Russell Norman to open Jewish deli in Covent Garden

Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, the pair behind Polpo and Spuntino in London, have acquired a new Covent Garden premises for their fifth restaurant Mishkin's, a Jewish restaurant and deli.

Due to launch in November on the former site of Taste of India on Catherine Street, Mishkins will serve traditional Jewish comfort food inspired by New York’s Lower East Side.

Group head chef Tom Oldroyd has created a menu of familiar dishes such as Brick Lane Salt Beef on Soda Bread; Ruben sandwich on Rye; Oxtail Cholent; Cod Cheek Popcorn and House-smoked Beef Brisket Hash and eggs.

Although the restaurant will not serve pork or shellfish in keeping with Jewish custom, the food served at Mishkins will not be Kosher.

Norman told BigHospitality: "As with all the restaurants from Polpo through to Spuntino the starting point was the same: I want to eat the food I miss when in London.

"I like the down town New York vibe; the small plates you find in the wine bars of Venice and the Jewish delis you find in New York’s Lower East Side. I thought, if I like those things maybe other Londoners would like them too.

"Mishkin’s won’t be serving small plates as such like the other restaurants, as if you go to Jewish delis the dishes are all small sizes anyway. but with a few tweaks it will have our style all the way through it and will be what people expect from us."

Alongside the menu Mishkin's will also serve classic cocktails from the 1930s and 40s alongside an extensive range of gins with London-distilled varieties featuring heavily.

The art-deco interiors have once more been designed by Norman, who has sourced and collected furnishings and fittings from around the country, including a restored copper and mahogany sound booth from BBC Television Centre in White City that will become what Norman describes as ‘London’s smallest private dining room’.

Leather booths will be available in the 40-cover restaurant space while 12 seats will be provided at the bar.

In contrast to Norman and Beatty’s four additional restaurants, which also include da Polpo and Polpetto, Mishkin's will accept bookings for lunch and dinner.