Helmed by French restaurateurs Ugo and Antoine Lecorché, famed Riviera restaurant La Môme is bringing its pomp and ceremony to the British capital with a debut at The Berkeley.
Back in the mid-1900s, an eccentric Parisian flower seller and late-night singer called Suzanne Vreurick, otherwise known as La Môme Moineau, fell in love with a rich Puerto Rican engineer and businessman. What followed was a luxuriously hedonistic life in Cannes filled with fabulous parties, lavish holidays and an elite circle. It’s this same stylish socialite who inspired the name of legendary Cannes restaurant La Môme which, located minutes from the legendary Promenade de la Croisette, has now brought its Riviera glamour to the British capital.
Brainchild of French restaurateurs Ugo and Antoine Lecorché, the 220-seat establishment (it also boasts a 30-seat terrace) opened its doors at The Berkeley hotel in Knightsbridge, London, this February, in the space formerly occupied by Marcus Wareing. Described by the Maybourne Group— the owner of The Berkeley—as an “institution” (it also has a second branch in Cannes and one in Monaco), diners can expect plenty of its classic culinary staples including, to start, king crab and avocado, and tarama with blinis, samphire and trout roe; raw dishes like sea bass ceviche and tuna tartare; and more hearty hand-made pastas such as truffle macaroni and parmigiana risotto.
Other menu highlights include black angus tagliata, octopus alla Luciana and veal Milanese, all rounded off with an indulgent dessert menu featuring delights such as churros with salted caramel sauce. Cocktails arrive under glass cloches, dramatically unveiled through clouds of dry ice.
As to be expected, the space recreates the glamour and energy of the original establishment, with interiors by Cannes-based and award-winning interior architect Samy Chams. Think rich, seductive materials and a sultry colour palette. Framed Slim Aarons’ photographs of the 1960s Riviera line the walls as an ode to the American photographer whose work remains forever a style inspiration for the brothers.
“We are trying to bring to The Berkeley an experience that is about all the senses,” says Antoine Lecorché. “Not only about the food, but about the welcome, the service, the music, the energy, where something interesting is happening every day.” We’ll see you there.
