Berenjak to replace Flor in Borough Market

07-Feb-2022 - Last updated on 07-Feb-2022 at 09:22 GMT

Iranian restaurant Berenjak is launch its second London location in the spring on the Borough Market site recently vacated by Flor.

Berenjak, which was developed by chef Kian Samyani and is backed by JKS Restaurants, opened its first site in Soho in 2018, and the new Borough Market restaurant will continue to offer a menu centred on charcoal-grilled kababs and mazeh small plates.

However, it will also offer an expanded menu that includes several new 'homestyle' Iranian dishes inspired by the large family gatherings and Iranian picnics of Samyani's childhood including rotisserie saffron chicken with Persian barberry rice.

Additionally, there will be several new starters added to the mazeh section; plus, in a first for Berenjak, a full menu of 'classic' Iranian desserts.

Making the most of its position on the edge of Borough Market, the new Berenjak will also offer a grab-and-go lunchbox special between Tuesdays and Thursdays each week, with Samyani aiming to work with traders and chefs in the community to source ingredients and on regular menu collaborations.

The site’s two floors of Victorian architecture will be transformed into a Persian townhouse. Downstairs, high stools around an open kitchen counter will be reminiscent of Berenjak Soho, while upstairs high ceilings and low-slung banquettes upholstered with richly-hued fabrics and piled high with cushions.

The interiors will be decorated with vintage Persian rugs, books, candles, dried flowers, Iranian photography, plus artworks and calligraphy from the region.

Stained glass, patterned tiles, hanging plants, and a centrepiece chandelier will also lend life and colour to the space.

It was announced last week that Flor, the Borough Market restaurant-turned-bakery by James Lowe, was to close, with JKS, which backed the restaurant, saying it had retained the site.

Flor Bakery at Spa Terminus in Bermondsey, which launched late last year and is being overseen by pastry chef Helen Evans, will continue to operate.

JKS, which is run by siblings Jyotin Sethi, Karam Sethi and Sunaina Sethi, is the group behind Indian restaurants Gymkhana and Trishna.

Alongside Berenjak, it has also invested in restaurants including the two Michelin-starred Kitchen Table; Sabor; and Bao’s growing portfolio of Taiwanese restaurants.

Berenjak Soho has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2019.