US equity group Blackstone is in talks with renowned French chef Joël Robuchon to create a twin to his new Paris restaurant, L'Atelier, in the London Marriott Grosvenor Square hotel.
Robuchon won three Michelin stars for his Paris restaurant, Jamin, which he closed seven years ago to retire at the age of 51.
He returned to the restaurant scene this summer with the opening of L'Atelier in Paris's Hôtel Pont Royal. The restaurant represents a sharp departure from traditional dining - the no-reservations policy mean customers must queue to get in and the 42 seats are arranged along a breakfast bar-style counter built around an open-plan kitchen. The focus is on simplicity and getting the food from chef to diner as speedily as possible.
John Ceriale, hotel advisor at Blackstone, said the talks were at a very early stage but he believed that, if all went according to plan, the new restaurant could open next autumn. He said it would "fairly closely" follow the format of the French restaurant, which he described as "really spectacular".
The new restaurant will replace the 70-seat Diplomat restaurant at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square.
Speculation has suggested that Robuchon protégé Gordon Ramsay will be involved in setting up the infrastructure for the new restaurant, but Ceriale said that if there were such an agreement, it would be between Ramsay and Robuchon and not the hotel.
A spokesperson for Ramsay said the rumours were "unsubstantiated".
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 23 - 29 October 2003