London

• Go east, young Conran. While Terence Conran's Great Eastern Hotel on Liverpool Street doesn't officially open until sometime this month, some of the seven restaurants have begun to roll out, including an all-day brasserie called Terminus and an haute cuisine restaurant calledAurora, the latter under Great Eastern executive chef Jonathan Wright (ex-Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons). For Conran's New York activity (see NYDateline column).

• The English House has been acquired by Searcy-Corrigan Restaurants and relaunched as The House. The intimate private townhouse setting is perfect for a Chelsea neighborhood restaurant. Chef Graham Garrett (ex-Simply Nico, Nico Central) is serving a mostly British menu at reasonable prices.

• Though years behind schedule, Oliver Peyton's slick Isola and Osteria d'Isola have finally opened in Knightsbridge. The Italian food is turned out by French chef Bruno Loubet, who earned his first Michelin star at The Four Seasons Hotel in Mayfair, and the wine list offers tasting selections.

• Firebird New York has opened an outpost in Mayfair on Conduit Street. Like the New York restaurant, the atmosphere is meant to be that of a Russian gentleman's townhouse circa 1912 with waiters in period uniforms by Oleg Cassini. Alain Allard (ex-L'Oranger) is chef.

• Thai Square is a recent addition to Trafalgar Square in the former Norwegian Embassy. The grand and guilded interior is serving excellent Thai food until the wee hours and on Sunday, too.

• The owners of Montana, Dakota, Canyon, and Idaho have opened Utah serving contemporary American food in Wimbledon.

• Parade has opened in Ealing with chef Rob Jones (ex-Stephen Bull, The Square). The owners also run Sonny's and Phoenix Bar & Grill.

• Cookbook authors and TV chefs The Nosh Brothers have opened an eponymous restaurant on All Saints Road in Notting Hill.

• Sugar Reef, London's biggest restaurant, has opened in the West End accommodating 1,000 people. Chef Kenny Miller left before the opening and the new executive chef is Garry Hollihead.

• Ken Hom has joined forces with the OrientalRestaurant Group to open two Yellow River Cafes, one in Canary Wharf and the other in Chiswick, with more planned. The concept is high-quality, healthy modernOriental food with tastes from China, Malaysia,Thailand and Singapore. They also offer delivery by gyro-canopy motorcycles imported from Japan.

• Zeta Bar serves up cocktails with a healthy spin in Mayfair, including fresh pulps and juices, classic alcoholic cocktails and "liquid lunches," with input from a registered nutritionist.