D&D London Announces Two Site Openings in Leeds
Restaurant group, D&D London, has announced two new openings in Leeds’ Victoria Gate development this Spring; both restaurants will be designed by Design LSM.
The first will be a Japanese restaurant named Issho- which means ‘together’ in Japanese. Ben Orpwood has joined D&D London as Executive Chef of Issho and will be cooking the modern and authentic Japanese food for which he is well known.
Ben initially joined Zuma in 2005, working on the launch of the brand’s Istanbul and Dubai outposts before spending five years in the best kitchens in Sydney. He returned to London in 2015 to work as Executive Chef of Sexy Fish before moving back to Zuma. Ben aims to bring something a bit different to the Leeds dining scene, putting a Japanese and Pan-Asian twist on the best of Yorkshire produce .He describes Issho’s menu as “fresh, interesting and it’s set to include some show-stopping sharing dishes.”
Issho will be set across 7,800 square feet and comprise a rooftop bar and restaurant space, as well as an outdoor terrace. Visitors will also have a front-row seat to watch the chefs in action, from counter seating in front of a semi-open kitchen.
The second restaurant will be a Manhattan-style rooftop bar and grill, named East 59th after the address of D&D’s New York outpost, Guastavino’s, and will have a US-inspired food menu overseen by Executive Chef Lee Murdoch. East 59th will be a glamorous destination; all-day grill, bar and rooftop terrace which will boast panoramic city views and stretch over 5,400 square feet. Taking inspiration from New York’s vibrant nightlife, East 59th will include distinct restaurant and bar spaces and is set to be one the most sought after social settings in Leeds.
The two openings will mark the company’s third and fourth sites in Leeds, growing the leading restaurant brand’s focus on the North of England. Its existing restaurants are Angelica and acclaimed restaurant Crafthouse, which have made their mark on the Leeds scene since opening in 2013 at Trinity Leeds.
Commenting on the announcement, Des Gunewardena, Chairman & CEO of D&D London said: “We are very excited to be opening two new restaurants in what is a spectacular rooftop space above the new Victoria Gate shopping centre. This will be our second significant venture in Leeds .
Crafthouse and Angelica ,which we opened in 2013 ,have proved big successes for us and we enjoy very much being a part of the city’s growing restaurant scene”.