65a - a brasserie-style restaurant on Spitalfields’ Brushfield Street, will open on 12th September. Sitting on the edge of the iconic Spitalfields Market, 65a will offer an elegant yet uncomplicated menu of classic dishes, peppered with French inflections, in a nod to the area’s rich and diverse history.
65a will pay particular attention to creating a welcoming environment, with a focus on genuine hospitality and a desire to create a memorable experience for guests, from both near and far. The restaurant will advocate for the hospitality industry and the surrounding community in all aspects of the business, from hiring and training local staff to working predominantly with nearby traders, where possible.
Executive Chef Maura Baxter has created a menu of classic French fare, with each dish celebrating the quality of the raw ingredients through simple yet skillful cookery. Diners will be encouraged to take their time over meals at 65a and, with convivial feasting in mind, there will be a number sharing dishes at the centre of the menu. Whole grilled native lobster and Free-range rotisserie chicken, will be prepared with uncompromising care and attention, allowing the quality of the ingredients to shine. There will also be a selection of small plates and individual mains for guests to devour, including:
French onion soup
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Hand-dived coquilles St Jacques
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Salade chèvre chaud
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Fillet steak with Café de Paris butter
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Burger à l'Américaine
To finish, there will also be a succinct list of traditional desserts, including a Flourless gateau au chocolat, Crème brûlée and Poached pear - all to be enjoyed alongside digestifs from the restaurant’s carefully curated drinks menu, ranging from Calvados to Muscat de Baumes. A daily-changing cheese selection will also be on offer for those with more savoury inclinations.
65a’s drinks list will be led by a selection of French rosé wine, with crisp whites sourced predominantly from France and a selection of big, bold reds from the Mediterranean and beyond also available. In addition, 65a will offer a menu of signature cocktails, with a mixture of new takes on old classics and inventive, modern serves available. These will include the Bloody Good Spritz! (honey tequila, oloroso sherry, blood orange sorbet and prosecco) and Green Mango Margarita (tequila, mezcal, caraway liqueur, green mango and tajin).
With a dining room boasting high ceilings and large, arched windows, the 155-cover restaurant has been designed to serve as the perfect setting for leisurely long lunches and laid-back evening meets. Stripped-back interiors and elevated planting create a timeless yet welcoming space bathed in natural light, whilst a bright and expansive terrace will be designed in collaboration with planting experts, Palais London. The terrace will seat over a third of the restaurant’s diners, perfect for al fresco dining during the summer months.
65a comes from Irish-born entrepreneur, Patrick Frawley, and was born out of his passion for hospitality, drawing on his more than 30 years of experience in the industry.
65a will open for a soft launch period from 5th - 9th September, offering 30% off food during dinner service. It will be fully open to the public from Tuesday 12th September, for weekday lunch and dinner, all-day on Saturday and for Sunday brunch and lunch.
