Chef Dominic Taylor to open The Good Front Room in Dalston, bringing contemporary Caribbean cuisine to East London

Chef Dominic Taylor, who has wone Channel 4’s Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef, will open a new permanent restaurant, The Good Front Room, in Dalston Square, East London, on Thursday 5^th February. The venue will revive Taylor’s acclaimed Caribbean dining concept, first introduced to the public during his 2023 residency at The Langham Hotel and subsequently through a series of sold-out supper clubs. The restaurant aims to bring Taylor’s contemporary interpretations of Caribbean cuisine to a broader audience in a neighbourhood with deep Caribbean roots.

Taylor, who was raised in London by a Jamaican mother and Saint-Lucian father, has drawn on his heritage and early culinary education from family elders to shape his approach to food. His professional background includes roles as Head Chef at Belgraves Hotel and The Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch, as well as Executive Chef at The Jam Tree restaurant group. The new Dalston location is particularly significant for Taylor, reflecting both his personal history and the area’s longstanding Caribbean community.

Speaking about the restaurant, Taylor said: “The Good Front Room is inspired by my great-aunt Myrtle and the sacred front rooms found in so many Caribbean homes, spaces kept for special guests and layered with pride and memory. As a grandchild of the Windrush generation, I feel a responsibility to carry the torch and keep our stories, recipes, and traditions alive. Doing this now feels like the right moment to build something entirely my own, rooted in where I come from and led with intention.”

The menu at The Good Front Room will feature a range of small and large plates, blending traditional Caribbean ingredients with modern techniques. Dishes include Coco Stack Slider, Irish Proper Chips, Maple, Lime and Chilli Glazed Plantain, Ackee + Saltfish Cake, and Escovitch Wild Hake. Larger sharing options such as Short Rib Brown Stew, Whole Jerk Chicken, and a Seafood Boil are also planned. Desserts comprise Sweet Potato Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla bean custard and Mango Sorbet Soft Serve with sorrel and ginger jelly.

The drinks menu will highlight a signature Rum Punch and a selection of bespoke cocktails, with £1 from each Tropical Storm cocktail donated to Jamaica’s Hurricane Relief Fund. The wine list is curated to complement the food, and Caribbean beers such as Red Stripe and Dragon Stout will be available.

Located on the ground floor of Thomas Tower, adjacent to Dalston Junction station, the 80-cover restaurant will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, a central bar, and artwork from local artists. The venue will also host live music and spoken word events, with a focus on community engagement.

Food Desk

For further information and reservations, visit The Good Front Room’s website here.