Carmine, a new 100-cover all-day restaurant, bar and workspace, will open on Streatham’s High Parade, London SW16, on Thursday 7 October.
Founded by friends and business partners Christopher Howe and Jamie Cottam-Allan, who also own the recently relaunched Elm Park Tavern gastro pub in Brixton (under the duo’s Bright Pete Holdings umbrella company), have named the new Streatham site after the infamous Soprano’s mafia boss ‘Carmine Lupertazzi’.
The new venue will open seven days a week, offering workspace membership during the week, with high speed internet, specialty coffee and an all-day brunch/lunch menu served Monday through Sunday.
Then come evening, Carmine will switch to a lively brasserie-style restaurant and wine bar, perfect for dinner, after-work drinks and catch-ups with groups of friends.
Carmine will offer 100 covers in total, encompassing 58 in the restaurant and a further 42 (seated) in the bar area, including 8 stools at the dining counter bar.
Carmine’s food comes courtesy of talented young head chef Ozzy Martin Peer, who also oversees the menu at the Elm Park Tavern (previously Peckham Cellars, The Ivy West Street). He has curated a varied brasserie-style food menu, offering a collection of all-day brunch options, alongside a selection of sharing small plates through to larger mains, and some tasty bar snacks.
Launch menu examples:
Brunch
Smoked trout, poached duck egg & avocado, on rye
Wild mushrooms, smoked leeks, cream & garlic, on sourdough (V)
Eggs, sausage, smoked back bacon, house baked beans, black pud’ toast & maple salted butter
Small plates
Rarebit, cheddar & beer croquette, with tomato chutney
Karaage fried chicken
Burrata, pickled pineapple, anchovy & fresh rocket
Large plates
Pork steak, grilled peach , celeriac remoulade & beetroot ketchup
Skate wing, black olive & artichoke w/ green beans
Vegan shawarma, beetroot slaw, herbed yogurt & housemade flatbread
The drinks offering at Carmine pays special attention to sustainability with natural and low-intervention wines, pre-mix cocktails and local craft beer on tap, from the likes of Brixton Brewery, Inkspot, Point Cocktails, Borough Wines & Les Caves de Pyrennes.
The design at Carmine takes inspiration from the iconic ‘all-day brunch spaces’ in New York and Chicago. The space will feel contemporary yet timeless, with the colourful restaurant and bar space inviting by day, whilst being able to transition seamlessly into an intimate and characterful night time venue come evening.
Co-founder Christopher Howe commented, “Much like other parts of South London which have radically changed over the last five or so years, Streatham is part of a tide of gentrification, which love it or hate it, brings about net positives for communities of all kinds through investment and employment opportunities.
'Given the increasingly rich cultural miasma of the area, it’s high time that the high street reflected it and to be at the forefront of that for a place which has historically been a real working class hub of South London is going to be a real privilege.
'Thousands of people make their home in Streatham, much as they do in places like Brixton and Peckham both of which reflect this with incredibly diverse F&B offerings. Streatham has been slower on the uptake, until recently boasting only a few public houses and one or two wine bars.
'However the recent shifts in demographics and the trend toward shopping online have radically changed the playing field with many high street stores closing and paving the way for more hospitality offerings.
'Carmine is hopefully poised to lead the field in terms of both product and service with a high quality fresh food offering and drinks and service which reflect that level of care and attention to detail.”
With plans to launch a retail space, wine and bottle shop in the site ahead of Christmas alongside the all-day restaurant and bar offering, Carmine is fast set to become the place to visit in Streatham, whether for dinner or after work drinks, a casual weekend brunch, or to grab a bottle or two on the way home, when it opens next month.