Casual American cuisine has had its fair share of attention lately. High profile openings across London such as Rita’s in Hackney and The Lockhart in Marylebone are just two recent examples. Unsurprisingly then, D&D have chosen to follow suit, with Avenue, an established restaurant in the heart of St James which reopened last week following a full refurbishment. The 112-cover restaurant, which has been around since the mid 90’s, has undergone a dramatic change of direction and has recently appointed a new chef, Michael Blizzard, who brings an all-American food and drink offering.
Blizzard learnt his trade working under French chef-restaurateur Daniel Boulud at Café Boulud at Palm Beach, and most recently at the Knightsbridge outpost of Bar Boulud in the Mandarin Oriental. However it was perhaps a stint at New York restaurant Daniel in the mid 2000’s which influenced the new offering at Avenue which draws inspiration from elements of regional American food.
Blizzard’s dishes include lobster mac, clam chowder and Iceberg wedge with kimchi are but a few examples of the direction that Blizzard has chosen. Furthermore the inclusion of comfort staples such as The Avenue Black Angus Hamburger, New York cheesecake and ‘donut holes’ are sure to see homesick Americans flocking from all quarters of London.
Another focal point of the relaunched restaurant is the drinks programme. Headed up by Andres Ituarte, previously from Lutyens restaurant in the city. The wine list is packed with American wines – a category which has seemingly rocketed in popularity since the opening of nearby Hedonism Wines, and undoubtedly helped along by the thriving wine bar scene whom have made cult wineries including Sandhi, Qupe, Sine Qua Non and Ridge accessible by pouring them by the glass.
Of course it wouldn’t be an American drinks offering without the inclusion of a fully stocked bar which has its own menu including devilled eggs, pretzels and a range of sliders. To drink there’s a regularly changing list of classic cocktails and bourbon fans will be delighted by the selection of 18 different expressions available by the glass.
Keeping with the Manhattan loft feeling of the previous fit out, the interiors have been given a fresh touch, designed by Russell Sage. The addition of unique furniture, soft lighting and wooden floors throughout will no doubt see diners deciding to dwell for another Manhattan or two.
Avenue St James is open now at 7-9 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1EE. Follow them @AvenueStJames.
Follow Louis Fernando on Twitter at @tuckandvine and on his blog Tuck & Vine.
