Alex Craciun, Jason and Irha Atherton to open Japanese restaurant Kisetsu
Following the successful launch of Sosharu in March, executive head chef Alex Craciun is now set to open the doors to Kisetsu, a separate dining space located within the Clerkenwell-based restaurant, on 15th August.
Accessible via the main entrance to Sosharu, Kisetsu, meaning season, will offer a secluded and intimate dining experience, complete with its own kitchen. Here, a daily-changing menu of fine dining Japanese dishes will be served adopting the ‘kappo’ tradition, an exquisite succession of Japanese small plates prepared in front of you by a dedicated chef. Diners at Kisetsu will entrust Craciun to serve bespoke 6-10 course menus showcasing both the finest in seasonal British and Japanese ingredients. The extensive Kyoto training undertaken by Alex prior to the launch of Sosharu will be apparent in dishes such as Duck sukiyaki, watercress, onion with duck egg and Cold kudzu starch noodles, shrimp and cucumber. Dessert options include Golden raspberries, yuzu curd and shiso or Cucumber and melon ice.
Placing the chef at the centre of a fully interactive dining experience, a beautifully crafted communal wooden counter seating up to ten guests has been built around the kitchen pass and is the focal point of Kisetsu. Close enough to diners to be able to hand them ingredients to try as he prepares each dish, for Craciun, Kisetsu is as much about educating guests as serving exceptional food. Designed by Neri & Hu, the Shanghai and London-based interior designers behind Sosharu, the space is in-keeping with the sleek interiors of the main restaurant, but the discreet sliding door and Japanese denim curtains that veil Kisetsu create a distinct sense of exclusivity, providing the ideal location for special occasions or private dining.
With Sosharu now comfortably established as a stand-out destination for more relaxed, Japanese-inspired cuisine in London, with the launch of Kisetsu, The Social Company will bring a fine dining experience that promises to both inform and excite its guests.