Ed and Ollie Templeton, the brothers behind influential chef residency showcase Carousel in Fitzrovia, will next week open an ambitious Mexican seafood restaurant on the same site. Cometa – pitched as a “contemporary take on Mexican seafood, seen through a distinctly British lens” – is taking over the space currently occupied by the Carousel wine bar.
Ed says: “There’s been a Mexican heartbeat to our kitchen for several years now, so opening Cometa felt like the natural next step for us. We hope it will become a much-loved destination for diners in search of some of the best seafood in London.“
Among several Mexican chefs who have showcased their cooking at Carousel in recent years, the most prominent was probably Santiago Lastra, who went on to open hit London restaurants Kol and Fonda.
Cometa (Spanish for ‘comet’) is said to be influenced by venues like Contramar in Mexico City and The Four Horsemen in New York, with dishes including ceviches, aguachiles, crab chilpachole rice with brown butter, and lobster with chintextle (a smoked chilli paste). Ollie will run the kitchen with Carousel chefs José Lizarralde Serralde and Alejandra Juarez.
The drinks list features the likes of a spicy margarita, mezcal old fashioneds and homemade agua frescas.
Cometa opens next Friday, 20 February at 19-23 Charlotte Street.