December 2011

The Wirral saw the opening of Brooklyn’s Restaurant at Marine Point on 2nd December. Owned by US-born restaurateur Keith Gurney, owner of the Tavern Co. Restaurants in nearby Liverpool, this New York themed restaurant provides diners with a real opportunity to take a small bite out of the Big Apple. As one would expect there is plenty of choice on the American inspired menu with pasta, pizza, a selection of grills and steaks as well as twelve different burgers. An alternative menu available between midday and 6pm also provides a choice of sandwiches and a range of “light bites”. Based at the Marine Point leisure development in New Brighton the restaurant overlooks the Marine Lake giving diners a feast for their eyes as well as their stomachs. Diners in other parts of the country may also get to experience Brooklyn’s as Keith is anticipating to turn it into a chain of restaurants.

Located on the first floor of the N20 building, N20 Restaurant & Bar describes itself as “a chic and exquisitely prepared dining experience”. Opened on 5th December by a trio of entrepreneurs, this venue is split into two main areas. Diners seeking modern European and British cuisine are able to select dishes such as goat’s cheese and beetroot ‘galette’ (£8), pressed chicken and duck terrine (£9) and assiette of duck (£21) from the a la carte menu, which also boasts a selection of 19 British cheeses for diners to create their own cheeseboards. The restaurant has a standard tasting menu (£75 per person) as well as seasonal Christmas and New Year menus (ranging between £40 and £95). Additionally private dining facilities for up to 300 people are offered. For a post-dinner drink head to the cocktail bar where you can choose to have it long, crushed, frozen, martini, or non alcoholic.

Spanish chef Jose Pizarro launched Pizarro, on London’s Bermondsey Street on 5th December. This follows the resounding success of José, a tapas and sherry bar opened earlier this year and located on the same street. The restaurant was opened with an aim to serve more substantial dishes in a more formal environment; however the dishes can still be shared between diners. Chef José finds inspiration from locally sourced ingredients, as well as traditional Spanish foodstuffs and his roots, and this is reflected throughout the menu. There are private dining facilities for 12 people, and the main restaurant seats up to 40 people with a no reservations policy in place. However, for those who just require a snack or less formal menu, small tapas dishes are also served at the front of the restaurant along a bar.

The Delaunay, launched on 5th December, is the long anticipated follow up to The Wolseley. On the corner of Aldwych and Drury Lane, this all day restaurant seats up to 150 people and is a short walk from Covent Garden. Arriving at The Delaunay first thing you can choose from a full English breakfast; freshly made pastries; a vast range of eggs as well as a more continental menu, served until 11.30am. Brunch is available on weekends and combines classic breakfast dishes with a full lunch menu. An all day a la carte menu is also available and serves modern European classics including a range of wieners, schnitzels, entrees such as Chucroute a l’Alsacienne (£16), Spatchcock Poussin (£14.25) and a “plat du jour” priced at £18.50 is served every day of the week. The Counter, a more casual way of dining with eat in and take out options available, will be opening soon.

Harrogate’s Empire Theatre has been given a new lease of life as Nick Rahman opened Cardamom Black on 1st December following extensive refurbishment. Nick is owner and manager of the restaurant and has brought his wealth of experience of Kashmiri restaurants into the business, resulting in an establishment serving high-end South Asian cuisine. As well as a main dining area offering dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, there is also an iced fish bar displaying fresh seafood available for consumption and a separate area dedicated to serving dishes from a grazing menu. Whilst diners feast on the restaurant’s edible offerings they can also feast their eyes and ears on the live entertainment, taking place on selected evenings on the grand stage area.

This week saw the much anticipated opening of Russell Norman’s latest eatery, Mishkin’s – described by the restaurateur as “a kind of Jewish deli with cocktails”. Group head chef Tom Oldroyd has created a menu reminiscent of the Jewish owned cafés of East London and delis found in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The menu is split in to four sections – sandwiches, meatballs, all day brunch and all day supper – along with a selection of sides, salads and puddings. Already receiving praise are the meatloaf which conceals a runny-yoked egg, the Reuben sandwich and cod cheek popcorn. Unlike other restaurants in the group, Mishkin’s accepts bookings.

Further south, Ed Wilson and Oli Barker (behind Terrirors and Brawn) have opened a third bar and restaurant, Soif in Battersea. Soif follows a similar format to the duo’s previous openings with a daily changing menu of small plates alongside a selection of carefully sourced charcuterie. There is a 150-bin wine list with a heavy bias towards natural wines. A fourth restaurant in the group is expected to open at St. Martin’s in early 2012.

Also in London, 34 restaurant – the latest offering from Caprice Holdings (Le Caprice, Scott’s and The Ivy amongst others) opened on Grosvenor Square. The menu here focuses on steaks – with rare-breed meat being brought in from across the UK and as far afield as Argentina and Australia. The kitchen will be lead by head chef Paul Brown who has worked with Caprice Holdings for many years. There is a sizeable wine list of around 130 bottles with a around a fifth of them being available by the glass.

Today also sees the opening of the country’s biggest restaurant, the 1000 seat “all you can eat” buffet restaurant, Za Za Bazaar in Bristol. The restaurant features six counters serving food from around the world, with every continent represented on the menus. Prices vary according to the time of the visit but are between £7 (weekday lunchtimes) and £16 (weekend evenings). The owners plan to open another seven of the “super restaurants” across the UK in the next 18 months.