The sushi master Endo Kazutoshi is to take over the restaurant space at 20 Berkeley, currently operating as a modern British concept, later this year.
20 Berkeley only launched in Mayfair last summer, but the owner, Creative Restaurant Group, has decided to change its direction.
Kazutoshi, best-known for Endo at the Rotunda and soon to open a sake bar at the plush new hotel and restaurant playground the OWO, will launch NIJU at the site, a “bespoke” sushi bar and “katei ryori”.
Katei ryori means Japanese home-cooked food and Kazutoshi will be serving informal dishes using seasonal produce. He said: “At Niju, we will have unique Japanese dishes and I will be adding some new exciting signature recipes to the menu, katei ryori style.”
Executive chef Ben Orpwood, who worked at Lucky Cat, Caprice Holdings and Zuma before joining 20 Berkeley, is understood to have left the restaurant group.
The cocktail bar downstairs, the Nipperkin, will continue as it is, with Greek mixologist Angelos Bafas in charge. The only change will be the introduction of sandos, to be served with Bafas’ (very good) drinks.
Misha Zelman, chairman of Creative Restaurant Group, said: “The backbone of our success is our people. I don’t believe in only the location, the quality of the ingredients, the concepts and the grill. But I also believe in the people, and I am very proud of our work family.”
