Updated 19/12/18 with opening date and soft launch offer
What: The Vintry Kitchen and the Mercer Roof Terrace
In a nutshell: Asian and British dining in an independent hotel
Summing it all up: Those who are fans of South Kensington’s The Ampersand will want to make a note of this one - the City's newest hotel Vintry & Mercer boasts multiple places to eat and drink, including a rooftop restaurant where you can enjoy the view along with your charcoal-grilled meal.
The low-down
The City's getting a new independent hotel by the name of Vintry & Mercer, and along with it, two new restaurants, plus a cocktail bar. And they've brought in a chef with bags of experience in hotels. Chris Golding (ex-Nobu, Nahm at the Halkin and Zuma) launched the well reviewed Apero at the group's sister hotel The Ampersand and was most recently at Dinings at the Norman Hotel in Tel Aviv.
The Vintry Kitchen will be a relaxed, open-plan affair serving up Asian-style fare. So we're talking dishes like Scottish scallop carpaccio with cucumber, yuzu
and caviar or maybe steamed buns and sandos with fillings like chicken karaage and kimchi, or wagyu beef, Japanese mustard and pickled cabbage. They'll also have sharing plates like sweet soy-braised beef ribs with smoked bone marrow and Jerusalem artichoke, and sake roasted Chinese cabbage with truffle
butter.
Wine will be served tapped from casks surrounding the restaurant - hence the Vintry name.
Alternatively (and this seems like a very strong choice for us) take your dinner on the terrace, where you can relish the view along with your dinner. The menu will be modern British, and they'll be taking advantage of their charcoal oven to produce a food that focuses on farm-to-plate with seasonal ingredients. On the menu you might find hay-smoked beef tartare; Norfolk white free-range chicken glazed with honey and lavender or maybe Dorset blue lobster with Espelette butter and purslane.
Finally, the subterranean cocktail bar, which will have its own entrance on Garlick Hill. It's been named as DND - hotel slang for do not disturb - and will be inspired by the speakeasy bars of 1920s New York, so velvet chairs, art deco detailing. In charge of things you'll find Mihai Cosmin, previously of Berners Tavern and Nine Lives who'll be serving up speciality barrel-aged and house cocktails alongside a New York inspired menu of small plates, tacos and sliders
More about Vintry & Mercer
Where is it? 19-20 Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AU
When does it open? 4 February 2019
Soft launch deal: 25% off food and drink between 4-24 February
Find out more: Visit their website.
