Renowned French chef Laurent Tourondel (perhaps best known in the States where he has ventures in Miami, North Carolina and New York) announces his first foray into Europe with a dining room at opening in London’s Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street. Further afield, Tourondel owns restaurants in Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and the Caribbean.

The as yet unnamed restaurant will open in May and marks a return to London for Tourondel, who cut his teeth training in France before moving to London, where he spent time in the kitchen at Boodles. He has also worked in Moscow and New York, and travelling through South America, Asia and Africa to hone his craft.

This international spirit will apparently be evident in his latest venture’s menu. The concept will blend the chef’s culinary ethos with Hotel Café Royal’s “dedication to creating an address where guests feel they belong, and always wish to return”.

Designed by contemporary Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni, the new 110-cover restaurant is located on the first floor of Hotel Café Royal, which has undergone an extensive refurbishment. The restaurant vaunts an open kitchen, grill and sushi bar, offering all-day dining and casual, brasserie-style booth seating. There’s also a new double height reception area adorned with a Murano glass chandelier made by Italian glassmaker Vistosi. Lissoni’s previous projects include the Conservatorium in Amsterdam, owned by The Set hotels. 

Joining the new restaurant’s team as GM is Dinos Tagkalos, who previously launched the Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden, which houses Ollie Dabbous’s venture Henrietta. At the helm of the wine programme is head sommelier Sam Heathcote who joins the team from the Bulgari Hotel and previously The Clove Club and Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester hotel.