Virgilio Martinez to open Peruvian restaurant Lima in Fitzrovia

London will see the arrival of a new Peruvian restaurant this year, with the opening of Lima in the spring.

Set to open in Fitzrovia at the end of May, the restaurant is the first London venture from Virgilio Martinez (pictured), chef-patron of the Central fine-dining restaurant in Lima, and his partners the Gonzales brothers.

Named after its capital, Lima will be a modern, fine-dining restaurant, showcasing the globally-influenced cuisine of Peru, with a focus on seafood including ceviche.

The 80-seat restaurant will be spread over two floors featuring a bar area, offering Peru's signature Pisco cocktail and an informal menu, as well as a 40-seat formal dining room.

The kitchen will be headed up by Robert Ortis, with general manager Gabriel Gonzales managing the restaurant. Interiors will be developed by March & White, featuring organic and natural elements including wood.

Commenting on the launch, Martinez told Catererandhotelkeeper.com: "We want to give a few examples of traditional Peruvian cuisine but we also want to show what's happening in Lima right now. In the past five years there has been a huge development in the restaurant scene there, which is really cosmopolitan now.

"We will work with local suppliers here but I have many local producers in Peru and I want to bring some of their amazing produce here such as organic cacao, coffee, chilli, herbs and potatoes that people here in London don't know about."

Martinez previously worked in London at the Ritz as well as in Spain at the late Santi Santamaria's three-Michelin-starred Can Fabes and at Astrid y Gaston in Madrid where he was executive chef. In 2008, he opened Central in Lima.

Lima will be the second Peruvian restaurant to open in London this year after Ceviche, which will open in March.

London's first ceviche restaurant to open >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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