Eyal Shani to open Lilienblum in east London

Israeli chef Eyal Shani, founder of the Miznon chain of restaurants, is to open new restaurant Lilienblum next month in east London, serving sharing-style dishes inspired by the flavours of Israel.

Named after the street of one of Shani's first restaurants in Tel Aviv, Lilienblum's kitchen will be headed up by Oren King, also from Israel, who previously worked as a head chef at Polpo Soho and a chef de partie at Roka.

While Miznon's offering is fast-casual, Lilienblum will focus on family-style sharing plates, cooked in an open kitchen, with diners able to sit at the counter.

Opening on 19 May at the former Passo site at 80 City Road, the menu will be divided by ingredients rather than starters and mains. Dishes will include cabbage cake, seafood pan, ribeye steak, and a half rack of lamb with an Arabic salad.

Overseen by general manager Kitty Sparks, the wine menu will include lesser-known Israeli wines as well as other European producers with an extensive selection from the Burgundy region. The cocktail menu will include the Kittini, a tequila and grapefruit martini, as well as well-known classics.

Lilienblum's interior has been designed by Eric Parry Architects with long-time collaborator Yakov Turjeman.

In 1989, Shani opened his first restaurant Oceanus in his hometown of Jerusalem. Since opening his fine dining restaurant Hasalon in Tel Aviv, Shani now operates 40 restaurants worldwide with his partner Shahar Segal, including Port Said, Romano, Miznon, North Abraxas, HaSalon and Malka in Tel Aviv, as well as Miznon locations in London, Vienna, Paris, Melbourne, Singapore and New York.

As well as Miznon restaurants in Soho and Notting Hill, Shani is set to open Seven North restaurant at the Sircle Collection's UK debut hotel.