[Updated 12/11/12 with opening date]
Wabi, a Japanese/ European fusion restaurant, has been a hit in Horsham for a couple of years under Head Chef Scott Hallsworth. The chef has a pretty fine CV, having previously worked at Nobu both in London and Melbourne, as well as for a number of celebs including Michael Jackson, the Beckhams, Robert De Niro and Bill Clinton.
Now Hallsworth is bringing a new branch of the restaurant right into the centre of London as he opens Wabi in Holborn.
Speaking of the move, Hallsworth said "Horsham has been crucial to enable us to enter the London market with a very strong proposition. In Holborn we have far better access to amazing ingredients and we think that our highly creative edge will be far more appreciated in London. Diners can expect to see a fresh approach to this type of cuisine with the use of excellent ingredients."
The new restaurant will include a sushi bar overseen by another ex-Nobu chef Taiji Maruyama. Although as Hallsworth says, "The sushi bar isn’t just a sushi bar. It will have a selection of unique equipment, such as slow cookers and water baths. The sushi rice will be held at a constant freshly made temperature and as far as we know nobody else has offered this. You should also expect the unexpected. Taiji (or Maru as he is known) has learned new techniques from Japan which will let him spread his wings and showcase his skills to the London market."
Wabi are also pretty keen on their tempura, having created a bespoke frier in order to help them make the very best. "This is the first of its kind - we shaped it so that we could perform the intense flicking technique which is required for tempura. It's the perfect shape with the right amount of oil. This is the type of initiative that helps us cook to the level that we aspire to."
All this is created from a central open kitchen where you can watch the chefs produce dishes like:
- Butter poached Spanish red shrimp with yuzu, chilli and cucumber dressing
- Foie gras martini with umeshu jelly, nashi and black vinegar
- Onsen egg with dashi-soy, truffle salt and chives
- Tea smoked duck tataki with burnt ginger amazu sauce.
- Iced yuzu nougat parfait with green apple sorbet and warm white chocolate
There will also be a pastry bar with a soft serve ice cream machine serving daily changing flavours, while the bar will offer a large range of wines, saki and a number of bespoke cocktails like wabi-infused lemongrass Shochu charged with Prosecco.
Wabi opens on 29 November on 36-38 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6EY
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