Bryn Williams, a celebrated Welsh chef, has opened his second London restaurant, located in the renowned arts and cultural centre Somerset House. The restaurant will offer modern British dining where fruits and vegetables will take centre stage in a relaxed and contemporary environment.
“I’m a firm believer that a piece of fruit or veg should be treated with the same amount of care and respect as a cut of meat or fillet of fish – if not more. I’m thrilled to have opened a new restaurant that’s not only in a stunning location, but where fresh, locally sourced produce is the focus and fruit and veg take centre stage,” said Chef Williams.
Bryn Williams at Somerset House is the chef’s second London opening, following Odette’s in Primrose Hill, where he has held the Chef Patron position since 2008. Williams had worked under the likes of Marco Pierre White and Michel Roux and became famous in 2006 after beating several established chefs to cook the fish course for the Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations on the BBC’s Great British Menu.
The menu includes small plates such as Rainbow carrots, hand-dived scallop, sauterne, and Pickled mooli, black garlic, raw apple, sage, Cumbrian beef and seasonal mains such as Roast young broccoli, olive tapenade, sage beignet, scorched red mullet, and Charred leeks, Burford Brown egg, morel mushroom and toasted hazelnuts. On the grill dishes are also available, together with a range of salads. Signature, fruit-heavy desserts include Bay leaf panna cotta, blackberry, lime curd and Poached rhubarb and blood orange trifle.
The interior design has been overseen by Rosendale Design, which brought together the Georgian architecture and the building’s naval history with Williams’ Welsh roots. There is a colour theme of texture blue with nautical details such as wall lights made of Fresnel lenses from lighthouses and antique naval map drawers, mixed with Welsh-printed upholstery and brown leather banquettes.
In addition, the new venue will also feature a draught beer bar, the only one on the Somerset House premises. Both the bar and the restaurant will be open throughout the day for the community and the other visitors.
