When it comes to Spanish food in London, we’re spoilt for choice – Lurra, Barrafina, Jose Pizarro, Salt Yard and Brindisa… the options are endless. But things are set to get even hauter, thanks to two new openings, both helmed by highly acclaimed three-Michelin-star chefs. Make way London, the Spanish stars are moving in.
The Spanish invasion started with guns blazing earlier this year at Café Royal with 50 days with Albert Adriá. Then, Catalan counterpart El Celler De Can Roca, a three-Michelin star restaurant ranked 2nd in the world (in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants), popped up in London, again at Café Royal, wowing crowds with an experimental tasting menu of toasted butter foam and impregnated melons.
But that’s just the start. Eneko Atxa from the famous Azurmendi in Bilbao has just opened a permanent restaurant at One Aldwych, Eneko. The Basque restaurant may be an affordable outpost from the original, but its mission to deliver a modern take on rustic Basque cuisine remains the same. Expect updated classics such as layered chicken parfait, suckling pig brioche and cod tripe stew, and lots of emulsions (mushroom, chives, parsley…). And good news: it’s currently in soft launch mode until August 31, meaning 50% off the food bill.
But it’s the highly anticipated Mayfair opening of David Muñoz’s StreetXO that has tongues wagging. Not much is known, except a hopeful September opening date. If it’s anything like the highly acclaimed DiverXO in Madrid, you can expect explosive Chinese/Spanish flavours, no-holds-barred theatrics (interactions between chefs and diners are not uncommon), and, perhaps, a punk rock meets fine dining attitude.
