Lucas Oakeley (@lucasoakeley)
Scott Fitzgerald, a big buttery fish and juicy gossip
Taste Maker is a food guide from creatives, artists and professional eaters. Follow → Instagram → Google Maps
Lucas Oakeley is a writer and journalist who has written for a range of publications including VOGUE, GQ, The Independent, National Geographic, The Guardian, The Economist, Esquire and Time Out. He loves long walks on the beach but hates getting sand in his shoes. His debut novel, Nearly Departed, will be published in summer 2025. You can find his Instagram, TikTok and Twitter all under @LucasOakeley
Where do you live most of the year?
I live in Camberwell in London.
What do you look for in a restaurant when you walk in?
The room’s atmosphere is the first thing that hits me, as it does most people who walk in literally anywhere, and that first impression is so important. Excruciatingly loud club-staurant music? Immediate red flag. I want to be in a restaurant where the conversation is lively and there’s a chance of eavesdropping on some juicy gossip but I can still hear myself think. And talk.
What is your final meal?
A dozen oysters. Big buttery fish – probably John Dory – with a crab curry on the side. Pistachio gelato for dessert. All washed down with an ice-cold caña of lager followed by a bottle of dry German Riesling.
3 guests for dinner, dead or alive?
Alive, please!
(F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Baldwin, Nora Ephron)
Lucas’ Taste Maker Guide
Breakfast: TOAD Bakery, London
Order: My go-to order is boring because I’m a sucker for a plain croissant and a black filter coffee, but the seasonal pastries they have at Toad are always phenomenal as well. If there’s a quiche on the counter, get the quiche. That’s just solid life advice, to be honest.
Coffee: Catalyst Cafe, London
Order: Super coffee shop run by super nice people. I like a cortado. The food is great, too, if you’re feeling hungry. Picking up a bottle of their Koffiracha hot sauce is also mandatory.
Lunch: Guacamoles, London
Order: The tacos at this place are the perfect size for a lunch that will leave you feeling full. I’ve yet to put a foot wrong with anything off their menu but getting the guacamole and tortillas is essential with any order.
Special dinner: French House, London
The vibe is proper old-school hospitality with a room overlooking an area of the city – and above a pub – that’s played such a pivotal role in what makes London tick. I had some calve’s brains there last year which blew my mind. Pun intended. Must-visit for fans of French food. Plus, there’s no better dessert than freshly baked madeleines.
Casual dinner: Normah’s, London
Order: Perfect spot for hunching over a warm bowl of curry laksa – prawn, chicken, vegetable. All of them are rich, fragrant and the right level of sinus-cleansingly spicy. There’s a reason this place is always busy but it’s always worth the wait. If you’re a tea person then the teh tarik (which you can get either hot or cold) is worth drinking.
Special shoutouts
Lao Dao in Walworth for Xinjiang street food.
Rambutan in Borough Market for Sri Lankan food.
Crisp Pizza in Hammersmith for pizza.
Tollington’s in Finsbury Park for fresh fish and Spanish-inspired small plates.
Doctor Noodle in New Cross for noodles and noodle soup.
This & That Café in Manchester for your lunchtime curry fix.
Casa Moreno in Sevilla. A perfect Spanish deli packed full of locals where you can stand at the back and order from an array of delicious snacks.
Diporto in Athens. You sit down, they bring you whatever they want to feed you, and you leave full and happy. This is what every restaurant aspires to be.