After breaking the news early last month that Portabello was being reopened under new management as Pompette (French for tipsy), I went along to meet new owners Pascal and Laura Wiedemann.
The brand new restaurant will feature a charcuterie and wine bar area to the left and a classic dining area with table service on the right, with a charcuterie slicing area in the rear right corner of the space and EuroCave wine fridge nearby.
So tell me about the food!
From the charcuterie bar expect wonderful cheeses, cured meats, homemade terrines and rillettes, croquetas, anchovy and shallot butter toast. Gatineau down the road will be supplying the bread. From the daily changing French and Italian-inspired restaurant menu, expect classic lunch and dinner offerings of fish soup with croutons and gruyère; onion tart with pear and walnut salad; sliced beef with rosemary, lemon and lardo; hake with braised chickpeas, spinach and aioli; and pork chop with sauce charcutière, pomme puree and watercress.
Seriously, I’m drooling all over my flippin’ keyboard.
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Kitchen hours will be 12-3pm for lunch and 6-10pm for dinner, with six starters, six mains and three or four dessert/cheese courses. In addition, the Charcuterie area will serve from noon till 10pm.
The restaurant is already taking Christmas bookings, offering a 3-course set menu for a whoppingly reasonable £39. Bookings for the restaurant will be taken for groups up to 10 people per table. For those booking larger groups, there is a large private dining area upstairs, decorated an opulent deep blue with gold – yes gold – wallpaper. The room will boast Art Deco fireplace, velvet banquette and window pelmet, plus a Victorian table seating up to 12/14. All designed with care and creativity by Laura.
The private dining space has it’s own music system and projector for those organising parties or meetings. It will also come with its own dedicated member of staff and feasting menu.
The restaurant below will be equally rich in colour, with handpainted signs and custom or vintage art, much of which was found during a trip to a French market. The formal restaurant will also feature a mixture of original and marble top tables.
As for Chef Patron Pascal, his CV boasts time spent at Terroirs and sister restaurant Soif, then Six Portland Road – all of which were highly regarded European-inspired London restaurants serving up robust and tasty food, with an emphasis on meat and wine.
When’s it opening?
The restaurant will open for friends and family on 13th November, then Pascal and Laura aim to open to the public on 16th November.
I’m excited about this one…
Pompette
7 South Parade, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7JL
www.pompetterestaurant.co.uk
Bookings: info@pompetterestaurant.co.uk
Facebook: /pompetterestaurant
Twitter: @Pompetterestau1
Instagram: @pompetterestaurant
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