Amuse-bouches: The latest restaurant news bites

We round up the latest restaurant news this week, including the reopening of eateries in France, a new delivery-only menu and a pizzeria setting up shop in a car showroom.

France reopens restaurants: The French Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe, has announced further easing of restrictions this week, with restaurants and bars in France able to open from 2 June. The news comes as France’s so-called green zone extends as the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases falls. Indoor restaurants and bars in most areas will be able to reopen, but tables must be spaced one metre apart. Paris and the surrounding area remains in the country’s red zone, meaning a more gradual lifting of measures is required. Bars and restaurants in the city can reopen on 2 June but only for outdoor seating.

UK restaurant reopening ‘optimism’: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hinted that pubs and restaurants could reopen earlier than expected. The government had previously stated that hospitality outlets could start to reopen from early July, providing they were Covid-secure. Speaking this week, he said he was “more optimistic” than he had been and said “we may be able to do things faster” than he had previously thought. He also asked government scientific advisors to review the recommended two-metre spacing in restaurants, given that the World Health Organisation’s recommendations are for a one-metre gap.

Pizzeria opens in car showroom: London pizza specialist Santa Maria is opening a new site inside a car showroom in Brentford. The chain’s fourth site is currently operating a delivery-only service. Once restrictions are lifted, the pizzeria’s new outpost at the Duke of London will boast 30 covers, with tables positioned around luxury cars.

Michelin launches tool to track restaurant reopening: The Michelin Guide has launched a new service which will track the reopening of Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. Each week, the barometer will track the number of new restaurants that open across the 35 countries in which the guide operates. Less than 21% of Michelin-starred restaurants are currently open.

New delivery-only restaurant launches: Called Hot 4 U, the concept is a collaboration between Matthew Scott, currently head chef at Cub, and Eddy Tejada, previously of St John and Silo. It will offer a five-course menu that changes weekly and is available for collection or delivery within the M25. With a sustainable, seasonal and nose-to-tail eating ethos, dishes include buttermilk curds, courgettes and fermented potato crackers and rabbit glazed in a fig leaf with daikon and a milk bun. The set menu is £35 per person.

Folie launches delivery service: Soho’s Folie has launched a takeaway menu having teamed up with delivery service Supper. Dishes include octopus, citrus, avocado & herbs and Tuna sashimi; chicken paillard, sage, olives & lemon; the new Folie cheeseburger with a house bun, Comté cheese and confit onions; and a version of the pan bagnat, the classic sandwich served in the French Riviera. A French-focused wine list will also be available to customers as well as selection of snacks and a cocktail menu consisting of serves from Paris-based Ely Cocktails’ ready to pour range. The service is available from Tuesday to Saturday and delivery is within a 2.5 mile radius.