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Park Lane oyster bar defies crunch
Benedict Moore-Bridger01.10.08
A leading restaurateur is defying the current economic gloom by launching a specialist oyster and seafood bar in Mayfair.
Ollie Couillaud is to open The Oyster Bar as part of his restuarant Bord'eaux in Grosvenor House in Park Lane.
Mr Couillaud, who has worked in some of the city's most well-known restaurants including La Trompette, The Square, Chez Bruce and more recently Tom's Kitchen, said he was confident the bar would not be hit by the falling markets.
He told the Standard: "It will not affect us. October is looking incredible for bookings, and we are already taking bookings for Christmas too. All we can do is make sure the quality of what we have stands up.
"You don't have control over the world economies but you have to hope that as long as the quality is there, you will be fine. You always worry a little bit but there are enough people in London who like eating out and like good food for us to succeed."
The bar, modelled on similar Parisian versions, will sit adjoining Couillaud's upmarket brasserie inside the Mayfair hotel. As well as rock and native Scottish oysters, the bar will offer lobsters and a range of other shellfish. Fish - as well as expensive Sturgeon caviar - will also be available.
The oysters are from Loch Ryan in southwest Scotland. Farmer Tristan Hugh-Jones says he delivers them fresh every day to the restaurant. "I can get a call at midnight from Ollie and have oysters with him first thing in the morning," said Mr Hugh-Jones.
The pair believe the quality of the produce will guarantee them success.
A dozen native oysters with shallot vinaigrette, brown bread and Charentais butter and chorizo will set you back £26.50. Le Royal, comprising six oysters, prawns, whelks, winkles, shrimps, a dressed crab, six almond clams and six langoustines, costs £70.
"The whole thing here is we want people to have fun. They can sit at the bar, see the products, chat with us about them - that is why people will keep coming back," said Mr Couillaud.
The Oyster Bar at Bord'eaux opens on Friday.
