Bistronomie-inspired restaurant Neo Bistro opens in Mayfair

Alex Harper, former head chef of The Harwood Arms, is returning to the kitchen this May to open Neo Bistro, guided by his former colleague and chef-patron of Anglo, Mark Jarvis. Neo Bistro has taken inspiration from the new style bistros of Paris, where classically trained chefs are moving away from the constraints of fine dining in favour of this more relaxed approach. Alex’s ever changing menu of simple, modestly priced dishes will be informed by his belief that “the best food comes from sourcing the best ingredients and using simple flavours that work well together”.

Similar to the philosophy already in place at Anglo, Mark will work with Alex to oversee a menu dictated by the market’s best ingredients, and season’s finest produce. A concise but constantly evolving offering will be accompanied by daily specials chalked up on the dining room’s blackboard, with dishes including; Cured Tamworth pork, Venison chorizo and Fresh cheese with smoked potato, grilled leeks, and walnut pesto. More substantial plates will comprise roast sea bass with mousserons, English asparagus & thyme and desserts will include a Chocolate tart with malt ice cream & salted caramel and Gariguette strawberries with lemon verbena.

Front of house will be overseen by Anglo’s Nick Gilkinson, who will curate a wine list of bottles from emerging regions and lesser known grape varieties, with house glasses from £5 and bottles from £19. As with the restaurant menu, a regularly changing list of cocktails will be accompanied by a small selection of house drinks – all classics made with a Neo Bistro twist. A selection of local Craft bottled beers will also rotate weekly.

Overlooked by a large skylight set in the vaulted ceiling, counter style seats on “butchers block” stools will be kept free for walk-in guests at the bar, whilst banquette tables will be available for reservations. Neo Bistro’s bare-brick walls will be punctuated with vintage posters, and as a nod to Anglo, a neon sign will also feature.
 
“The Neo Bistro movement has totally transformed the cooking scene in Paris, bringing chefs, like Alex, who have trained in some of the country’s best kitchens, to a space where they can be freely creative with their skills, and aren’t restricted by anything that they do. It results in a restaurant more attuned to the way people actually want to eat, and the environment they want to be in, which is something we’ve always kept at the heart of what we do at Anglo and will form the basis of this project too. Alex and I have worked in some great kitchens together over the years, but to be doing things on our own terms is really rewarding,” says Mark Jarvis.

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