Chef John Javier to open the Tent at 17 Little Portland Street
Chef John Javier is opening new restaurant the Tent (at the end of the universe) on 17 August on the ground floor of 17 Little Portland Street in London, which recently relaunched as a private members' club.
The 34-cover restaurant will serve "a modern representation of Middle Eastern food" in an intimate dining room.
It will be Javier's first foray into the region's cuisine, as he is usually known for his playful take on Chinese food. The Filipino-born chef was raised in Australia and was the owner and head chef of Sydney's Master restaurant. He then opened Happy Paradise in Hong Kong.
Javier joined the London restaurant scene in 2019, launching a Chifa (Peruvian/Chinese) menu throughout the Pachamama group.
The menu at the Tent will change weekly and feature the likes of suckling lamb or mushroom shish; dairy cow rib with ras el hanout; carabineros prawns with baharat spices; and grilled onions with sumac and pomegranate molasses.
Alongside these will be dips, including hummus with chilli oil and burnt lime; tzatziki dressed with wakame oil; beetroot and labneh borani; and taramasalata with onion ash. Dishes will be given twists with the use of ingredients such as dashi, kombu and yuzu kosho.
The drinks list will include Japanese whiskies, mezcals, CBT teas and herbal infusions, as well as a selection of wines sourced predominantly from Europe, and a cocktail menu including spirits such as chardonnay grape skin vodka and coconut bourbon.
The dining room has been designed in the theme of a tent: dimly lit with canvas ceiling awnings, star-lit installations, lunar-inspired lighting and low stool seating.
Music will be an important part of the dining experience and DJs will play each dinner service, seated between diners in the room.
Photo: Bronia Stewart
