13/11/17 - Updated with opening date and menu
What: Parsons
In a nutshell: The next restaurant from the people behind The Ten Cases
Summing it all up: The Ten Cases is growing again - this time across the road, where they're opening a restaurant that's all about seafood.
Seafood and wine
Are seafood restaurants in London becoming a trend? We've seen a lot of seafood restaurants open recently, where a big focus is on sustainability. All of this is a Good Thing, of course. And the latest to get into this fishy business is The Ten Cases.
They'd already expanded next door with their wine shop a few years back and now they're popping across the road with their latest restaurant, Parsons. We caught up with Will from The Ten Cases, who told us: "We have been wanting to open another restaurant for some time now. It was more a question of finding the right site which we felt comfortable with. We have always talked about opening a simple fish restaurant with a great value interesting wine list."
As for that menu? "It is going to be unfussy simple fish - think grilled sardine, oysters, octopus, gravadlax, cockles, crab, squid ink risotto, lots of smoked fish, clams, mussels, langoustines, scallops etc. Then there will be a few daily main courses - turbot, whole sea bass in salt, Dover sole, john dory, as well as one meat dish. Plus a number of interesting sides to go with. And expect one or two desserts - cheese and a sorbet or something similar."
The restaurant will seat 32 and, like the Ten Cases, it will have some outside seating (for 18) and there will be more seats around the kitchen. Expect "combinations of tables and a counter with a few ledges to grab a quick sardine or oyster and crepinette from."
Since we originally wrote this update - we've also had a look at the menu. So on top of all the day boat specials mentioned above that will change from time to time - here's what to expect:
- Potted Shrimp Croquettes - 8
- Little Gem Prawns, Samphire - 8 .5
- Sea Trout Tartare, Bloody Mary Jelly -8
- Black Rice, Squid, Cauliflower Aioli - 9
- Steak Tartare, Miso Egg Yolk, Apple & Elderflower - 9/18
- Fish Pie - 14
- Lobster Mash - 12
- Chargrilled Treviso, Pomegranate, Pecorino - 5
- Pork & Seaweed Sausages - 5
- Welsh Rarebit - 5
- Steak Sandwich - 5
- Isle of Mull Cheddar - 5
Yes that IS lobster mash that you see on the list.
And, of course, you can expect the wine list to be on-point, with small mark-ups being the order of the day, as with the Ten Cases. Wines start as little as £4 for 125ml with around 15 available in glasses or 500ml carafes. But there's much more than that, of course - with an extensive list of bottles that will make you want to return to try and pair everything with that lobster mash.
More about Parsons
Where is it? 39 Endell St, London WC2H 9BA
When does it open? 6 December 2017.
Find out more: Visit their website.
