Chef Isaac McHale's The Clove Club, one of the most anticipated London restaurants of 2013, finally has an opening date: March 4, 2013. The restaurant, a collaboration with supperclub and pop-up specialists Daniel Willis and Johnny Smith (who worked with McHale and James Lowe on the Young Turks), occupies the newly renovated Shoreditch Town Hall, in East London. As a release notes, the restaurant and bar "is part of the regeneration of the town hall building into a theatre, arts space and creative hub, where spaces span from the grandeur of the Victorian Assembly Hall to a warren of atmospheric rooms in the hall's basement."
McHale previously told Eater that the operation would be broken into two spaces, an informal bar and a restaurant. That remains true. At the 45-seat bar space, McHale will serve small plates and a few shareable items, including his popular buttermilk fried chicken and pine salt. There's no word yet on when McHale's yakitori-inspired chicken tasting menu will debut. At the 40-seat restaurant, McHale will work from an open kitchen and serve a five-course tasting. The restaurant will serve lunch, although that will be "a simple, hearty one-plate meal [for people who work in the area] that changes daily, a few snacks, and a dessert that will be on offer for those who wish to linger a little longer." For more details, including sample menus and items, see the release below:
THE CLOVE CLUB RESTAURANT & BAR OPENS IN SHOREDITCH TOWN HALLAfter much anticipation Daniel Willis, Johnny Smith and chef Isaac McHale will open The Clove Club restaurant and bar in East London on the 4th March 2013. The celebrated team, who also run the restaurant Upstairs at The Ten Bells which was voted 50th Best Restaurant in the UK's Top 100 list after only a few months of being open, will bring their winning formula of fun, great music, elegantly crafted food and vibes to a larger audience.
The Clove Club is named after Daniel and Johnny's eponymous supperclub in Dalston, which has now found a permanent home inside the Grade II listed Shoreditch Town Hall on Old Street. The restaurant and bar is part of the regeneration of the town hall building into a theatre, arts space and creative hub, where spaces span from the grandeur of the Victorian Assembly Hall to a warren of atmospheric rooms in the hall's basement.
The Clove Club is comprised of two rooms – bar and restaurant – designed by Daniel, Isaac and Johnny in collaboration with Jonathan Mangham of Mango London Architects. The design is simple and classic while respecting the original Edwardian features of the building. Tabletops are made from reclaimed Georgian timber and their friend Blacksmith Joe Morris made the black steel frame that holds them. Original boxing spectator chairs from the assembly hall's past life make up the seating in the 45-seater bar, mindful of the town hall's heritage, while bentwood chairs feature in the restaurant.
The restaurant is the second of the two rooms, where Isaac will be serving his ambitious five-course menu from an open kitchen that stands at the head of the 40-seater dining room. The menu will be an interesting take on British seasonal food beginning with snacks and finishing with Allpress coffee or selection of artisan teas and homemade Tea Cakes.
Sample Menu:
Parsley and Snails,
House Smoked Cured Duck
Ogleshield PuffsWarm Fennel, Seaweed & Walnut Cream
Spinach and Clams, Sunflower Seeds & Mint
Roast Rib of Hereford Beef, Wild Garlic Aioli
Warm Cider & Ginger Mousse
Blood Orange, Sheep's Milk Yoghurt & Wild Fennel
Lunch at The Clove Club will be a simple, hearty one-plate meal that changes daily, a few snacks and a dessert will be on offer for those who wish to linger a little longer.
The Clove Club will open with a concise list of wines from the Old and New Worlds with some favourites from Upstairs at The Ten Bells. The list will be a focused and interesting selection of wines – a few natural, some from well-known wine domaines, some exclusive vintages, and a small selection of sherry and Madeira completes the list.
A separate menu has been created for the bar at The Clove Club where a selection of seasonal plates and larger dishes designed to be shared will be served at the oak-topped bar and surrounding tables.
Dishes will include:
Rye Crackers, Fennel & Oak-Smoked Cod's Roe
Raw Bream, Blood Orange & Turnip
Grilled Wood Pigeon Sausages
Lamb's Heart, Anchovy & Bitter Leaves
Judas Ear Fungus, Salsify & Beef Sauce
Lemon sole on the bone with Indian Spices
Garlic, Squid and Monks beard
Baked Devilled CrabIsaac's now legendary Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Pine Salt will also feature as well as an enviable selection of salumi and cured meats that will be sliced at the bar to order, all are handmade in Islington by the Picco family.
The cocktail list will feature noteworthy classics, contemporary creations and a guest cocktail from friends at Happiness Forgets in Hoxton Square. Drinks on offer will also include a number of British and European craft beers including Ceilidh from Williams Bros in Alloa Scotland, and Coniston Bluebird Bitter from the Lake District.
World famous graphic designer Trevor Jackson has designed the logo and identity of The Clove Club. This is Trevor's first restaurant project and Daniel, Johnny and Isaac are both excited and honoured to have him on board.
Isaac says, "This is it. We are finally stepping up and opening the restaurant we have always wanted to. The food in the restaurant will be ambitious, and in the bar, fun. It's been a long time coming and we look forward to welcoming old friends and new faces into the fabulous Shoreditch Town Hall space which is The Clove Club."
· All Isaac McHale Coverage on Eater [-E-]
· All The Clove Club Coverage on Eater [-E-]
· All London Coverage on Eater [-E-]