Chef Dom Taylor Announces New Restaurant, Opening Dalston, February 2026.
Chef Dominic Taylor will be reviving his well-loved Caribbean dining concept, The Good Front Room, at a brand-new permanent site, opening on Thursday 5th February 2026 in Dalston Square.
Known to many as the winner of Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef, Dom first showcased his elevated Caribbean cuisine at The Langham Hotel in 2023 as part of the Channel 4 show. Following this successful residency, and a recent series of sold-out festive superclubs, Dom is now taking his signature style to East London, offering his fresh, modern interpretations of classic Caribbean dishes to a wider audience.
The restaurant’s location in the heart of Dalston, a hub for London’s Caribbean community, is meaningful to Dom, who was raised in London by a Jamaican mother and Saint-Lucian father. Having learned how to cook Caribbean staples at a young age from the elder women in his family, Dom quickly learned that food was not only a means of nourishment, but also a way to create happiness, and bring people together. His passion for food ignited, Dom studied hospitality management then gained valuable experience in London restaurants and hotels. He was appointed Head Chef at Belgraves Hotel, then Head Chef at The Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch before a two-year stint as Executive Chef at brunch-focused restaurant group, The Jam Tree.
Dom’s desire to deliver Caribbean cookery authentically and respectfully to a wider audience led to the development of The Good Front Room, a concept that won the prestigious Channel 4 cookery show, as well as rave critic reviews at its residency at The Langham.
As Dom says: “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.”
As The Good Front Room enters its next exciting stage of a permanent restaurant, Dom will showcase his bold, joyful cooking style to all kinds of Londoners – from Dalston locals well versed in Caribbean cooking to those who’ve hardly scratched the surface of this incredible cuisine.
The menu at The Good Front Room is celebratory and innovative, inspired by Caribbean ingredients and well-loved recipes, all created with Dom’s contemporary fresh twist. Packed with flavour, spice, heat and exuberance, the menu has been designed to be explored and shared.
Guests will be able to pick from small plates like the Coco Stack Slider, Irish ‘Proper’ Chips and Maple, Lime and Chilli Glazed Plantain, and Dom’s famous Rum & Raisin Pork Belly Strips as well as innovative
takes on Jamaican favourites like Ackee + Saltfish Cake and Escovitch Wild Hake. Larger dishes like Short Rib Brown Stew, Whole Jerk Chicken for two and a Seafood Boil are ideal to share with friends, family and lovers.
Examples from the menu include:
Gungo Pea Daal – 11
- Roti, Coconut Crema, Pomegranate Molasses
Ham Hock Stew Peas – 16
- Light Cornmeal Dumplings, Coconut Crema, Thyme Crumb
Ackee + Saltfish Cake – 16
- Scotch Bonnet Aioli, Charred Blackened Pineapple, Heirloom Tomato Chow
Rum + Raisin Glazed Pork Belly – 24
- Charred Hispi Cabbage, Poached Golden Raisins
Seafood Boil – 54
- Lobster, Prawn, Crab, Goat Sausage, Sweetcorn, Island Sweet Potato
To finish, Dom’s Sweet Potato Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla bean custard or Mango Sorbet Soft Serve with a sorrel and ginger jelly is perfect.
Accompanying the food is The Good Front Room’s signature Rum Punch, a spicy fruity concoction of Wray & Nephew, Kraken Dark Rum, ginger, pimento, pineapple, lime and cherry syrup, as well as a collection of bespoke cocktails all at £16, such as the Sorrell Gold, an effervescent mix of sorrel jam, ginger, Prosecco and Angostura Bitters or the Tropical Storm, a combination of XIX Tropical Ice Vodka, Tamarind Syrup, Fermented Pineapple Juice Lime, Ginger Beer and Ginger Bitters, where £1 from every drink sold will be donated to support Jamaica’s Hurricane Relief Fund. The drinks list also includes wines selected to pair with the style of food, as well as Red Stripe beer and Dragon stout.
Occupying the ground floor of Thomas Tower, right next to Dalston Junction station, the 80 cover restaurant will be a relaxed, colourful and buzzy space. Floor to ceiling windows offer views over the bustling square and allow light to bounce off walls painted in a vibrant Caribbean colour palate. A large central bar is clad in raw wood panelling, which is complemented by bold artwork from local artists like Caroline Chinakwe. Featuring high tables and stools, the bar area is the perfect spot for post work drinks and snacks, while an outdoor space spilling on to Dalston Square will host sun downers and alfresco dining in the summer.
Music plays a huge role at The Good Front Room and a soon-to-come monthly spoken word and live music will showcase local talent. Saturdays will be open for lunch and dinner and The Good Front Room’s Sunday Roast will evoke Caribbean home cooking for family style feasting with all the trimmings
Address: 1, Thomas Tower, Dalston Square, Greater London, E8 3GU
Opening Hours: Thursday & Friday 5pm-11pm, Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 12pm-11pm Instagram: @thegoodfrontroom
