Ottolenghi - Soho restaurant

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9th Sep, 2010

Soho restaurant

It’s been way too long in the pipeline. Finding the right space wasn’t easy, particularly with our constantly adjusting demands. But at the end we managed to find a site for a new restaurant. And what a site it is!

The old home to the mythical Sugar Club (run by our friend, the chef Peter Gordon) with the ideal location on Warwick Street on the edge of Soho, around the corner from Regent Street and the beautiful Golden Square, we couldn’t have asked for more. The elegant proportions of the interior are as charming as can be.

But to all you great Ottolenghi fans, we must set the record straight and clarify right away that this is not another Ottolenghi. It won’t even be called Ottolenghi. It won’t be selling food or pastries to go or have the casual communal dining. This will be a straightforward restaurant and we will do all it takes to turn it into a great restaurant.

If you want to know more, follow our provisional blog documenting the setting up of our new venture. And please, wish us luck.

Filed in General | 40 comments

Comments

1. Kate said, on 10 September, 2010 00:25
How exciting!! Congratulations and best of luck with the work ahead of you! Will be following the blog with great interest :) Kate x
2. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 10 September, 2010 03:52
Kate, please do. Thanks
3. Lilly Higgins said, on 10 September, 2010 09:40
I had the most amazing meal in your Islington branch yesterday and am now at home back in Ireland planning on cooking more from the brilliant 'Plenty'. Best of luck with the new project and I'm looking forward to seeing the incredible results!
4. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 11 September, 2010 09:17
Come for another "amazing" meal once our new place opens. We shall be expecting you.
5. lisa said, on 14 September, 2010 05:58
I grew up in holland and these types of cafes are so common there but so incredibly rare in London! hence it is a JOY to see you guys brining REAL food to the masses! Congrats on your success!!
6. Camilla Roberts said, on 16 September, 2010 11:46
A stone's throw from where I work! I am very much looking forward to your new opening and excited for you guys to be in Soho. Best of luck!
7. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 18 September, 2010 10:46
@Lisa, @Camilla, Thank you.
8. Dominic Paes said, on 19 September, 2010 15:36
My wife Kate and I live in Switzerland. We recently had a quite fanatstic lunch at your Islington branch and look forward to trying your new venue in Soho - how exciting. All the best - we are great fans of your cooking style and your recipes work!

Dominic
9. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 21 September, 2010 08:02
@Dominic, hope to see you in Soho next year.
10. Greta Ostrovitz said, on 27 September, 2010 09:54
All of your fans (and we are HUGE fans) at the Jerusalem Culinary Institute wish you the very best with your new project. We are about to move to Talpiot to new space and we are watching what you are doing with great interest. Once again, you are a model for our students. We hope that you can stop by and see us one day when you are in town.

Regards,
The Students and Staff at JCI
11. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 02 October, 2010 12:37
Greta, thank you so much for the lovely words. I didn't even know I had fans at JCI. Good luck in your new building!
12. Laura said, on 24 October, 2010 03:48
Can't wait...what a fantastic location. I'm excited about the new venture too.
Hope you're opening soon??
13. Jane said, on 27 October, 2010 13:13
This is a very exciting venture and I will be sure to make a trip up to visit you in Soho. We here at the Organic farm in Dorset are huge fans of yours and often direct our customers to PLENTY for inspriation...Good luck with this project..
14. Jane said, on 27 October, 2010 13:14
PS. Meant to say if you are every in Dorset do come and visit us, I think you'd be impressed in what we do here, and we'd love to walk you round our plots
15. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 01 November, 2010 09:58
Thanks Jane, will definitely do. Your website sure makes me want to visit.
16. Elvira said, on 22 November, 2010 12:53
Hi, just wondering when this new location in Soho is due to open? Thanks for letting me know. Elvira
17. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 24 November, 2010 06:28
@Elvira, February 2011, fingers crossed. See you there.
18. alison shine said, on 27 November, 2010 08:08
Really love your food and use your cookery books all the time...so excited about your new venture...good luck alison
19. Graham said, on 28 November, 2010 12:49
Enormously looking forward to your Soho venture. We recently had a celebration in Roteherhithe for which you catered (from Notting Hill?: not only was the food amazing but the care and attention to detail was exceptional and the staff we dealt with and subsequently, were delightful and helpful.
Much needed in Soho - looking forward to it.
20. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 02 December, 2010 16:45
@Alison, @Graham, thanks so much and looking forward to seeing you at NOPI, Soho.
21. Robert Walak said, on 31 December, 2010 09:35
Yotam,cannot wait to see you and the new venture in February. It's been way too long. My office is round the corner so will be sure to make it a regular haunt. It's just what's needed in the area. Happy New Year!
22. Jeremy Wayne said, on 05 January, 2011 15:43
Huge fan of your places Yotam and really looking forward to Warwick Street. Would you be kind enough to let me have your email address as we would like to photograph the restaurant at some stage for our new guide. !מזל טוב
23. ellie said, on 10 January, 2011 05:12
i work just round the corner from your new resturant, can't wait to take my friends there!
24. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 10 January, 2011 10:07
@Robert, yes, it's been far too long. Looking forward to seeing you in NOPI and reminisce about Amsterdam.

