Leandro Carreira to open Portuguese seafood site in Soho

Portuguese chef Leandro Carreira, formerly of Londrino in London Bridge, is to open a Portuguese-inspired seafood restaurant where Bonnie Gull resided in Soho.

Portuguese chef Leandro Carreira is opening a Portuguese-inspired seafood shack called Claro in Soho this spring

As reported by Eater London, Portuguese taberna Claro is due to open on Bateman Street this spring and will focus on small seafood plates and wines by the glass.

The 26-cover venue is a joint venture between Carreira and Alex Hunter, co-founder of Bonnie Gull and The Sea The Sea in Chelsea, where Carreira is executive chef.

Taking inspiration from Portuguese flavours and traditions, according to Eater, Claro will focus on fermentation, clean flavours and pared back presentation, delivering dishes like mackerel with seaweed butter.

In addition to the site’s 26 covers, it offers diners standing tables alongside an open kitchen.

The central London location and smaller size should work in Carreira’s favour after he struggled to fill tables at his cavernous debut London venture Londrino, which closed last February a little more than a year after opening.

The site has since been taken up by chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal of The Fat Duck, who have opened their first debut venture together called Trivet.

An in-depth profile of Trivet and an interview with Lake and Bal will appear in our forthcoming Wine List Confidential 2020 guide, due to be published in May.