Anthony Demetre and Will Smith open Covent Garden brasserie

The duo behind the Michelin-starred Arbutus and Wild Honey this week opened a third restaurant in Covent Garden, described as an “informal, quality” French Brasserie.​

Anthony Demetre and Will Smith acquired the site on William IV Street earlier this year​ and have converted it into a 100-150-cover restaurant featuring a private dining room and a dining counter.

Les Deux Salons serves classic French dishes such as Tarte Lyonnaise with organic salmon, Slow cooked pork belly ‘Petit Sale’ and Red mullet soup, green olive tapenade, as well as a wide salad selection and Plats du Jour from Monday to Sunday.

Informal concept​

Arbutus, which the pair opened to critical acclaim in Soho in 2006, gained a Michelin star just months later. The pair’s second restaurant, Wild Honey, was also awarded a Michelin star within months of its opening in 2007.

Speaking to BigHospitality when the 5,000 sq ft site was acquired, Smith said the aim was for Les Deux Salons to be a “relaxed, informal, quality brasserie”.

“Arbutus and Wild Honey have always been about quality and value, and that will remain in whatever product we do, but this one will be a more informal concept,” he said.

“We always wanted to build the business and challenge ourselves. There’s plenty of business to be had in London and we think there’s room in the market for something we can offer. Covent Garden is a great area with year round business and although there is a lot of competition in the area, many of them are just chains catering to the tourist market.”

Carafes or glasses​

The pair said their new brasserie will serve “affordable” wines from around the world, including Malbec, J. Alberta, Bodegas Noemia, Patagonia, Argentina, 2008 and Grenache Blanc, 'Bonnie and Clyde', Cotes du Rhone, France 2008. 

In keeping with the successful formula at Wild Honey and Arbutus, these will be available in carafes as well as by the glass, they said.