Two New Restaurants Are Opening At Somerset House

Somerset House has long been known for its arts and culture offering, hosting an eclectic line-up of galleries, fairs and concerts each year. But the historic venue is fast becoming known for its culinary offering too. Earlier this year, buzzy riverside bar Setlist opened its doors, serving food from an exciting roster of female chefs, and this September two new restaurants are primed to launch. 

Poon’s And Aram To Open At Somerset House This September

First up is the debut eatery from London-based chef Amy Poon, daughter of the legendary Chinese chef Bill Poon and founder of deli and grocery concept Poon’s London. Since her father’s institution Poon’s closed its doors in 2003, she has been continuing its legacy with a series of pop-ups and residencies. And now she’ll continue this mission by opening a new venture in Somerset House’s New Wing, also called Poon’s, an evolution of the original.

She’ll be shining a light on the lesser known dishes that are cooked in Chinese homes daily, focused around the use of steam as a cooking method. The menu will include a signature claypot rice dish – a staple in the original Poon’s – alongside ‘magic soup’, with wind-dried meats featuring throughout the menu, made using a special recipe developed by Poon’s grandfather. The bar area, meanwhile, will serve Chinese ‘siu2 siku’ small eats.

The second restaurant set to open at Somerset House this September comes from Syrian chef Imad Alarnab. After fleeing war-stricken Syria, he travelled through Europe cooking for refugees, eventually settling in London where he rose to fame for his charity supper clubs. Then, in early 2020, he opened his first bricks-and-mortar restaurant, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen in Soho.

This September, he’ll continue to expand his empire with Aram: a deli, cafe and restaurant, created alongside co-founders Michalis Ntais and Christos Georgogiannopoulos. Here, the focus will be on baked goods, alongside breakfast and lunch dishes inspired by Eastern Mediterranean cuisine spanning Syria, Turkey, Cyprus and Jordan.

The counter will feature an array of pastries, salads, wraps and breads: think za’atar croissants and halva brownies, alongside cardamom spiced coffee and Syrian mint tea. Guests can also choose from the lunch menu, will include the likes of roasted aubergine salad with chickpeas and tahini dressing, curry cauliflower with rocket and parsley, alongside brunch-style fare like poached eggs and labneh, potato rosti with sumac salmon, and French brioche toast with tahini and carbon molasses syrup.

Spread across four rooms, the restaurant will feature large sash windows, allowing natural light to flood in. One room – opening later this year – will be known as Samamlik, and host charity events and supper clubs highlighting up-and-coming chefs. There will also be a shop selling Mediterranean products, such as Medjool dates, chilli jam and Aram ground coffee.

‘With my friends Michalis and Christos, I am so excited to open the doors to Aram,’ said Alarnab. ‘We are collectively inspired by the Eastern Mediterranean, and how it reminds us of home, and we want to celebrate this in the best way possible, from our new shop to the ingredients across our menu. Opening in Somerset House is a milestone for us and feels like the perfect location to bring Aram to life.’ 

Poon’s and Arm will sit alongside existing restaurant Spring, which focuses on seasonal fare helmed by Skye Gyngell, plus Rishim Sachdeva’s plant-first Café Petiole. The recently opened Setlist, meanwhile, serves cocktails and food from four chefs: Opeoluwa Odutayo, Sophie Wyburd, Andrea Montes Renaud and Laura Copp, plus ice cream from Happy Endings founder Terri Mercieca.

© Somerset House

The new restaurant launches are part of Somerset House’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Alongside these openings, the building has been opened up to the public in a way that’s never been done before, with special artist studios and workshops. The year also began with the launch of a new landmark exhibition, SOIL: The World At Our Feet.

Poon’s and Aram will open this September. Find out more and book at somersethouse.org.uk