Jason Atherton secures seventh London restaurant
The Japanese izakaya-style restaurant, situated within the Turnmill Building on Clerkenwell Road, is a collaboration between Atherton and executive head chef Alex Carciun, who has worked for The Social Company for four years, previously sous chef at Pollen Street Social.
Atherton said: “Sosharu is a complete departure from anything I’ve done before, which makes it that much more exciting for us. This restaurant has been a long time in the making as we wanted to get it right – Alex has dedicated himself to learning everything there is to know about Japanese food in the past couple of years and the result is some incredible cooking. I can’t wait to open the doors.”
In preparation for the launch, Craciun relocated to Japan on a research trip, spending the year studying at the Kyoto Culinary School. He also worked at restaurant Kikunoi under chef Yoshihiro Murata in Kyoto then RyuGin under Seiji Yamamoto in Tokyo.
Craciun’s menu will comprise small dishes, with selections dedicated to different specialties including temaki, hibachi grill, yaki grill, tempura, sashimi and more.
Kietsu, meaning season, will also open with the launch of Sosharu but as an entirely separate dining space with its own kitchen, accessible via the main entrance to the restaurant.
Kietsu will offer a tasting menu adopting the ‘omakase’ tradition. Loosely translated as ‘trust the chef,’ diners are offered a bespoke daily changing menu chosen by Craciun. Guests will be seated around a kitchen counter with the interiors changing seasonally to coincide with the Japanese name.
A 40-cover cocktail bar, Seven Tales will also launch and aims to recreate the night-time atmosphere of Tokyo. Headed up by bar manager Geoff Robinson, the drinks menu will be inspired by ‘Japanese culture and philosophies’.
The Social Company, founded by Jason and Irha Atherton, will also launch Kensington Street Social in Sydney and an Italian restaurant concept in the Nova development in London in 2016.