Back in the glory days of pre-pandemic dining, we took a Test Drive of Arcade Food Theatre, as it was then known, when it launched at Oxford Street’s Centre Point in July 2019. Alas, after closing in the pandemic it never returned - but now it’s coming back with a vengeance, thanks to JKS Restaurants who are behind the relaunch - now just called Arcade. They're the people behind Gymkhana and Trishna as well as backing BAO, Kitchen Table and more. So we should expect big things here.
First up are two kitchens from Luke Farrell, a chef who has his own nursery garden in Ryewater where he grows herbs and veg from the cuisines of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, India and China. He uses them to supply Thai restaurants across Europe and the Thai embassy in London - and now his own restaurants at Arcade. JKS last teamed up with him for the VIỆTPopulaire pop up in the old Xu space last year.
He's launching Plaza Khao Gaeng (pictured above) which is all about Southern Thai cuisine and more specifically "curry over rice". This will showcase fresh curry pastes from small producers in Thailand and dishes include Gaeng Gati, a perfumed chicken and coconut curry with betel leaf and Klua Kling Moo, wok-fried pork in a southern curry paste. This is billed as a "restaurant" so it may well be taking over the space that used to hold Tou by Ta Ta Eatery, although that isn't confirmed yet.
Then there's Bebek! Bebek!. Based on an Indonesian hawker stand, this will mainly be about traditional smoked duck and chicken from Yogyakarta, as well as Sate Maranggi - beef satay grilled over smoke on a traditional double charcoal grill,
Besides that, there are eight more restaurants. They include Shatta and Toum, from Berenjak founder Kian Samyani and Saborcito, a minute off-shoot of Nieves Barragan's Sabor. There are also desserts from Bompass and Parr. You can see the full list online.
Will it manage to make a big success out of the space? We'll have to see.
More about Arcade
Where is it? 103-105 New Oxford Street, London WC2H 8LH
When does it open? 22 April 2022
Find out more: Visit the Arcade Food Hall website or follow them on Instagram @arcadelondon.
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