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Donnelly’s will move from Soho pub The Sun and 13 Cantons to a new residency on Bermondsey Street in 2019. On 7 January, chef James Donnelly announced on Instagram that the moveable restaurant would open at Bermondsey Bar and Kitchen on 16 January.
Critic Marina O’Loughlin paid a visit to the pop-up at the end of its time in Soho, declaring it “Perfect last-Friday-before-Christmas lunch destination - loved it.” A vanilla panna cotta with rhubarb and ginger crumb was a particular highlight, from a typically seasonal-European-small-plate-menu that features bavette steak with garlic mushroom and Cafe de Paris butter, Cornish cod with dill butter, fennel, and lemon and radish salad, and a classic winter fruit crumble with custard.
Donnelly’s is the eponymous venture of chef James, who previously worked with Tom Aikens and Jamie Young, the latter formerly of Bibendum in Kensington and The Palmerston in East Dulwich. The restaurant confirmed — via Twitter — that its next life would be found on Bermondsey Street following O’Loughlin’s visit; its inaugural seven week London residency was at Elephant and Castle café Louie Louie.
We look forward to feeding you! We’ve got details coming soon but it’ll be around Bermondsey Street. Have a lovely Christmas x
— Donnellysrestaurant (@Donnellys) December 21, 2018
The Sun and 13 Cantons is a known proving ground for several of London’s celebrated restaurants; Asma Khan’s Darjeeling Express started life there in early 2017 before opening just round the corner in Kingly Court, while celebrated Filipino pop-up Sarap London, currently finishing up in Dalston, will take up residence at the Soho pub from January 2019.