London Restaurants | London Guide

New Indian Cocktail Bar Zenna Opens

This month will see the launch of Zenna, a luxurious Indian cocktail bar on Dean Street in the midst of buzzing Soho.  

To reach the bar, guests descend steps lined with bronze water vessels filled with floating flowers and twinkling candles. The walls are painted an exotic azure blue and there are plush blue velvet stools and silk-upholstered gold chairs dotted throughout.

Decorated with Italian tiles, soft leather and Oriental rugs, Zenna has a stylish and relaxed feel with a stunning bar entirely covered in shimmering metallic discs as the centrepiece.  Low, warm lighting and discreet alcoves with exposed brickwork make it the perfect location for an intimate drink or any kind of event, being able to accommodate up to 120 people.  

Zenna’s drinks list reflects the exotic Indian décor with a unique cocktail menu using cardamom, lemongrass, ginger and sweet spices among other ingredients. Highlights include a refreshing Coriander & Lychee Daquiri with Chairman’s Reserve Rum, Fresh Lime, Lychee Juice and Coriander Leaves and a Chai Tea Martini made with fresh Chai, Stolinaycha Vodka and Apricot Brandy. 

The menu also features a unique Spiced Cocktail List, ranging from refreshing (the Mint, Lime, Apple and Elderflower Garden Martini) and lightly spiced (the Cointreau, Vodka and Chocolate Liqueur Spiced Chocolate Orange Martini) right through to incredibly spicy drinks. Only the very brave, however, need try the Illiana. Named after the mythological Indian golden dragon, it holds the title of the ‘world’s hottest cocktail’ and is a potent blend of Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum, Orange Curacao, Almond syrup, Lime and Orange juice with just one drop of the secret chilli potion. This cocktail is so spicy that guests must sign a waiver on ordering and it comes with its very own Fire Extinguisher accompaniment, a soda siphon containing ice cold Bombay Sapphire Gin, Lemon and Soda water to help guests fan the flames after drinking.

The Lassi Menu, which will be available throughout the day as well as in the evening, is another unique feature of Zenna, and is the first ever lassi bar in London. Lassis are fresh yoghurt drinks enjoyed throughout India, and are served sweet with fruit or sugars, or savoury with salt or spices. Zero-fat and probiotic, they are a great fresh alternative to other smoothies and soft drinks. The menu at Zenna includes a range of lassis blended to order from Banana, Coconut, Mango Ginger & Lemongrass and even a Superfruits option with blueberries, pomegranate, raspberry and acai. For those who like to detox / retox, all lassis can be blended as alcoholic versions on request.

Snacks and canapés are created to complement the drink menu and are cooked to order from The Red Fort kitchen, headed up by Chef Azadur and his team, whose unique blend of Mughal Court cooking has attracted politicians, entrepreneurs and celebrities alike over the years.  Delicacies include Hara Kebab spinach patties lightly filled with cheddar, onion and coriander, Pocha Hera Jhinga prawns in a thin crisp coating and Murgh Achari Tikka, skewered spicy chicken from the tandoor. 

Dan Thomson, Manager of Zenna, comments: “We wanted to create a contemporary bar that was still true to its Indian heritage and provide a chic and welcoming space in the midst of Soho. Zenna Bar is London’s first ever Indian cocktail bar and the carefully thought through flavours, recipes and ingredients used in the drinks list, as well as the authentic canapés make it a unique offering in the capital.”

Zenna Bar77 Dean StreetLondon W1D 3SH
Tel: 020 7437 2525             

Web: www.zenna-bar.co.uk

 

Pancake Time at Giraffe

Rivers of chocolate, everlasting gobstoppers or candies the size of castles, Willy Wonker certainly knew how to seduce the sweet toothed.

To celebrate Shrove Tuesday, 8th March, Giraffe, the global restaurant group, is encouraging you to indulge all your sugar-coated fantasies and ‘Pimp Your Pancake’ in keeping with the day of eating, feasting and excess before Lent.

Forget ‘Pimp Your Ride’ and ‘Pimp Your Snack’, between 8th – 11th March diners will be given the chance to pimp their own pancakes, big-up theirbreakfast or super-size their sweet.

Available from 8am* until 4pm, Giraffe’s stacked American style pancakes will be served with your choice of toppings to ‘pimp’ or eat as you see fit, from just £5.95 per person. 

Guaranteed to please big and little people alike, additional toppings include everything from marshmallows to maple syrup, Crunchie to caramel sauce and Baileys to blueberries. Want to add more pancakes to your pile? You can. Order as many or as few as you fancy and see how high you can go.
Better still, pimps can win prizes. Post a picture of your pancake dish on Facebook.com/girafferestaurants via the events page and send in your recipe or method to be in the chance to win a foodie feast for you and up to five of your friends. Pictures may be posted from 8th – 20th March. Comments will be courted from Facebook fans and the King Pimp will be chosen by popular consensus by 28th March 2011. 

‘Pimp Your Pancake’ at Giraffe - srumpdidlyumptious.
www.giraffe.net
Pimp Your Pancake is available at Giraffe from 8th – 11th March 2011, from open to 4pm.
Visit giraffe.net/restaurant for full details.

