Tom Booton to open first solo restaurant, Ralphie's, in Belgravia

Tom Booton, former executive chef at The Grill by Tom Booton at The Dorchester, will open his first solo restaurant, Ralphie's, on The Pimlico Road in Belgravia in late November.

The 40-cover neighbourhood restaurant is named after Tom's beloved Maltipoo, Ralphie, and will bring the playful take on British cooking and hospitality he became known for at the Park Lane hotel to a site of his own.

Tom, 33, said: "Ralphie's has been a long time coming, so I'm genuinely so excited to finally share what I've been working on behind the scenes for the past few years, my debut restaurant. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, and I can't wait to finally open the doors and welcome people in."

He added: "The food is rooted in the things I love to cook and eat, with great produce at the heart of it. Most importantly, I want Ralphie's to feel like a proper neighbourhood restaurant, a place that feels warm, welcoming and full of life, with really good food at the centre of it."

From The Dorchester to a site of his own

Tom joined The Dorchester in 2019 at the age of 26, becoming the youngest person to lead the kitchen at The Grill in its long history, with a brief to put the restaurant back on the map.

In June 2025, he announced he was leaving after six years, telling his followers: "After six incredible years at The Dorchester, I have decided it's time for me to begin a new chapter in my career."

He stepped away that August and, as his next step, staged a three-day pop-up at the OXO Tower Restaurant in September 2025.

Even before leaving, Tom had made no secret of his ambitions. He told The Staff Canteen: "What does the future mean for me? I still want to grow. I've still got a lot of ideas." He also said he would love one day to be in a position to give his team a site of their own.

Essex-born Tom started out at the Talbooth in Dedham, a short drive from his home town of Colchester, under Ian Rhodes. He went on to hone his craft in the Michelin-starred kitchens of Alyn Williams at The Westbury, where he was head chef for almost three years, and Ollie Dabbous' eponymous restaurant, Dabbous. You can read more about his journey in our profile of Tom at The Grill.

The menu

The à la carte at Ralphie's will breathe new life into comforting British classics, with a nod to Tom's Colchester upbringing.

Starters, all under £18, include crispy cod cheeks scampi with warm tartare sauce, and beef tartare with potato chips, topped with dried beef heart shavings. Mains, at around £30, include pork and mushroom pie with charcuterie sauce and Tom's take on moules marinière, alongside daily specials on the blackboard.

Puddings, all under £12, include a vanilla soft-serve sandwich with warm hazelnut and fudge sauce poured tableside.

Sundays will centre on roasts, with dishes from £27. These include rump of Hereford beef with horseradish and watercress; a Yorkshire pudding filled with a leg of lamb stuffed shepherd's pie, served with mint sauce and all the trimmings, including Tom's signature cauliflower cheese; and a whole stuffed Sutton Hoo chicken with bread sauce and stuffing, designed to serve two to three.