What: The latest premium sandwich-focused restaurant to open in Coal Drops Yard, joining global deli concept Bodega Rita’s and grilled cheese specialists Morty & Bob’s.
Who: Sons + Daughters is the latest concept from James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy, with Jacqueline Barbosa – previously of the Guinea Grill – overseeing the kitchen. The opening is the culmination of more than a year of planning for the team, who had noticed that – particularly in the US - a lot of restaurant operators had begun moving into the fast-casual arena. “We began looking outside of the traditional restaurant environment and we loved sandwiches, but the London market seemed quite small in comparison to other grab and go areas," Ramsden recently told BigHospitality.
The food: Sons + Daughters is positioning its menu offering as something that can be enjoyed in the evening as well during the day. As such the sandwiches available are deep filled and designed to be more adventurous than your standard egg mayo or BLT; with an emphasis on combining different textures and flavours.
The drinks: To further position the restaurant as a viable evening option, Sons + Daughters offers a menu of £8 cocktails, including a negroni; a pineapple and Thai basil mojito; and a nitro coffee martini. There’s also a selection of beers and wines, as well as soft and hot drinks.
On the menu: There are six sandwiches to choose from including a merguez with spicy lamb sausage, fries, pink pickled onions, gremolata and house mayo on a baguette (£9); a prawn sandwich with house mayo, napa cabbage, pickled ginger, jalapeno vinaigrette, cress and prawn crackers (£9.50); and a vegan tenderstem sandwich with broccoli, mushroom pickle, spiced coconut, acai and cashew cream and herbs (£8.50).
There are also a selection of smaller finger sandwiches (£7 each) including a chip butty. Sides include French fries with siracha salt (£2.50); and a pickle plate (£2.50).
A breakfast menu is available in the mornings, featuring a muffin with creamed Burford Brown eggs, S+D breakfast spice, smoked tomato and American cheese (£6, or £7 with either sausage or bacon); and a vegan option with spiced corn fritter, roasted tomato, pumpkin seeds and herbs (£7).
The vibe: The open-plan restaurant has space for 28 covers, features extensive natural light and has a smart finish. The mood is designed to be relaxed and casual with neutral colours, bar and table seating available, and the windows lined with indoor plants. Sons + Daughters also operates a grab and go van on the terrace above the restaurant that serves a reduced menu, and has seating for a further 40 covers.
And another thing: Ramsden and Herlihy aren’t the only London operators looking to establish themselves in the capital’s growing premium sandwich scene. Earlier this year Anglo-American sandwich brand Sub Cult opened its first bricks and mortar site close to St Paul’s, having operated in street food markets for a number of years; katsu sando specialist Tóu by TĀTĀ Eatery recently opened its first location within the Arcade Food Theatre in London’s West End; and Morty & Bob’s is to open its first dedicated sandwich bar at Westfield London in Shepherds Bush this October.
Unit 119a Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ
For a full in-depth analysis of London’s burgeoning premium sandwich market, click here.