Rob Star to open Firestarter, his first standalone restaurant, with live-fire cooking in London

Rob Star, founder of Electric Star Pubs, will open his first standalone restaurant, Firestarter, in London on Thursday, 13^th November. Located at 94 Middlesex Street, just a five-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station and Spitalfields Market, the new venue will focus on live-fire cooking and marks Star’s first foray into the restaurant sector after 15 years in the pub and festival business.

The restaurant will occupy a space adjacent to The Star by Liverpool Street, a pub also owned by Star. Firestarter will accommodate up to 60 diners, with 10 seats at a kitchen counter and 50 in the main dining room. The open kitchen design is intended to showcase the live-fire cooking process, placing the culinary experience at the centre of the venue.

“After years of running pubs and festivals, I wanted to create something where the food takes centre stage,” said Star. “Firestarter is a space where the food is serious, but the atmosphere will be relaxed, where you can have a proper feast with a bunch of friends without all the fuss.”

The menu has been developed by chef consultant Ricky Evans, who has worked on projects such as The Ingredientist Kitchen and Secret Slider Club. Day-to-day kitchen operations will be led by Head Chef Leon Seraphim, formerly of Brigade and the Beyond Food Foundation.

The dishes are designed to highlight the use of fire and flame, with dishes such as Crab Doughnut with cowboy butter and smoked sriracha sugar, Gochujang Chilli Crack Honey Fried Chicken Wings, and Yorkshire Wagyu Beef Tartare. Larger grilled options will include a 1kg Galician Rib and a 450g Iberico Pork Chop. Vegetarian offerings include Coal-Roasted Beets with Whipped Feta and Fire-Roasted Cauliflower with Black Garlic and Red Miso Glaze.

Desserts will continue the theme, featuring items such as a Wagyu Bone-Marrow Crème Brûlée and a Maple-Bourbon Doughnut Ice-Cream Sandwich. The drinks menu includes nine signature cocktails designed to complement the food, entailing the likes of the mezcal and bourbon-based Smoke & Mirrors and the chipotle-agave margarita variation, The Flame Game.

“We know we’re playing with fire opening a new restaurant in London right now, but that’s what hospitality is all about, taking risks to create something people genuinely want to experience,” said Star.

Food Desk

Firestarter will initially open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, with lunch service expected to launch in early December. For further information and reservations, visit the restaurant’s website here.