By Majella Taylor, New Openings Editor, H&C News: Rafael Cagali opens Elis.
The Institute of Hospitality Golf Day 2023, in partnership with Caterer.com
Rafael Cagali, chef and proprietor of two Michelin starred Da Terra, has just opened the doors of his new restaurant Elis. A tribute to his mother, whose first restaurant and jazz bar in São Paulo was named after famed Brazilian musician, Elis Regina.
Cagali will be taking over the space that used to house the Corner Room, set within the historic Town Hall Hotel. Elis is a more relaxed interpretation of Rafael’s Brazilian-Italian heritage, serving an a la carte menu and selection of wines.
Starting with an in-house bread selection and snacks including porchetta tonnato, bolinho de bacalhau, panzanella and churros pecorino, the menu will follow into pasta dishes like short rib pappardelle, crab linguini verge, before moving into larger dishes to share such as baby monkfish tail with black tucupi glaze and aubergine parmigiana.
The wine list will be a concise selection of 10-12 bottles highlighted at any given time, with 5-6 wines by the glass.
Elegant and dynamic, Elis is an intimate space for around 30 people set within the historic Town Hall Hotel.
Cagali said of the new opening: “Elis is inspired by my mother and childhood and we will be serving more rustic dishes, with a selection of elegant snacks and good wines. I have wanted to explore some of the more relaxed elements of Brazilian and Italian food culture for some time; drawing on everything from my favourite street food to family meal celebration dishes that my grandma used to make.”
Originally from São Paulo, Rafael Cagali draws on his Brazilian and Italian heritage to guide his creative vision. He spent years living in both Italy and Spain working with the likes of Chef Stefano Baiocco at A Villa Feltrinelli, Chef Quique Dacosta and Martin Berasategui.
After moving to the UK, Cagali went on to work at three Michelin starred The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, where he met husband and now General Manager at Da Terra, Charlie Lee. He then moved to Yashin Ocean House before joining Simon Rogan at Fera and later Aulis as Head Chef. Rafael opened Da Terra in 2019, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant also located in Bethnal Green’s historic Town Hall Hotel, a building which originally dates back to 1910.
Opening Hours:
Dinner: Tuesday – Saturday: 18.00 – 21.00
Lunch: Saturday 12:30 – 14:30
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