2/2/23 - updated with the opening date
It was only recently we were telling you about Hot 4 U’s new residency in Haggerston and floated the idea of its very own restaurant in the works. Well, get ready, Hackney. Papi is the name of the bricks-and-mortar establishment, opening right beside London Fields.
If you missed Marina O’Loughlin’s glowing review in The Times of Hot 4 U’s residency at Dalston pub The Prince Arthur or the buzz around the delivery service launched during lockdown, then you best get up to speed with the talents of chef Matthew Scott. Previously head chef at Cub, Matthew is launching the sustainable, zero-waste-focused Papi alongside his mate Charlie Carr of Wingnut Wines, who is bringing the underrated natural wines.
Papi will feature an open kitchen in a 28-seater ground-floor dining room (the four stools at the kitchen counter sound like prime dining spots if you like being close to the action) with a cocktail bar downstairs that seats 14 and which also offers a short menu of snacks.
On the restaurant menu you can expect the quirky creativity that Hot 4 U has been road-testing across its successful pop-ups and residencies (think: whisky bone marrow luge, garum pom bears) but with a more grown-up and elegant feel at Papi. Matthew is keen to showcase regeneratively reared meat and sustainable seafood across snacks, small plates and large sharing dishes.
Wines from Wingnut aim to surprise, they say. There’ll be daily rotating selections by the glass as well as rare, one-off bottles. Charlie is keen for punters to try natural wines they otherwise wouldn’t find elsewhere, championing small producers around Europe and beyond. There’s also a bottle shop where you can try and buy to take home.
More about Papi
Where is it? 1F Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PN
When does it open? 1 March 2023 (some preview events in the run-up to opening)
Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @papi.restaurant.
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