Centred on the modern cuisine of America’s Pacific West Coast, SO|LA describes itself as bringing ‘a taste of California to London, via LA’. It serves tasting menus, spanning lunch and pre-theatre as well as dinner, with a wine list that focuses on North American labels, with a particular emphasis on California, showcasing both celebrated estates and emerging vineyards across the region.
In its new Notting Hill location, the restaurant will offer a more intimate experience, going from 26 seats down to 12 and offering a ‘more ambitious evolution of the concept’.
As a smaller operation, Garvey says he will have more time to develop dishes, adding a sense of ‘playfulness and surprise’ to the SO|LA menu. Signature dishes such as the langoustine with ginger dashi and the salmon roulade will remain but are set to be amplified.
An updated wine list, almost double the size of SO|LA Soho, will feature more than 200 references, all from the US, curated by Cristian Vega.
The restaurant first opened in 2019, winning itself a Michelin star in 2021 and a spot at number 39 in the National Restaurant Awards as well as three AA rosettes.
“Soho is where SO|LA started and Notting Hill is where it will evolve,” says Garvey.
“I have loved every minute of being in Soho and I am thankful to all those who have supported me, but, after seeing how happy interacting with all of the MATER1A guests on a nightly basis has made me, I have realised that our future lies in a more tailored, intimate experience, and a new chapter for SOLA awaits - the best is yet to come.
“We have spent the last 2 months building a beautiful chef’s counter restaurant where a maximum of 12 diners can eat at a time- this allows us to really stretch our culinary legs and push the boat out, creatively.”
SO|LA Soho will close on 6 June and SO|LA Notting Hill will open on 17 June.
The move follows the opening of MATER1A in February this year.