Bringing the terra of Portugal to the arches of London Bridge, Bar Douro will open at Flat Iron Square this September. Drawing inspiration from the traditional cerveijarias and tascas of Lisbon and Porto, the rustic restaurant will offer a contemporary take on Portuguese cuisine alongside expertly sourced regional wines.
The Story…
Max Graham is the mastermind behind Bar Douro. Drawing inspiration from a childhood spent in Porto, where his family’s business Churchill’s Port has been making wine in the Douro Valley for two centuries. This experience prompted Max to create the 8-month pop up Churchill’s Port House in Soho (2013), followed by a series of sold out supper clubs including Pop Brixton (January 2016) and Carousel (February 2016). Spring 2016 saw Max host a three-month residency in Porto with Head Chef Tiago Santos (formerly of Boa Nova Casa da Cha, Ricardo Costa at The Yeatman Hotel and Largo do Paço at Casa da Calcada), and an upcoming one-night event at Soho Farm House (18 August). Bar Douro is the last step in bringing the best of the Portuguese culinary experience to London.
The Food…
Between selling out supper clubs, Max and Tiago, have spent the past year travelling around Portugal discovering local culinary secrets and sourcing the finest Portuguese produce. Bringing together the fruits of their labour, Bar Douro’s small-plate focused menu will include Croquettes de alheira (Portuguese smoked sausage), Leitão suckling pig, Octopus with sweet potato and favas, Cataplana fish stew, Bísaro pork ribs with ruby port glaze, and Milk fed lamb Chanfana. Traditional desserts with a twist such as Fondant ‘baba de camelo’, Abade de priscos pudding and Pastel de nata (custard tarts) with cinnamon ice cream will sit alongside Portuguese cheeses like Serra da Estrela with tomato jam.
The Wine…
The carefully curated Portuguese wine list will be as important as the food served alongside it. Exploring key wine growing regions and highlighting the huge range of native grape varieties that Portugal has to offer, Graham will work closely with independent winemakers to import a selection of wines not currently available in the UK market. For those wanting to delve deeper into the wine list, regular wine tastings will be held in the first floor private dining and events space.
The Space…
The decor will be a contemporary take on classic Portuguese influences, with themes developed alongside architectural designer Steph Gallia and branding agency Studio 91 to reflect the innovative energy and caring nature true to the identity of Bar Douro. Located in the heart of Bankside, the Flat Iron Square project consists of a group of railway arches boasting a variety of food offerings and music/entertainment venues.
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