Latest opening: Haugen
What: A striking Alpine-inspired venue located in a pavilion within Stratford’s International Quarter London (IQL) that comprises an all-day casual ground floor restaurant, more fine dining first floor restaurant and a rooftop bar overlooking the Olympic Park.
Who: It the latest launch from large restaurant specialist D&D London with the help of award-winning design studio Afroditi, whose previous projects have included Dishoom and The Perfectionists’ Café.
The food: Haugen continues D&D’s love of middle European food – the group also runs German Gymnasium in Kings Cross and Klosterhaus in Bristol – but this time with a more Alpine bent. The a la carte menu is broad, with dishes ranging from staters such as smoked pork sausage, Emmental cheese, pickles and chives; truffled potato soup; and a range of flatbreads to hearty dishes including schweinshaxe - a slow roast pork knuckle with sauerkraut, potato dumpling, beer jus and mustard; and Vienna schnitzel. Cheese lovers won’t be disappointed with raclette and fondue also featuring with various accompaniments. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a 1.3kg tomahawk steak to share which is bereft of gold leaf but at £42.50 per person seems like something of a bargain. The rooftop bar affords views over the Olympic Park and aquatic centre and you might want to go for a run or swim beforehand as the generous portion sizes means you won’t feel like doing much afterwards.
The vibe: The restaurant group appears to have had a lot of fun with the brand spanking new venue which oozes chalet chic. The pale pink and wooded downstairs dining room has faux fur throws as well as a separate area with deep green leather banquettes and velvet chairs and lots of foliage for a sophisticated lunchtime meal. For dinner the lights dim, the music is turned up and things get a bit more apres ski, thanks to its range of glühwein, schnapps and cocktails.
And another thing: Haugen is named in tribute to Anders Haugen, a Norwegian-American ski jumper who won four national ski jumping championships and was the first and only American to win an Olympic medal for ski jumping.
9 Endeavour Square, Stratford, London E20 1JN
https://www.haugen-restaurant.com
