The Athens-born chef, who spent 13 years at Michelin-starred Pied à Terre in Fitzrovia, will launch Myrtos in South Kensington in May.
Named after the island of Kefalonia’s most famous beach, the 80-cover restaurant will take inspiration from its natural beauty and will champion ingredients and recipes from across Greece, including metsovone, a smoked cheese from the Alpine village of Metsovo in the north of the country
The menu will feature a selection of small plates, drawing on traditional mezze, such as taramosalata, finished with trout roe and dill oil; fava, a dip made from split peas, onions, olive oil and lemon; cured bonito fish; and homemade bread such as pita; olive studded focaccia; and sourdough.
It will also include larger dishes designed to be shared, such as lobster giouvetsi with orzo, tomatoes, mussels, lemon and basil; and pink bream served with a five-herb, lettuce and lemon sauce. A range of skewers will include lamb belly and pickled turnip; savoy cand Tzatziki; and fried whole squid served with a Greek herb chimichurri and squid ink.
Desserts will continue to showcase ingredients that are integral to the Mediterranean diet such as yoghurt parfait with caramelised almonds; and a pistachio cake made using pistachios grown on the island of Aegina.
There will also be a dedicated cheese trolley of exclusively Greek cheeses such as smoked gais; mizithra; and krasotyri, served alongside olive stick bread, sour cherry spoon sweet preserves and dried figs.
The drinks offer will feature cocktails from Line in Athens, ranked as one of the World’s 50 Best Bars including a Mediterranean Martini made with kalamata olives, lemon and thyme; a Spiced Pomegranate Mule; and Bloody Mary made with sun-dried Greek tomatoes, red beetroot molasses, samphire and vodka.
“Myrtos is a deeply personal project inspired by my upbringing and childhood holidays in Kefalonia,” says Chaniotis.
“Opening my first restaurant is an amazing feeling, bringing to life the flavours I grew up with and the dishes that shaped my journey as a chef.
“South Kensington felt like the perfect location as it was my first home in London and a neighbourhood I have always loved.
“I hope Myrtos transports guests to Greece, evoking the nostalgia of being there without leaving London.”
Myrtos will open in May on Brompton Road.