@Jeremy, @Ellie, Thanks! See you there.
25. Atty Hussein said, on 23 January, 2011 06:33
Superb walked past on Friday, looks great when is official opening date and how can I book a table?
26. Monique Jedwab said, on 23 January, 2011 19:43
Looking forward to coming to London early April to see all the restaurants firsthand! Loved the class with you at Essential Ingredient in Melbourne last year. Have not stopped cooking since! Regards Monique Jedwab
27. Monique Jedwab said, on 23 January, 2011 19:44
Looking forward to coming to London early April to see all the restaurants firsthand! Loved the class with you at Essential Ingredient in Melbourne last year. Have not stopped cooking since! Regards Monique Jedwab
28. Ray kershberg said, on 24 January, 2011 09:24
Hi
Will the restaurant be open by 23 feb?
(Wives birthday)

Best Wishes
Ray
29. Gourmet Belly said, on 01 February, 2011 11:14
Huge fan of both your Notting Hill and Islington branches, so I'm confident that you're new Soho venture will be a huge success.

We've been following your blog, and really looking forward to the opening so my foodie friends and I have a new haunt in the town!

All the best! x
30. London Lady said, on 01 February, 2011 14:26
Do you have more info about your opening (ie menus, bookings, etc). I would love to do a post about the restaurant in the near future. Thanks!
31. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 03 February, 2011 05:04
@Atty, @Monique, @Ray, @Gourmet Belly, @London Lady, Thanks for the interest. It's all happening now. If all goes to plan, and we all hope it does, you should be able to start making bookings middle of next week - 9th Feb - on the website: www.nopi-restaurant.com or on 020 7494 9584. See you!
32. sharon said, on 10 February, 2011 15:50
Hi Yotam, is the new place in soho will be opened in time for my 40th birthday on the 4th of april?
33. Pam Hare said, on 18 February, 2011 13:03
Hi Yotam and Basia, did send message but must of got lost in cyber space!
I live in Barnsbury,Islington and Ottolenghi continues to be the best! I will be bringing lots of friends to Soho-can't wait!

I am an artist and printmaker exhibiting recently at the National Theatre and next month at the Freud Museum,Hampstead.Would you like to exhibit some of my contemporary work at Nopi?Do visit my website and view my painting,silkscreen painting and print Galleries.It would be great to have your feedback!

Best wishes

Pam
34. Theresa said, on 20 February, 2011 06:14
Love your spread in the sunday times style mag today! If the new place is as inviting as your smile then I will definately pop by...Well done!
35. Lisa Goldblatt said, on 22 February, 2011 05:29
I am so excited to hear that we will have yet more of your wonderful food to eat. I will be one of the first to eat there - I have so many dietary restrictions for health reasons and your food is about the only food that doesn't make me ill and tastes incredibly delicious at the same time. Good luck and well done. Keep cooking!
36. Glynis Evans said, on 22 February, 2011 08:08
Visiting NOPI this Friday for a meal with my girlfriends and can't wait. Good luck with your new venture.
37. Yotam Ottolenghi said, on 02 March, 2011 06:25
@Sharon, we are open. Please come and celebrate your birthday at NOPI.

Thank @Pam. Will have a look.
38. Sue Davis said, on 07 April, 2011 05:55
Hi Yotam and colleagues,
Am getting very excited as my next visit to London from Western Australia draws near (July)..can't decide which of your wonderful sites to visit first! Your cookbooks are such a delight and bring my senses right back to the wonderful food stalls in the old city of Jerusalem..fingers dripping with tahini running out of falafel stuffed pita breads.Every good wish for continued success and thanks so much for the cookbooks so that we can attempt to reproduce your wonderful gutsy food at home.It's terrible to be such a fan and so far away!!
39. irini psoma said, on 07 April, 2011 11:22
hello...my name is irini and i work as a chef in greece and i admire your work since you open...everytime i visit london you are the fist place to be...i am very happy for your new restaurant in soho... hope the best for you...looking forward to send you my cv when i decide to come and stay in london.it would be an honor to work for you...thank you
40. Mrs Joan Graham said, on 01 July, 2011 10:45
Celebrated my daughters birthday at your restaurant on 22nd June, with her friends. I flew in from Portugal, and it was well worth my while. At last real food, with artistic ability. And the bill was very reasonable, as we drank a lot of wine. Many thanks. Oh! and I use your cookbooks.