few days.

We only had a drink, it’s fully licensed and the bottle of white was fruity and crisp, what the doctor ordered on a hot day. We’ll be going back next the weekend, Suzy has a beauty tweakment booked at Medi Spa up the road so we’ll book in to try the food. Will update this then with more pictures but in the meantime if you are at the cricket this summer, this airy happy new restaurant in the St John’s Wood neighbourhood looks like a good one to have on your list to try.