Robson brothers to open Austrian 'schnitzel & spritz' restaurant Boopshi's in London

Brothers Ed and Ben Robson are set to open their first hospitality business in London this autumn, a Viennese inspired restaurant called Boopshi's that will specialise in schnitzels and spritz cocktails. 

The 65-cover restaurant and bar, inspired by the pair's Austrian roots, will open on Fitzrovia's Windmill Street, at the site of the former Pun Kum thai restaurant in November following a two-year search for the perfect location.

It will serve classic Austrian dishes such as schnitzel, bratwurst, spätzle & cheese and apple strudel alongside a more eclectic, Austrian-inspired cocktail menu which includes the Sachertorte sour, and a house martini using Kümmel instead of vermouth. 

The brothers, who worked together managing The Horseshoe pub in Hampstead for three years, had dreamt of opening a restaurant since their teens, but had to wait until they had experience and funding behind them before proceeding. 

"The dream of opening our own restaurant has been realised largely by our grandparents leaving us money when they passed away," they told BigHospitality. "This is why we chose the name Boopshi's; it was what they used to call each other as a term of endearment, and without them we might not have been able to do this."

Austrian inspiration

Boopshi's will take more than just its name from the brothers' grandparents. The pair will also use recipes found in their diaries to inspire dishes and have made many trips to Vienna to research dishes and drinks. Rino Scalco, who the pair worked with at The Horseshoe, will join them in the kitchen as head chef. 

The Robsons have also joined forces with Camden Town Brewery owner Jasper Cuppaidge, who they worked for at The Horseshoe, to create a bespoke draught beer for Boopshi's which will also serve Prosecco on tap to provide the spritz in their spritzes. 

"Having worked with Jasper for a long time at The Horseshoe and the Brewery, and building a strong friendship, it's great that we are still working together to create an exclusive Camden Town Brewery beer for Boopshi's," said Ed Robson. 

Camden Town Brewery will also provide the location for Boopshi's first pop-up preview later this month where the team will trial a selection of dishes from the restaurant's menu ahead of its November opening.