Deftly manipulating a muted palette of blacks and greys, art director and former Wallpaper* stylist Despina Curtis has conjured another one of the elegant, minimal interiors for which she is becoming known. Quietly dramatic, were it not for the lush, wraparound olive green velvet banquette and Chinoiserie-lite hand-printed wallpaper, the black wood panelling, sculptural tables and chairs might not look out of place in deepest Helsinki.
This understated sophistication sets the scene for Izlinda Baharom’s menu of delicate Malaysian favourites, taught to her by her grandmother. As befits a country home to many cultures, this means a mixture of traditional Sichuan, Singaporean, Indian and ethnic Malay dishes like fried boneless chicken, crispy cereal king prawns, roti canai with chicken curry and rendang beef. Zheng gives particular emphasis on Chinese-Malay specialities like stir-fried Char Keuy Teow noodles and its selection of new and old world wines, chosen by Baharom’s husband and general manager Adam Abdallah, a graduate of Taipei’s Michelin-starred Din Tai Fung, is perfectly paired.
The Chelsea premises marks the couple’s first foray into the capital but devotees will be relieved that the menu, honed since 2014 at their Oxford restaurant remains faithful (minus the dim sum), to the original.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
4 Sydney Street
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt was a jam-packed week for the Wallpaper* staff, entailing furniture, tech and music launches and lots of good food – from afternoon tea to omakase
-
Peugeot brings back a classic performance badge for the electric era: meet the E-208 GTiPeugeot has unveiled the new E-208 GTi, a performance EV designed to hark back to a golden age of compact sports cars
-
This 18th-century Puglian villa has been restored with contemporary touchesThe updated stonemason's workshop is a haven of centuries-old brick and sophisticated made-in-Italy design
-
This Hackney bar is reviving London’s legacy of lesbian spacesDesigned by Studio Popelo, La Camionera emerges as a vital sanctuary for London’s FLINTA* community, honouring it right down to the details
-
Time-travel to the golden age of the cruise ship at Sea Containers LondonThe South Bank hotel celebrates its tenth anniversary with four new suites inspired by period cabin design, from Edwardian elegance to 1980s glamour
-
Twin Peaks’ Double R Diner is coming to London (for a day)Mubi marks Twin Peaks’ 35th anniversary with pop-up diner and streaming release
-
Ukrainian restaurant Sino adds to London's diverse food culture with warming traditions that feel familiar yet newPronounced see-no, the new Ukrainian restaurant in Notting Hill, by Polina Sychova and chef Eugene Korolev, is built on the intimate relationship between people and nature – offering beauty in simplicity
-
Art, pasta and maritozzi: this is Locatelli at the National GalleryChef Giorgio Locatelli is the National Gallery’s new Italian master with the latest chapter of his beloved London restaurant
-
A local’s guide to London – Climax Books founder Isabella Burley’s favourite hauntsCreative consultant Isabella Burley credits growing up in the English capital with shaping who she is today. She takes us on a tour of some significant spots
-
This new London restaurant is a Greek island idyll on a plateMyrtos by Asimakis is a flavoursome ode to Kefalonia, conceptualised by Vernon Viljoen and Block1:Design
-
Late-night spring shopping comes to London’s Chiltern StreetOn Thursday 22 May, those in London can enjoy the Chiltern Street Spring Shopping Evening, including a programme of in-store drinks, offers and workshops
