14/12/22 - updated with a full look at the menu
Tom Cenci first came to fame as the chef of Duck & Waffle, before then launching Loyal Tavern, a restaurant we were impressed with but which ended up being a victim of the pandemic. Afterwards, he was cooking at Stoney Street in Borough but now he's getting ready to open his own place, Nessa.
He's teamed up with Guy Ivesha, who's behind Mortimer House, to launch what's described as a British bistro in Soho. We''ve now got an early look at the menu, described as being British-influenced while using global flavours, and it really does sound very good indeed
- Oysters, hot sauce, crackers and hibiscus mignonette
- Cheese and onion croquettes with grape husk mustard.
- Celeriac carbonara, confit egg, parmesan breadcrumbs
- Steak tartare with beef fat Pangratatto, raw egg, charred bread (and Homemade BBQ Crisps on the side)
- Bulgar wheat stuffed cabbage, parsnip purée and herb oil
- Ox cheek hot pot with confit potatoes.
- Cheese mille-feuille with Baron Bigod and hot honey
On top of that. there will be whole fish to share and old-school desserts like baked alaska with seasonal fruit, seasonal upside-down cake, Black Forest trifle and roly poly with custard.
I'll be an all-day affair, so breakfast adds dishes like English muffin with a sausage patty, fried egg and cheese (that sounds very much like his take on an Egg McMuffin) or the very enticing-sounding crab benedict, poached eggs, crumpet and béarnaise sauce
Nessa is taking over a restored 1910 building, the ground floor of which used to be classic Soho boozer, The Warwick, and the set-up sounds quite similar to Mortimer House before it. The restaurant will be on the ground floor and open to all, while above it will be 1 Warwick, a new Soho members' club.
There will be a separate bar as well and, given that the menu also has a Welsh rarebit with dark rye and truffle, we'd very much hope that's available as a bar snack.
As for the look, we're told to expect a marrying of the Edwardian architecture with a touch of Soho style including mid-century modern vintage furniture. They'll also be adding alfresco eating on Warwick and Brewer Street.
More about Nessa
Where is it? 86 Brewer Street, London W1F 9UB
When does it open? 6 March 2023
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @nessasoho.
Photos by David Robson
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