Angela Hartnett and Neil Borthwick set to open Merchant's Tavern in Shoreditch
A new restaurant project involving Angela Hartnett, chef Neil Borthwick, and Canteen founders Dominic Lake and Patrick Clayton-Malone, is due to open on Charlotte Road in London's Shoreditch in September.
Merchant's Tavern promises to be an update of the classic tavern, with Neil Borthwick heading up the kitchen. Borthwick has previously worked as sous chef for Michel Bras, whose Restaurant Bras has held three Michelin stars since 1999.
Borthwick and Hartnett have created a modern European menu including starters such as autumn vegetable salad with buckwheat emulsion and Speck Trentino; roast partridge with baked celeriac and hazelnut pesto; and Hogget broth with pearl barley and ewe's milk cheese toast.
Mains will include loin of venison with lardo di Colonata, braised red cabbage and poached quince; braised fillet of halibut with ham hock and chicken broth, leeks and salsify; and roast stone bass with scorched onions, sautéed artichokes and chive crème fraiche.
The dessert menu will feature dishes such as Manjari chocolate pave with almond dacquoise and an orange and kumquat salad. A bar menu will also be available.
The 130-cover restaurant and bar is housed in a Victorian warehouse and former apothecary and has been designed by Hackney-based design studio Very Good and Proper.
Classic and natural wines from established and emerging growers will feature on the restaurant and bar menu alongside traditional cocktails and British lagers, ales, stouts, and perries.
