Smoked by AI · London · people
Jason Allen
Critic · Journalist — London restaurants and bars across every price band, with a strong line in neighbourhood rooms outside zone one.
Editor of The Nudge (formerly The Handbook), a London editorial title that reviews under named bylines and publishes its scoring policy in full on every review page: "We never take payment to simply review a restaurant or bar in London, and improved scores can't be bought." Reviews carry a numeric score and a stated basis (food or drink quality, atmosphere, originality, how well the venue is run, and price).
Their own reviews and picks.
Their own judgment, in their own words, by the piece it appeared in.
- The Nudge, 'AGORA' ↗their review · 2024-06-06
- Agora Souvla BarBorough
“The real standout is the confit lamb flatbread with spiced tomato & garlic yoghurt, which is frankly unreal, it's another pillow-soft flatbread, topped with a puddle or rich tomato sauce, big chunks of lamb and a dollop of yoghurt to cut through the richness of the meat.”
- Agora Souvla BarBorough
- The Nudge ↗their review · 2023-12-15
- Ghost WhaleBrixton
“Pop in on any given day, and you can settle in for a pour from one of the half-dozen, ever-rotating taps at that bar.”
- Ghost WhaleBrixton
- The Nudge ↗their review · 2023-12-03
- Homies On DonkeysLeytonstone
“The food is genuinely delicious, and is the product of many, many years of experimentation and refinement on the part of the chefs.”
- Homies On DonkeysLeytonstone
- The Nudge ↗their review · 2022-08-16
- Mr Fogg's ApothecaryMayfair
“the latest pin in the map for the burgeoning Fogg's empire... And in the spirit of giving each new outpost a sense of its own individual identity (while naturally remaining cloaked in the group's signature outfit of gloriously quirky Victoriana), the Apothecary is setting itself apart from the others by leaning very firmly into its cocktails”
- Mr Fogg's ApothecaryMayfair
Pieces they wrote about these places.
Reporting, openings and roundups. Kept for the trail, and not read as their endorsement — a writer relaying someone else's award is not recommending it.
- The Nudge, 'London's Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants, 2026' ↗reporting · 2026-02-04
- KilnSoho
“Kiln serves regional Thai food inspired by roadside eateries, that is anything but middle of the road. Upstairs is walk-in only, so arrive early and pray for a coveted seat at the zinc-topped counter overlooking leaping flames in the kitchen.”
- KilnSoho