Eat & Drink
Originally published on Tuesday, 13th April 2010
A Matter of Tasting
Nuno Mendes opens Viajante Restaurant
Nuno Mendes is the sort of chef who would probably cringe to hear his food described as ‘art on a plate’, and yet there will undoubtedly be a few starry-eyed chefs drifting over to his new restaurant, Viajante, in search of a little creative inspiration.
The latest in a ripple of hip East London hotel launches, Town Hall Hotel & Apartments (formerly Bethnal Green Town Hall) is now taking bookings for stays from this Friday. Guests can enjoy slick retro rooms, each complete with its own kitchen where dinner is prepared by their own personal chef, or they can lounge in the art-filled bar tended to by Stuart Hudson, formerly of HIX Soho.
Viajante (meaning traveller in Portuguese) - the hotel’s restaurant - opens on Thursday. Not a huge space, the room (which can be divided in two with swingy doors) manages to be grand and theatrical (thanks to a sizeable open kitchen) yet homely, and Mendes, of The Loft Project fame, creates food that delights and surprises the senses. Each delicate plate – think squid tartare, pickled radishes, samphire and frozen squid ink jus and olive soup with Greek yogurt, ginger and pistachio crumbs – is executed by chefs using extra-long tweezers.
Tasting menus are really the thing here; six, nine or twelve course ones, with wines and beers to match if you fancy (from £60 a head), but you can also come to see Nuno and his team at work and order the £25 set lunch menu.
Get there before you can’t move for copycat cooks.
Info
Viajante
Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, E2 9NF
020 7871 0461
Officially opens 15th April, UJ found bookings online from the 25th. Phone to enquire about earlier reservations.
www.viajante.co.uk / www.townhallhotel.com
