Monday Bulletin: JKS Restaurants | Crisp Pizza | London Oyster Championships

Catch up on the latest industry news stories of the week from the CODE Bulletin

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JKS RESTAURANTS

JKS Restaurants is crossing the pond. The group, founded by the Sethi family in 2008, will open a New York outpost of Ambassadors Clubhouse in Manhattan’s NoMad neighbourhood in October, followed by a Las Vegas outpost of Gymkhana at ARIA Resort & Casino on the Strip in November. Karam Sethi comments: “Expanding to the US marks a significant milestone for us at JKS. We have had our sights set on the US for the last ten years—wanting to make our entry with the right brands, in the right cities, at the right moment.” The announcement comes on the heels of news of Dishoom’s impending launch in the USA, with The New York Times reporting that Kricket and Asma Khan are next in line.

CRISP PIZZA

You’ll no longer need to schlep to Hammersmith to get your Crisp Pizza fix. The cult pizzeria moves to Mayfair in October, where founder Carl McCluskey will open new pub, The Marlborough, in partnership with The Devonshire team.

LONDON OYSTER CHAMPIONSHIPS

Marking the start of native oyster season, the London Oyster Championships return to Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill on 19 September. Prizes for best dressed (oyster) and fastest shucker. Enter here; buy tickets here.

RICHOUX

Century-old Parisian-style café Richoux is coming back. Having shut its doors in 2023, it will reopen next month in the former Pizzeria Mozza site at Treehouse London Hotel. Branches in Tower Bridge, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia to follow.

• Chotto Matte is heading to Manchester. It will open a vast 502-cover Japanese-Peruvian restaurant and 348-cover roof terrace in the city in October.
   
• All change at Harrods. The department store is to part ways with Gordon Ramsay, Tom Kerridge, Calum Franklin, and Masayoshi Takayama, as it shifts focus to in-house dining concepts.
   
• Kruk, a new Thai restaurant from a pair of Som Saa and Begging Bowl alums, opened its doors in Peckham last week.
  
  
• Café Ciel, a new café by Fitzrovia’s Miel Bakery, has taken over the courtyard space at The OWO vacated in January by Café Laperouse.
  
  
• Hoxton brunch restaurant Friends of Ours has gone west. Find a branch in The Magazine, the Zaha Hadid-designed extension to Serpentine North Gallery in Hyde Park.
  
  
• Yangguofu Malatang, the Chinese choose-your-own hot pot chain with nearly 7,000 restaurants globally, has opened a flagship in London Chinatown.
  
  
• Restaurateur Jeremy King has confirmed that Simpsons in the Strand should open in early November.
  
  
• The Clifton in Bristol has closed down after two years, citing reduced summer footfall.
  
  
• Chris Denney has left Fantômas just nine months post-launch. The restaurant will reopen in the autumn after “a reboot”.
  
  
  

WHAT WE’RE READING

Where to eat in Whitstable: The Good Food Guide

How did British pub food get so grim?: The Guardian

Two London wine bars open their books—where does all the money go?: The Times

THE DUMBWAITER

Where does he find the time? Jeremy King, the restaurateur behind Arlington and The Park, has written a book. ‘Without Reservation’ is out on 8 October.

There must have been some sore heads last Monday morning after the by now annual ‘A Summer Party’ at Brat at Climpson’s Arch. Food was by Meedu Saad, music by Brawn’s Ed Wilson, and wines by Tutto. Tomos Parry, Towpath’s Laura Jackson, and Angela Hartnett were all there.

Meanwhile about town: Mick Jagger was at Amaya in Belgravia; while Gok Wan and Gary Lineker were at the launch of the bar at Town in Covent Garden.