Smith’s Brasserie Wapping opens on 4th May at 22 Wapping High Street.
The new menu finally appeared in the restaurant window last week next to an official “Opening 4th May” sign.
Original 5th April 2011 article and Wapping map below:
Mike Tavener, the owner of family run Smith’s Brasserie in Ongar, Essex has picked Wapping for his second fish restaurant because he “loves the area”.
Mike tells us his earliest Wapping memory is “sitting on the balcony of the Prospect of Whitby pub when I was 8, looking at the river and eating lunch with my family”.
What can Wapping expect?
“A top class, stunning restaurant in an incredible location” according to 21 year old Melanie Aristidou.
Melanie was mid-way through her three week front-of-house training when we spoke last week and will work part-time at Smith’s in Wapping when it opens. New staff are being professionally trained and study food, wine and service at Smith’s Brasserie in Ongar.
The Wapping menu will be “slightly different” to Smith’s Brasserie, but we can expect fresh fish, seafood and some interesting alternatives.
We discovered that Smith’s will offer a traditional Sunday roast, but cooked off the bone. Melanie explained that this “holds in the taste and makes the meat much more succulent. It takes more effort, but tastes much better”.
Living in Wapping, it’s so easy to take our river views for granted but Melanie reminded us how wonderful they are.
Where else in London can you see landmarks like Butlers Wharf, Tower Bridge and the Shard, still keeping the Canary Wharf skyline in view? It’s really beautiful at times, as we saw during Earth Hour in March [see Mark Baynes] and last week’s red sunsets [see Ian Visits] so we’d like a river table please.
Wapping thanks to actress Melanie Aristidou for speaking to us between her performances in Agamemnon last week at the Brockley Jack.
Smith’s “Opening Soon”?
It’s been impossible to miss the giant sign in the window that appeared in January, but the question we’re all asking is when?
Builders and fitters have been renovating the site for a few months. Last used by Smollensky’s restaurant, it’s been empty for almost five years since closing at the end of 2006.
Residents have been peeping through the windows as they walk past 22 Wapping High Street for tell tale signs and it’s taking shape.
Decorators were spotted painting window frames on the Thames balcony last week. Pots and pans appeared today.
Wapping map
View Map of Wapping London E1W in a larger map
Smith’s Brasserie Wapping
22 Wapping High Street
London
E1W 1NJ
Tel: 020 7488 3456
