French-Mediterranean restaurant La Maison Ani to make its UK debut

Evgeny Kuzin and chef Izu Ani, who are part of Fundamental Hospitality Group, will open La Maison Ani at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah in Knightsbridge on the 25 May.

It follows the launch of the debut restaurant in Dubai in April 2022.

Originally born in London, Ani has worked in Michelin starred kitchens with a particular focus on Mediterranean flavours and cuisine, before relocating to Dubai in 2010. He is behind other restaurant concepts including Alaya, Gaia, La Maison Ani, La Petite Ani, Izu Burger, Shanghai Me, Scalini, Piatti by the Beach, and Maison de la Plage.

The restaurant and boulangerie is described as ‘a love letter to French cuisine and culture’ and will serve an all-day menu that take inspiration from Ani’s experience cooking in the Normandy countryside and dishes created in Parisian bistros, along with his time spent in the Middle East.

The breakfast menu will feature a selection of egg dishes from benedicts to classic omelettes alongside a ‘sucre’ menu starring French toast with strawberry jam and chantilly cream.

The a la carte menu will offer a choice of three caviars followed by dishes such as salads; French onion soup with Gruyére cheese and toasted baguette; and beef carpaccio with parmesan cheese and truffle dressing; seafood risotto with pistachios; roasted fillet of seabass in tomato sauce with sumac rice; and whole baby chicken in Perigueux sauce with seasonal truffle.

Desserts will include French classics with a twist such as vanilla créme brûlée; mango, banana and lime panna cotta; and saffron milk cake with mascarpone ice cream.

The restaurant has been designed to ‘evoke the ambiance of Parisian eateries’ and will have space for 168 covers, including eight counter seats, as well as a 14-cover PDR and a terrace that also has space for 14 covers.