Basque group Grupo Sagardi to open first UK site in London
The 141-cover venue on 87-95 Curtain Road will be the 30th in the group’s portfolio, alongside its existing locations in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Seville in Spain, Porto in Portugal, Mexico City in Mexico, and Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Like all the Grupo Sagardi sites, it will be split into two spaces: a Pintxos bar serving small plates with Basque cider, beers, and wines; and a restaurant with a central charcoal grill. There will also be a street-facing, stand-alone butcher within the restaurant, showcasing sides of Galician beef hanging from the ceiling.
Focusing on ingredients from San Sebastian and its coastline, the menu will include “Txuleton” (beefsteak), codfish, and “piquillo” peppers. Dishes will be along the lines of fried Txistorra sausage from Orio, grilled Biskay black pudding, Almalabra red tuna from Barbate, tartare with “guindilla” peppers from Ibarra, baby squid in ink sauce, cider house style salt cod, salted cod omelette “Roxario” style, and veal sweetbreads with Tudela artichokes.
Founded 18 years ago in Barcelona by Vitoria-born Iñaki Viñaspre – who now works alongside the Basque Tourism Agency ‒ the Sagardi group first opened in 1995 and seeks to champion Basque produce and culinary traditions.
Founder Iñaki Viñaspre said: “I’m delighted to be opening Sagardi in Shoreditch. London gastronomy has hit fever pitch but over the last few years, restaurants have simplified, with the focus shifting to the quality of each individual ingredient. My region's cuisine has always championed this practice and so hopefully Sagardi will find its natural new home here in London.”
