London gets a taste of the Baltic

Estonian chef Andrei Lesment is opening his first independent venture with the launch of Verru in January.

Located at 69 Marylebone Lane, Verru promises “to introduce the flavours of the Baltic to London”, aided by Lesment’s fine dining experience from kitchens such as Pied à Terre and Maze.

Merging Scandinavian and Baltic flavours, dishes will include pan fried red mullet with hop shoots, speck, forest mushrooms and beer, as well as cocotte of autumn mushrooms with spätzle, lettuce and pea shoots. The pudding menu will feature options such as elderflower cheesecake with poached rhubarb.

The compact but wide-reaching wine selection includes many options by the glass or carafe and is complemented with an extensive range of malt whiskies, as well as other spirits, Sherry and Madeira.

With just 26 covers as well as a private room for up to eight guests, Verru is likely to offer a stylish but cosy feel. The interior features raw brickwork mixed with glazed panels, distressed glass, oak parquet floors and soft brown leather chairs to create a “rough but smart” look.

Gabriel Savage, 21.12.2010