The Patara Restaurant Group has continued its London expansion, with the opening of their fourth fine dining restaurant in the capital.
The new luxury eatery can be found on Berners Street, London W1. Patara now operates five restaurants in London, including their more casual dining restaurant SUDA in Covent Garden, and a further five worldwide, in Singapore, Vienna, Geneva, Beijing and Bangkok.
The menu at the new restaurant has been developed by two of Thailand’s leading chefs, Chef Chumpol Jangprai and Chef Noom. Chef Chumpol, who has been working with Patara for ten years, is a leading celebrity chef in his native Thailand and was recently awarded ‘The Best New Generation IRON Chef in Thai Cooking’. Chef Noom (otherwise known as Nelson) has joined Patara as Global Executive Chef and has 14 years experience working in leading kitchens including Momo and Sketch.
The chefs will introduce 20 new dishes to the Patara menu, initially available exclusively at Berners Street. Highlights include a seared Wagyu beef salad, Chor Muang, dumplings filled with caramelised chicken with sweet turnip and peanut finished with coconut cream and Gai Gor Lae, Chicken supreme in a traditional southern Thai curry sauce.
Chef Nelson said: “Whilst we have always placed great emphasis on recreating authentically Thai flavours and acquainting diners with the true roots of our cuisine, we have also tried to take full advantage of the exceptional seasonal produce and local ingredients available to us here in the UK. Our authentically different food philosophy has also at times inspired more innovative and playful interpretations of our culinary legacy.”
The restaurant has been designed by Superfutures (Barrafina, Chotto Matte, Peyton & Byrne, Quo Vadis) who have taken as inspiration the exquisite wooden carvings and decorative motifs found in traditional Thai architecture. Spanning two floors, the space on the ground floor will be divided up into three main areas – a bar, an open dining room and rear private dining space. The basement will have a different ‘feel’. Unadorned raw materials and a muted palette will create a contrast with the more decorative materials on the first floor neatly echoing the menus blend of traditional flavours and techniques with contemporary presentation.
The first Patara opened in London 25 years ago on the Fulham Road. Patara, which translates as gracious lady, derives its name from Khun Patara Sila-On who, for the past 30 years as a restaurateur, has brought her warmth and generosity of spirit to the Patara restaurant group, overseeing the opening of restaurants in London, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore and China as well as her native Thailand.
