Des McDonald to open Japanese restaurant at Birmingham's Park Regis hotel

Former Ivy head chef-turned restaurateur Des McDonald is to open a Japanese izakaya-style restaurant on the 16th floor of the Park Regis hotel in Birmingham. 

The £3m restaurant - Rofuto - will open within the 253-bedroom hotel on 26 April alongside cocktail lounge and sake bar Kurabu. 

Rofuto - meaning 'loft' in Japanese - will have 360 degree views of Birmingham and will serve modern Japanese cuisine including sushi and yakitori. 

The menu will be divided into six sections: Sushi and Sashimi, Tempura, Robata Grill, Mains, Sides and Desserts with food prepared in an open kitchen and drinks served from a central bar. 

Signature dishes include Foie gras nashi pear gunkan Chinese truffle, Confit duck and raspberry sunomono and Saffron gindara with razor clams, Chinese sausage, kohlrabi puree and sea herbs. 

McDonald, who launched The Fish & Chip Shop in 2013 before going on to open a number of other restaurants, said he found inspiration from trips to Tokyo and Singapore for his latest venture and was pleased to be opening his first modern Japanese restaurant at the Park Regis. 

"I love rooftop spaces, having opened four successful restaurants on the roof of Selfridges in London," he said. "I fell in love with the unparalleled dramatic views from the 16 th floor, Birmingham is a great, vibrant city and I’m excited to become part of it’s dynamic and diverse dining scene.”

Birmingham Park Regis hotel opens on 29 March when it will become the first to open under the Park Regis brand in Europe. 

McDonald, who is also responsible for Q Grill in Chalk Farm, The Printing Press & Burr Co in Edinburgh, Upper Refectory in York and Vintage Salt restaurants in London, is also planning to open a second Q Grill at Liverpool Street and Hope & Field in London this year.