Called The Oak SW11, the Italian and Mediterranean restaurant will serve a menu of small plates and pizza, in a similar style to Gorst’s other restaurants. He currently runs his flagship restaurant The Oak W2, on Westbourne Park Road in Notting Hill, as well as The Bird in Hand, in Brook Green, and The Oak W12 on Goldhawk Road in Hammersmith.
Occupying the space that was previously Butcher & Grill, the restaurant will have a total capacity of 120 covers and will comprise a ground floor dining room and counter bar for walk ins, a more relaxed lounge area, and a mezzanine level dining room where reservations will be available. The design will incorporate banquette seating, artwork by prominent local artists and a statement long table that can seat up to 16 people.
The menu will be overseen by executive chef Nuno Franco with dishes set to include snacks of padron peppers and polenta chips with gorgonzola fonduta and larger dishes such as rolled lamb breast on ajo with roasted cumin, baby carrots and mint; and grilled octopus with Romero peppers, black olives, golden raisins and sherry vinegar.
Desserts will include polenta cake, with lemon curd, blood orange sorbet and spiced black olive syrup; and tiramisu.
It will also be the first restaurant in the group to serve breakfast, with menu items set to include pancakes with crispy pancetta and maple syrup; and a full Tuscan, made with Tuscan parmesan sausages, pancetta, burrata, poached egg and sourdough, along with freshly brewed Italian coffee.