Updated 5/8/15 with opening date and more info
The original Donostia is a Hot Dinners fave in Seymour Place since it opened three years ago. So it's good news to hear that they're expanding - but not too far, just across the road. And the new restaurant also has a private courtyard for 20 - perfect for warm days. That'll have a Chef’s Garden which they will grow herbs during summer for the restaurant
The new restaurant is Lurra (which means "Land" in Basque) which is related to their "principles of serving authentic, natural and well sourced produce." That means they're going to try and source as much of their produce themselves. So the Basque and Galician Beef will come from their own import business (it's the same one that supplies the much vaunted beef at Kitty Fisher's) and their wines will be from their own wine importer Mountain Valley Wines. The restaurant is also inspired by the charcoal and wood grills, or “Erretegias”, found throughout the Basque country, so expect a lot of grilled dishes.
As for the food, Donostia chef Damian Surowiec will become Executive Head Chef overseeing both Lurra & Donostia. On the menu, expect:
- Whole fish like Turbot grilled in fish baskets and kokotxas (cod tongues) cooked three ways (pil-pil, grilled and fried).
- Basque Cider House and Galician Rubia Gallega rib eye steaks (familiar from the specials board at Donostia)
- Vegetable dishes like Ceps with egg yolk and red peppers chargrilled over hot coals.
And they'll also be serving brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, although that will kick off later in the year.
Lurra opens 2 September 2015 at 9 Seymour Place, London W1H 5BA. It'll be open Monday to Saturday for dinner and Tuesday to Sunday for lunch. Reservations can be made on bookings@lurra.co.uk.For more information, sign up on their website. and follow them on Twitter @LurraW1.
