Story Cellar | A First-Class Rotisserie Style Restaurant in Covent Garden
Tom Sellers has a good story.
And we don’t just mean his two Michelin star restaurant, Story. Although that’s great too. No, we’re referring to his actual journey from being expelled from school at 16, to slogging away in pub kitchens, to being mentored by the likes of Tom Aikens & Rene Redzepi, and then finally opening his own restaurant in central London at the tender age of just 26. And winning his first Michelin Star in his first year.
Well, now he’s opened another restaurant.
This is Story Cellar, and it feels like a more casual offshoot of his fine-diner. Instead of tasting menus, everything here is centred around the carnal satisfaction of rotisserie chicken, steak and grilled fish.
You’ll find it on a colourful corner of Neal’s Yard, right next door to The Barbary (but not, just to confuse matters, next door to The Barbary Next Door). It’s set across two floors, with with counter dining on glossy marble right next to the fragrant racks of rotating poultry, while downstairs you’ll find the walk-in wine cellar and a few plushly appointed tables with crimson-coloured banquettes for those who want a more laid-back meal.
The man responsible for making sure those chickens are as succulent, crispy, and perfectly roasted as possible is Sellers’ longtime sous chef at Restaurant Story, Stephen Naylor, who’s heading up the kitchen here. But he & Tom have also taken the liberty of adding a few fancier offerings to the menu too, including snail bolognaise on toast with wild garlic butter; Dorset crab with some freshly made linguine; a sizeable grass-fed blue grey rib of beef; and a dry-aged pork chop with brandy pickled dates.
Taking advantage of the fact that they’re opposite Neal’s Yard Dairy, they’ve strolled across the road to snatch up some Neal’s Yard cheeses too, then topped off everything with a dessert menu that features almond & dill soft serve, and a bread & butter pudding with tonka & orange custard. And of course, that wine cellar isn’t exactly empty, so expect an expanded version of the Restaurant Story wine list to pick from, too.
Last but not least, being located in primo theatre territory with a particularly quick & convenient primary menu offering, believe it or not there’s also a speedy pre-theatre menu every day, too.
In case you want to take in another story on your night out.
NOTE: Story Cellar is open now. You can find out more and make a booking at the website right here.
Story Cellar | 17 Neal’s Yard, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9DP
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