Two Ukrainian restaurateurs, Alex Cooper and Anna Andriienko, are getting ready to open their first London restaurant, Tatar Bunar, in Shoreditch.
The duo have multiple restaurants in Ukraine and throughout the war, they've been using these as food distribution points to help those most affected by the conflict, like the elderly. Alex has had to stay in Ukraine to manage this effort and the restaurants there, while his partner Anna has relocated to London. She'll be running the restaurant here solo as Alex is unable to leave.
The restaurant itself is inspired by Alex’s hometown, Tatarbunary in southern Ukraine, with a focus on family recipes, specifically from his grandmother. Head chef Kate Tkachuk is in the kitchen and she'll be working on dishes that celebrate the produce of the Bessarabia region. The full menu is yet to be revealed, but expect dishes like chicken Kyiv and borscht to make an appearance.
The restaurant is taking over the space that was once the Shoreditch outpost of Brindisa. It will be decorated with materials from the Carpathian region, with the plan to showcase Ukrainian artists and craftsmen. So there will be ceramics from local artist Svetlana Sholomitska who has been hand making tiles, plates, cups and vases during the blackouts in Kyiv. It also benefits from having a hidden courtyard at the back and they'll be putting that to use in Summer.
Of the opening, the restaurateurs say "We believe there is still work to be done in showing London how wonderful Ukraine food is which is why we have decided to open Tatar Bunar and we can’t wait to show London what Ukraine cuisine has to offer.”
More about Tatar Bunar
Where is it? 152 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3AT
When does it open? March 2025
Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @tatarbunar.london.
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