AT LAST Dalston is to get a high-standard restaurant. One of England’s leading chefs, former Ell Bulli intern and Michelin-star-holder Nuno Mendes, has exclusively revealed his E8 plans to Loving Dalston.

Nuno Mendes says that his Loft Project, a scheme devoted to the encouragement of fine cuisine, will open a restaurant on the second floor of Fitzroy House in Abbot Street, London E8 3DP, in March 2012. Planning permission will be sought from Hackney council before Christmas.

Mendes and his team this month launched the pre-Christmas night market and pop-up restaurant in the car park below Fitzroy House. Its success exceeded expectations. Mendes said: “We catered for 2,200 and, sadly, many people who came between 7 and 9 o’clock walked away, discouraged by the crush. We eventually closed at 1am.”

When it opens, the Loft Project in Fitzroy House will take 16 to 18 dinner bookings on Thursday, Fridays and Saturday and for lunch 45 to 100. A high-quality community canteen will be provided by Electrolux. Vegetarian needs will be accommodated.

Of the pop-up, Mendes added: “Annoyingly, people had to wait to get in. For next Friday [2 Dec. 2011] we are going to have more stalls where the public queue, so that people can nibble or find something of interest while they are waiting to get in.”

David Altheer 261111

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