Groupon Offer - Meal For Two at London Steak and Ale House for Thurs Feb 10th

Groupon has a great offer for all of you working in the City today:

Two Course Meal for Two Plus Champagne Cocktail Each for £33 at London Steak & Alehouse (Worth Up To £84.20)

Until the development of carpentry solutions, vampires were put to rest by being repeatedly pummeled in the Dracula with a juicy steak. Avoid a tender loin with today's Groupon: £33 for two main courses, two desserts and two Champagne cocktails at London Steak & Alehouse. 

Set in the heart of the square mile and with a discreet entrance just off bustling city hub, Bishopsgate, London Steak & Alehouse is easy to miss, though it's an oversight that only happens once. Once guests are in, they'll find a quintessential steakhouse dining space complete with a plush cocktail bar. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, shedding light on a cosy and intimate setting that resembles the lower deck of a ship. 
Groupon holders will be able to select from a menu that features some of the finest quality steaks around and classic English sweets. For the main course, options include 10oz ribeye steak (£23.75) as well as fried haddock with triple-cooked chips and mushy peas (£16.95). Finally, you can finish on a sweet note with some warm rice pudding, Eton mess or sticky toffee pudding (all £7.50) and a Champagne cocktail each to send your meal home in style. 

Valentine's Day at The Drunken Monkey in Shoreditch

Cult dim sum eatery, The Drunken Monkey, has created the ultimate Valentine’s experience for singletons and couples alike this February.

Shoreditch’s favourite oriental establishment is splitting the venue in two so that all East Londoners will be able to enjoy the 14th, whether they find Valentine’s Day Heaven or Hell.

Liang Shan Po, The Drunken Monkey’s VIP bar, has been transformed into an ancient Chinese love den, paved with rose petals and scented with ylang ylang. Reserved for only a few couples, this room will feature a specially prepared menu tailored for its aphrodisiac qualities. A passion fruit bellini is prepared on arrival and then followed by a multi-course meal, featuring Mountain Clouds soup, a selection of dumplings, noodles and followed by freshly made Chinese tea and ginger infused cupcakes decorated with the couple’s initials. This menu is priced at just £50 for two and available for just nine couples.

A cheaper menu at £20 per head is also available in the Wu Dan room, at the back of the restaurant, and will feature the same delicious courses, but without the oriental cupcakes.The main bar area has been set aside exclusively for Shoreditch singletons. With one of the resident Drunken Monkey DJs on the decks providing the perfect atmosphere for mingling and meeting next year’s Valentine’s date.

The Drunken Monkey
222 Shoreditch High Street
LondonE1 6PJ
www.thedrunkenmonkey.co.uk

 

Valentine’s Day at Restaurant Sauterelle, The Royal Exchange

The Royal Exchange is a luxury shopping destination and Grade 1 Listed building in the heart of London’s Square Mile.  Home to many of the world’s finest brands including Tiffany & Co., Hermés, Omega, Cartier and Theo Fennell, as well as an unrivalled collection of cafés and restaurants, the Royal Exchange is an internationally recognised symbol of London’s leading position in global trade and finance.  

Restaurant Sauterelle is situated on the mezzanine level of The Royal Exchange and offers sophisticated, contemporary French cooking, expertly prepared.  

Robin Gill, head chef of Restaurant Sauterelle, has created an amorous menu to tempt loved ones on Valentine’s Day. Each female guest will receive a stunning red rose, luxury chocolates from Paul A. Young and a red goody box courtesy of Kiehl's, the natural beauty specialists containing a luxurious selection of Crème de Corps, Crème de Corps Body Polish and Lavender Foaming Bath.  

Both Paul A. Young and Kiehl’s have boutiques within The Royal Exchange and are delighted to collaborate with Restaurant Sauterelle for Valentine’s Day. 

The Valentine’s Day menu is £50 per person or £75 per person with matched wine matched for each course.

To book please call Restaurant Sauterelle on 0207 618 2483 or visit www.sauterelle-restaurant.co.uk

Valentine's Day at Awana Restaurant

This Valentine’s Day, truly spoil your loved one with an indulgent three course menu at Awana.

Loved-up couples will start their romantic meal with a glass of champagne on their arrival. Choose from a mouth watering selection of four starters including Roti Ikan Salmon, a smoked salmon wrapped in Malaysian bread or Udang Garam Lada Hitam, a salt and pepper prawn dusted in cornflour with sea salt, cracked pepper and deep fried. 

Main dishes will include Daging Cha Kuew Teow, a stir fry thick noodle with beef, beans sprouts and kow choi or Sambal Udang, a stir fry fresh tiger prawns in sambal sauce and other mouth-watering fare will be on offer. 

No Valentine’s Day meal would be complete without a tantalising dessert to round it off and Awana have created an exquisite one for its diners: Sorbet Bunga Raya Dan Kek Strawberry Istimewa, a wild hibiscus sorbet with strawberry cheesecake which will satisfy any romantic’s pallet.

And for vegetarians, Awana has also devised a special menu. Awana is London’s finest Malaysian restaurant, located in Chelsea.

The stylish dining room features teakwood, traditional batik silk and luscious dark red leather, creating a contemporary interior reminiscent of a Malaysian plantation house. 

The Valentine’s menu costs £55 per person. Ladies will also be treated to a Malaysian gift on the night, so head to Awana for a truly enchanting and memorable Valentine’s meal. 

Awana
85 Sloane Avenue
Chelsea SW3 3DX
020 7584 8880
www.awana.co.uk