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News
Zuma owners to open Oblix in The Shard
Celebrated chef restaurateur duo Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney are to open rotisserie restaurant Oblix on the 32nd floor of The Shard in central London.
Due to open this spring, Oblix will boast both a rotisserie and grill restaurant and a lounge bar, with Becker using the shape of the building as his inspiration.
“The building is incredible. I was immediately struck by the power of its design,” said Becker.
“The more I looked at it, the more I thought of New York and the height and boldness of the buildings there. The idea for Oblix grew from that,” he added.
Taking a classic New York grill as his starting point, Becker has given the theme a twist with the incorporation of British and European ingredients.
The kitchen will feature a spit roast for slow roasting joints, a charcoal grill, and a wood-fired oven for breads and pizza.
Wine will be a focal point, with an “interactive sommelier station”, the first of its kind in London, allowing guests to get more involved with their wine choices.
Chef Rainer Becker
Offering an extensive selection of wines by the glass, the station will also run early evening wine tastings and masterclasses.
At the lounge bar, which will host live music acts, drinks will be chilled with chunks of ice hand-chiselled from large, purified blocks.
The relaxed bar space will be open for all-day dining, with a full menu available for lunch, brunch and dinner.
Oblix will offer views across London, with St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Battersea Power Station all visible from the 32nd floor.
To complement rather than compete with the view, interior designer Claudio Silvestrin used a natural palate for the restaurant.
“You can’t compete with the view – the energy is too dominant and it’s what being in The Shard is all about. It has to be respected,” said Becker.
“We used warm colours and shaped both the restaurant and the bar to achieve the balance between the view and the interior,” he added.
Founded in 2002 by Becker and Waney, Zuma has sites in London, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai and Miami, with further international openings planned for 2013.