On 20th July, Chef James Knappett and Sandia Chang will reopen their Fitzrovia restaurant, Kitchen Table, having undergone an extensive refurbishment to expand and elevate the two Michelin-starred experience.
Founded in 2012, Kitchen Table has since been renowned as an intimate dining experience that encourages full interaction with the chefs and showcases their remarkable talent in a theatre-style kitchen.
Seating 18 guests, a daily changing tasting menu highlights Knappett’s culinary pedigree, having previously worked with Rene Redzepi at Noma in Copenhagen and Thomas Keller at Per Se in New York. Knappett’s contemporary, European cooking integrates seasonal and British ingredients, working closely with producers and suppliers around the country.
The tasting menu, priced at £250 and with up to 20 courses, will include dishes such as Glazed Cornish Blue Lobster, Tahitian Vanilla Brown Butter, and Pickled Beach Roses; and Cornish Spring Lamb barbecued in its own fat, Garden Mint and Gem Salad with Minus 8 Vinegar and Cre`me Fraiche.
For desserts, guests can enjoy Strawberries, Meadowsweet Ice Cream, Black Pepper Burnt Meringue.
A new lounge and bar has taken over the previous bubbledogs space, allowing diners to experience an extended stay of flawless dining, fine wines, grower champagnes and innovative cocktails.
The bespoke central bar, made from burnt timber and traditionally used in Japanese architecture, will have an impressive selection of aperitif and digestif cocktails, alongside an array of whiskeys.
Highlights on the cocktail menu will include the Stinging Nettle (Kitchen Table’s stinging nettle gin and elderflower) and the Blackcurrant Leaf (cognac, blackcurrant leaf, blackcurrant Eau de Vie, Cornish Pastis liqueur). The drinks menu will mirror the same ethos implemented in the kitchen, with a focus on seasonal and foraged ingredients.
Chang has curated an extensive wine list with some of the rarest and most exciting grower champagnes from the region’s distinguished producers, including Georges Laval Les Longues Violes and Benoit Dehu Cuve´e La Pythie.
Guests can also purchase any of the wines they try from Bubbleshop by Sandia Chang: a one-stop-online-shop delivering the most sought-after bottles of grower champagnes nationwide.
Inspired by the simplicity of Japanese Design, Knappett and Chang have worked to create a contemporary space. The entrance to Kitchen Table will feel like a gallery with natural, abstract artwork adorning the walls, changing throughout the year to reflect the seasonality of produce on the menu.
The modern design will continue through to the lounge where dark tones, stone panelling and textured brick will be juxtaposed with a feature fireplace to create a warm and intimate atmosphere.
Rich toned velvet and leather banquette seating and chairs will encircle the focal central bar. Artwork in the lounge has been handpicked by James, with one piece of marble sourced from a visit to a stone yard in Uxbridge.
Entering into the kitchen, an English oak table top with walnut timber around the perimeter, will play the art frame to James’ cuisine. Custom-made navy leather chairs will surround the counter top.
The ceiling has been designed with individual oak timber fins creating a wave effect, and soft lighting will highlight each course on the daily changing menu.
Knappett has retained the original chalkboards in Kitchen Table which famous chefs, including culinary inspiration, Thomas Keller, have signed, whilst a new produce display will also be a key feature. A simple, oak staircase leads down to the vanity unit alongside Sandia’s new wine cellar.
Knappett commented, “This is the exact feel of the restaurant that I’ve wanted for a very long time from collecting ideas across the world when dining out.
'Sandia and myself absolutely love the minimalism of Japanese architecture and wanted to make sure that this was factored into the redesign of Kitchen Table.
'We’ve been closed for 15 months now, and I’m itching to get back in the kitchen and welcome our guests once again.”