This year has been a quiet one in London for restaurant openings so far but last week saw the first big one - Hix Oyster and Chop House. It’s bound to be an instant hit. The chef/proprietor Mark Hix oversaw the menu at such London icons as the Ivy, the Caprice and Scott’s

In the Independent today he gives a taster of the sort of dishes he’ll be serving, recipes that I think match much better to beer or cider than to wine (Hix is quite a beer buff and is consciously trying to promote our regional brews)

Beef shin, porter and oyster pie
Porter or stout is the obvious match here given the other ingredients even though the oysters won’t affect the taste overly much. (It’s essentially a rich, meaty beef stew). The ideal drink to serve would be Meantime Brewery London Porter, a revival of the traditional London porter style

Bacon Chop with Tewkesbury mustard
The sauce contains dry cider so again that points to drinking cider with the dish. Even if it didn’t cider is an excellent match for bacon or ham and mustard. As is Chablis if you wanted to drink wine.

Hanger steak with baked bone marrow
A solid red wine dish admittedly but just as good with a robust British ale like Timothy Taylor Landlord or Adnams Broadside. The recommended side dish of salt-baked celeriac would enhance the match.