There's a new restaurant opening in Notting Hill with a pretty strong pedigree - it comes from South American restaurateur and designer, Juan Santa Cruz.
So with a designer behind it - the design will be worth checking out. Although unfortunately we have nothing to show of the actual place yet. What we do know is that there will be a big oval copper bar as you enter - and as for the rest, it's better to let the press release speak for itself: "The carpet and ceiling are both lined in brown and bottle green fabric, which combined with the mahogany of the walls will create an intimate, clubby look and feel. Colonial ceiling fans will hover above, whilst horizontal copper panels line the walls with under-lighting giving a multi-dimensional effect." The man himself has apparently been working on it for two years, so it should be special. As for the location - it takes over the old Clarendon pub.
There's a heated roof terrace upstairs too - as well as a second bar with a focus on cocktails. Of course there will be pisco sours as well as martinis, negronis, mojitos and cairpiroskas,
As for the menu - it will be a combination of European and Argentinean. Starters include wild sea bass crudo and artichokes with lemon and olive oil while one of the mains is charcoal grilled monkfish and there's also Cajun chicken breast.
And steak, of course. They promise "the very best grass-fed meat imported from Argentina" but there will also be British fish and game, and French poultry as well as vegetables cooked over charcoal and seasoned with the "finest olive oil and salt". Finally desserts include dulche de leche flan and lemon polenta cake as well as house made ice creams and sorbets.
Casa Cruz opens 7 July at 123 Clarendon Road, London W11 4JG.
