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Chimis, a “traditional Argentinean parrilla (grill) restaurant” — one that will focus on charcoal grilled meat and fish, but also pastas — will open on Southwark Bridge Road, close to Borough station, on Monday 29 January.
It is the first restaurant from Nicolas (Nico) Modad, who worked as the head chef of Brindisa Tapas’ flagship Borough Market site, and Federico Fugazza, the founder of the Argentinean street food stall Porteña.
Together with Mijal Lasus, the operations manger, the trio would socialise at Southwark’s Chilean restaurant El Vergel, popular with the expat community. The owner of that restaurant recently retired, and so Chimis was conceived. The group decided to continue the (albeit different South American) tradition and have taken on the site themselves.
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Dishes will include pulpo asado (grilled octopus with stuffed polenta, served with smoked paprika and salsa criolla), grilled lamb cutlets and Argentinean rib eye and sirloin steaks. To start, mollejas (sweetbreads with chimi lemon sauce), provoletas (grilled Provolone) and empanadas. There will also be a range of pastas, including spinach and ricotta ravioli with mushrooms, reflecting the Italian influences in Argentinean cuisine. Both Modad and Fugazza are of Italian descent.
The 44-cover restaurant will open fully on Monday 29 January.
Before that, Chimis will open for soft launch period. Dinner only: Monday 22 — Friday 26 January; and for lunch and dinner on Saturday 27 January. Sunday 28 for brunch only.