Updated 4/1/12 with menu details.
After opening Le Cafe Anglais at Whiteleys back in 2007 and following it up with the launch of its Oyster Bar in 2010, where could Rowley Leigh go next to extend his west London empire? The answer, it seems, was on his doorstep as Leigh has just announced he's going to be Consultant Chef at the ODEON Whiteley's posh new boutique cinema, The Lounge.
The luxury film experience will feature five cinemas each with just 50 reclining leather seats. Our favourite bit? The fact that every seat has a call button allowing you to order off the menu without taking your eyes off the screen.
The menu has now been announced and has been split into finger, fork and spoon options - allowing you to choose based on your deftness at feeding yourself in the dark. So the "finger" options include salsify fritters with aioli, Porchetta in ciabatta with fennel and apple, fried squid with rocket, crème fraiche and chilli jam as well as hot dogs and the ‘royale’, beef fillet in a bun, hamburger style.
If you're up for a "fork" menu, you can have, among others, penne rigate with broccoli, anchovy and chilli, squash lasagne with fried sage leaves and rocket, chicken and goats cheese mousse with mesclun and hazelnut toast and venison chilli with beans, sour cream and onion.
And finally, arm yourself with a spoon and you can choose, for dessert, sticky toffee pudding with custard, banana split with valrhona chocolate and vanilla bean ice cream, pina colada - which is rum granita, coconut ice cream, pineapple sorbet or chocolate ganache cake and salted caramel ice cream.
Alas, there's no parmasan custard and anchovy toast on the menu - although that might not leave the best aroma in the cinema...
The lounge opens on January 13. To book, call Odeon on 0871 22 44 007.
