Update - Soft launch dinners now booked out. Lunch still available, details below.
Argentine catering company Zoilo, who are also behind Casa Malevo, have been a big name at prestigious sporting events throughout the country, and now they're coming to Marylebone.
Headed up by Zoilo's chef patron Diego Jacquet and restaurateur Alberto Abbate, and with Head Chef Tara Sobott in the kitchen, Zoilo will be specifically showcasing Argentinian food, taking inspiration from the various regions around the country - Patagonia, the Pampas, Mendoza and Salta. The menu will be aiming for authentic "Cocina Argentina", which is inspired by the traditional Argentine sharing ceremony, the Asado. Dedicated to small tasting dishes they'll be serving up dishes like “morcilla & criolla” (blood pudding) on toast or ox tongue with white beans & mustard plus classic empanadas, “Provoleta” cheese, almonds and honey, and beetroot, goat’s cheese & “garrapiñada” (caramelised almonds).
If you'd prefer fish, there will be mackerel escabeche and spicy “humita” & crab soup. The wine list consists solely of selected Argentine wines, with most available by the glass or carafe.
The restaurant itself is on two levels with the ground floow bar area inspired by the classic café style of Buenos Aires. The lower ground floor dining area will feature an open kitchen with space for 45, and an additional private room seating 8. Zoilo are also working on bringing a deli to London, but that will arrive in 2013.
We caught up with their chef patron Diego Jacquet to find out more.
Zoilo is probably best known as a catering outfit - what made you decide to a London restaurant?
We always have a couple of ideas in the pipeline, in this case we were working on an Argentine Deli store and a casual restaurant. To be honest, a perfect site for the restaurant came available first and therefore our deli has been moved to Spring 2013.
You already have one Argentine restaurant in London - Casa Malevo - how will Zoilo differ from that?
Casa Malevo is a classic Argentine Restaurant offering all premium cuts of meats & other traditional dishes. Zoilo will be serving Argentine food but in a more relaxed and casual environment. We will have a full open kitchen in the basement where guests can eat facing the chefs in action.
Can you tell us anything about the planned menu and who's running the kitchen?
The menu will change monthly and will be served in small portions so guests can try as many dishes as possible. We will be using kidneys, sweetbreads, ox tongue & some of our premium cuts from Argentina. My time will be divided between Casa Malevo & Zoilo and Tara Sobott from Australia will be Zoilo's Head Chef.
Zoilo opens on November 5 at 9 Duke Street, London W1U 3EG. There'll be 50% off the whole bill soft launch on October 31/November 1 (lunch only - dinner fully booked). You can book for the soft launch now by emailing them at bookings@zoilo.co.uk
