3 months ago
Mark your calendars for 27th February because there is a brand new restaurant opening it’s doors in the heart of Clapham…
Franklin & Baines is Clapham’s latest culinary offering and it’s one to get excited about. They’ll be opening at 68-70 Clapham High Street on the 27th February and it sounds like it’s going to be really delicious. The pair behind the restaurant are well versed in successful ventures in hospitality. Olivier Cohen is the owner of one of our SW London favourites, Bordelaise, and Ashley Letchford is owner of The Jam Tree chain of pubs. So they certainly know a thing or two when it comes to hosting.
The story behind the name is pretty cool too. It’s been named after US founding father Benjamin
Franklin (he spent a lot of time in SW4 where he undertook experiments on the properties of oil and water on the Common) and Sir Frank Baines (architect of the famous MI5 building) who lived in Clapham. A little bit of local history to dwell on whilst you wait for your order.
So what’s Franklin & Baines about? “The restaurant will offer a playful take on combining British steak and cocktails with both a lively rooftop dining and late night scene“. It looks like it’s going to be a spot for any occasion; they’ve put a lot of effort into their cocktail menu and they’re already looking forward to the warmer months where the rooftop will be a buzzy spot for post-work drinks- especially when it gets a bit later and the live music and DJ’s come out.
Aside from that, the food will be the main attraction. The menu has been designed by Chef Fernando Lerroude, previously master griller at The Gaucho group, which is perfect considering the meaty focus of Franklin & Baines. If you like a steak then get ready because they’re going to have an impressive selection of cuts of beef to choose from (hanger, flat iron, tomahawk and T-bone). Beyond that the menu will be full of small plates; things like BBQ corn ribs, courgette tempura and seabass ceviche will make fresh starters before moving onto the mains. And if steak isn’t your thing then they’ve got it covered with a great selection of large plates. Chicken caesar salad, spicy King prawns, a gorgeous pan fried hake dish and even a plant-based broccoli steak dish. As they go, it’s a pretty short menu, but it’s a very, very good one.
Franklin & Baines have been very thoughtful about their pricing. Steaks start from just £18.50 and the small plates start from £7, which is some of the most reasonably priced plates we’ve seen on a London menu for a while. They’ve not stopped there though. Permanent weekly deals will mean that your wallet will thank you whatever day you decide to go on. Check them out:
Who wouldn’t want in on those deals?! Plus, if you join them in their first week for their soft launch you’ll get 50% off your food bill.
