FOUR brings you a round-up of the most exciting restuarant launches taking place in London this September.
A collaboration between Angela Hartnett – Gordon Ramsay’s protégé and ex chef patron at The Connaught in London – and Canteen founders, Dominic Lake and Patrick Clayton-Malone.
The restaurant is set in a renovated Victorian warehouse, which used to host Cantaloupe restaurant, in London’s hipster-hangout central, Shoreditch, while the menu promises salivatingly delicious dishes such as roast partridge with baked celeriac and hazelnut pesto; loin of venison with lardo di Colonnata, braised red cabbage and poached quince; and braised fillet of halibut with ham hock and chicken broth, leeks and salsify.
35-42Charlotte Road,Shoreditch,LondonEC2A 3PE
With Michelin-starred chef Karam Sethi (restaurant Trishna’s) behind the scenes at this new Mayfair Indian-inspired restaurant, It’s only a matter of time before it gets a notice by the coveted guide itself. Karam has taken the concept of colonial gymkhana clubs as a running theme, serving modern Indian food combined with British ingredients, cooked to perfection in its tandoor oven and sigri charcoal grill.
42 Albemarle Street Mayfair, London W1S 4JH
With Tom Aikens as its executive chef, Kitchenette has the potential to be a new favourite among fans of his already well-established culinary empire, which consists of restaurants in Somerset House, Canary Wharf and Chelsea. The Kitchenette brand has already proved a success in four Turkish cities, as well as Moscow and Baku, suggesting that it won’t be long before Londoners and those on layovers in the UK’s culinary capital include it on their ‘must-dine’ lists, too.
Caviar and cocktails in Kensington. Have we got your attention yet? I’m sure we have. This Russian inspired cocktail and caviar bar is from Antoin Commane and Diego Bivero-Volpe, previously behind Bodo Schloss and The Brompton Club, where guests can expect a good slab of luxury with equal helpings of vodka and caviar.
opening: 26September
1 Kensington High St, London W8 5NP
For those who know that Gordon Ramsay originally pursued a career in professional football before quitting due to an accident that left him unable to play, his collaboration with long-standing mate and football-hero, David Beckham, won’t come as much of a surprise. The café, which is located near Borough Market, one of London’s many culinary epicentres, will have a Mediterranean menu and a laid-back vibe, accounted for by the “large warehouse space” it inhabits.
opening:16 September
47-51 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BS
www.gordonramsay.com/union-street-cafe
A luxury hotel with a design by Ian Schrager and food provided by Michelin starred chef Jason Atherton. What’s not to like? Jason is set to be basing the menu around sharing, similar to the menu he introduced at Maze. Joining Jason in the kitchen will be Phil Carmichael, formerly Head Chef at Jason’s central-London restaurant, Pollen Street Social.
opening:12September
10 Berners Street,W1
After gaining the title as a MasterChef: The Professionals finalist, Marianne Lumb set her eyes on new heights: opening her own ‘mini’ gourmet restaurant concept. And she certainly has succeeded; with just 14 covers and five tables, Marianne’s eponymously named project has been tipped as the smallest restaurant in London where diners can gorge on fine-dining treats. Conversely to its size, our expectations for this place are huge. The small vicinity will allow Marianne to do exactly what she out to: concentrate on producing perfect plates of seasonal food. There will be a daily changing menu from £30 at lunch and from £48 at dinner.
opening:10September
104 Chepstow Road, London W2 5QS
Bringing traditional Izakaya Japanese style cuisine to London’s Marble Arch is former head chef of Nobu and most recently Wabi London, Scott Hallsworth. Open all day from early morning to late evening Kurobuta will have room for 80 and also serve up a range of dishes to go.
Opening:4September
17-20 Kendal Street, London, W2 2AW
Another Japanese-inspired addition to add to London’s culinary scene this September is Kurt Zdesar’s Chotto Matte. Translated from Japanese into English, Chotto Matte means ‘wait a minute’ – something we’re finding hard to comprehend doing with a menu especially designed by Hiroki Takemura, formerly of Zuma and Nobu, promising fresh and high-quality Japanese fare based on traditional Nikkei cuisine.
11 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4RB