Are Londoners are ready for a proper Mediterranean approach to drinking and dining? Robin Gill must be hoping so. The chef opens his latest venture, Bar Brasso, on September 27, operating as a coffee bar and deli until 5pm before becoming an aperitivo bar through the evening, as is done in bars across San Sebastián and Venice.
The new venture will sit next to his existing flagship, Darby’s.
From 8am-5pm, Bar Brasso will be a kind of café-deli, serving coffees and pastries, as well as salads and sandwiches. Lunch dishes, which will change throughout the week, will include the likes of beef shin lasagne, rosemary and garlic roast chicken with potato al forno, and ricotta and sage with brown butter gnudi.
The daytime operation will open seven days a week. From Tuesday to Saturday evenings, from 5-10pm, the space will operate as an aperitivo bar serving food and drinks.
The evening menu will mostly feature dishes priced between £3 and £12, including sage and anchovy fritters and mussels with nduja soffrito, though there will also be a number of larger plates under £20, which Gill says are best shared or paired with a drink.
Elsewhere on the menu is the “Bourdain toastie”, made with mortadella and fontina cheese, and named after the late chef and writer Anthony Bourdain. It was said to be his favourite sandwich.
Bar Brasso will offer £5 Negronis and £6 spritzes during a daily happy hour from 5-7pm. The wine list, meanwhile, will focus on Northern Italian and Spanish selections, with a txakoli tap serving the Basque wine. Master Sommelier Geroid Devaney from Flint Wines helped select the wine list.
Gill has partnered with Cibo for his food; founder Vittorio Maschio sources ingredients directly from Italian producers. These include mountain-aged cheeses, salumi from various Italian regions, and mortadella from Salumificio Franceschini.
“Stories like this are everywhere among these producers,” says Gill. “Our relationship with Cibo, and the wealth of these small, authentic stories, is incredibly important.”
The interior will feature wood panelling, tiled floors and white marble counters, inspired by traditional Spanish and Italian bars.
Bar Brasso will open on September 27 at 3 Viaduct Gardens, SW11. For more information, visit darbys-london.com
