Up from Down Under: Milk Beach first came to London in 2018
(Picture: Handout)If you’ve spent any time in and around Soho recently, and wondered what might be occurring inside that huge, rose-tiled building next to Foyle’s on Charing Cross Road, here’s a tip: there’s a brand new restaurant set to open in it this summer.
The building in question is Ilona Rose House, a multi-purpose space designed to house offices and creative venues, and the restaurant is the newest branch of Milk Beach, an Australian all-day dining and drinking spot that has proven a hit with Queen’s Park locals since it opened in 2018.
Promising to bring a slice of Sydney to Soho, the venture is being led by head chef Josh Deacon, previously of The Stratford Hotel and Savoy Grill, and head of food Darren Leadbeater, co-creator of the original Milk Beach in north-west London.
Comprising two main spaces — a 90-cover indoor dining room and bar, and a heated outdoor courtyard providing space for 65 guests — the menu will recreate some favourites from Queen’s Park, such as the Chinese five-spice BBQ pork rib dumplings and koji-marinated chicken ‘schnitty’.
Mostly though, the Soho site will run with new dishes inspired by the South East Asian and Mediterranean flavours that combine in modern Australian cuisine, with dishes ranging from crab ravioli with spiced courgette and fermented chilli oil, to whole-deep fried seabass with nam jim jaew, a Thai sauce.
Brunch is set to run from 8am to 3pm daily, offering the likes of Vietnamese curried crab with folded eggs on a house-made crumpet, and more than 65 bottles from independent winemakers will populate the drinks list, as will speciality coffee.
“Australian hospitality is about creating a relaxed and fun environment with friendly, down to earth service,” said Milk Beach founder Elliot Milne. “That’s what we strive to deliver at Milk Beach and that’s what we want to bring to Soho.”
