Updated 18/3/13 with soft launch details
Having already landed a big hit in Islington with The Fish & Chip Shop, Des McDonald has lined up Camden for his next restaurant - he's launching a new BBQ restaurant and bar on Chalk Farm Road called Q Grill.
In the kitchen is Phil Eagle, who was Head Chef at Hix and, like McDonald, has also worked at Le Caprice where he was sous chef. The menu will be overseen by Lee Bull, who is also the chap behind the menu at The Fish & Chip Shop.
Food-wise, they'll be serving "raw, charred and smoked favourites". For starters, there will be Q fritters - Moonshine battered shrimp (the London Particular fritters were a big hit at the Fish & Chip Shop) and ‘Hickory Chickory’ - salad with blue cheese & crispy bacon and burnt-end meat balls.
Queen scallop ceviche, salmon caviar & finger lime, blackened tiger shrimp and citrus sea bass served with spiced crispy taco will be offered from their "raw bar". And from the ‘charred’ section, there will be pecan wood-roasted chicken, Josper grilled rib eye steak and the Q burger. Finally the "smoked" section adds pulled pork sandwiches, St Louis cut ribs and smoked ‘Kielbasa’ hotdogs with sweet mustard relish and smoked chilli sauce.
Sides will seasoned fries, mac and cheese, Q baked beans, house slaw and Scrumpy fried onion rings. And for dessert there will be root beer and coke floats, banoffee cheesecake, salted caramel & peanut butter puddings and Louisville lemonade jello. Takeaways will be available too.
Alongside the wine and beer, the drinks menu adds a selection of US bourbons and whiskeys and cocktails including "John The Fisherman" – Julian Temperley Brandy mixed with Aperol and a dash of elderflower and "T.I.K.I" – Kraken Rum shaken with house made falernum, lime, pineapple and raspberry served tiki style.
The restaurant is designed by Alexander Waterworth Interiors who worked on Kerbisher and Malt and will pay "homage to a distinctive Southern American bar". It will seat 150 (so it's considerably bigger than The Fish & Chip Shop).
Q Grill opens March 20 with a soft launch until Sunday March 23 with 50% off food (Thurs & Fri dinner only, Sat & Sun lunch and dinner). To book, call 020 7267 2678. The restaurant is at 29 - 33 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8AJ. for more information, follow them on Twitter
