Latest news with #MasayoshiTakayama
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Iconic UK department store to shut TWO celebrity chef restaurants after fish & chips slammed over ‘ridiculous' cost
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ICONIC UK department store is set to axe three celebrity chef restaurants at the end of the month. Harrods will shutter Masayoshi Takayama's Sushi by Masa, Tom Kerridge's Fish and Chips and Calum Franklin's The Georgian by the beginning of September. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Gordon Ramsay's Gordon Ramsay Burger will close on January 11 next year Credit: Getty 2 Kerridge Fish Chips, which sets punters back £37, will close at the end of the month Credit: Jam Press Vid The change means that Kerridge will no longer sell his fish and chips with the controversial £37 price tag, which some critics labelled as "pretentious". The swanky central London store also announced the end of its partnership with Gordon Ramsay Burger. However, the latter will continue waving in punters until January 11, 2026. Harrods said the switch up was triggered by a change in industry trends, including a spike in punters eating earlier in the evening. Data from OpenTable shows that 6pm reservations are up 11 per cent in London and 6 per cent across Britain. However, the glitzy Knightsbridge spot will remain home to a handful of delicious eateries, including Pasta Evangelists and Kinoya Ramen Bar, which was created in Dubai by chef Neha Mishra. Michael Ward, the managing director of Harrods, said: 'As part of Harrods' considered customer approach, we took the decision a number of months ago to review feedback and data to ensure our in-store experience is delivering against customers' evolving preferences. 'Harrods has a rich history of serving the finest food and drink and we are constantly progressing our dining offerings. 'We'd like to thank all the fantastic chefs that we have been very privileged to work with over the last few years for their partnership. 'Together we have served many thousands of diners from shoppers to families and friends celebrating special moments in our restaurants.' Pub chain collapses into administration as SIX sites shut their doors for good and 159 job losses The closures come after a Michelin chef and Sky TV star announced the shock closure of his Harrods pop-up just eight months after it opened. The project was one of five new food joints launched by the chef in the past year. Hot Dogs by Three Darlings, owned by high profile chef Jason Atherton, was a gourmet hot dog concept in Harrods Dining Hall but it has unfortunately shut up shop. The restaurant concept for "haute" dogs was introduced to the posh department store in summer but closed before it made its first birthday. Hot Dogs by Three Darlings took over the space from Sushi by Masa and will now delegate the site to Caviar Bar. The new pop-up promises to provide a "new level of indulgence" and offers an eye-watering £75 lobster cocktail. South Yorkshire-born Jason also runs a selection of well-received restaurants including Pollen Street Social, which has won numerous awards including a Michelin star and Row on 45, which has snapped up two Michelin stars.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Celeb chefs shown the door at Harrods as part of a new shake-up to improve dining
A number of celebrity chefs have been hit by Harrods' latest plan to make the department store a go-to destination in London for eating out as customers leave scathing reviews on high-end restaurants Luxury department store Harrods has long been a home not only to designer fashion and high-end cosmetics but also to some of the world 's most prestigious and celebrity-led eateries. But now, the iconic Knightsbridge institution is making big changes to its culinary offering - and not everyone is surviving the cut. In a move that's sent shockwaves through the fine-dining world, Harrods has reportedly axed several big-name chefs and their signature menus from its food halls and restaurant spaces, as part of a major reshuffle aimed at elevating the in-store dining experience. Harrods have said the shake-up comes amid customer experiences and reviews, adding that they are investing in a number of new developments across their luxury department store. Over the years, Harrods has housed an enviable lineup of culinary heavyweights - from Michelin-starred chefs to household celebrity names. Here's a look at some of the biggest names who've previously had a presence at Harrods, and whose partnerships may no longer feature. Masayoshi Takayama The clear-out begins this Saturday with the closure of Sushi by Masa, from New York-based Masayoshi Takayama. Masa is a Japanese chef and the owner of Masa, a three-Michelin-starred Japanese and sushi restaurant in Manhattan, New York City. The Harrods restaurant has a star rating of just 3.7 out of 5, with one diner writing: "The sushi isn't much better than what you get in the supermarket, for 10 times the price." Another said: "My wife ordered 7 pieces of sushi, an avocado salad, and a small cocktail - £100." Gordon Ramsay The iconic British celebrity chef has a restaurant in Harrods simply called Gordon Ramsay Burger, serving up a range of cheeseburgers, tasty veggie burgers and spicy chicken burgers all crafted by the Michelin-star chef. But according to reports, the restaurant will be the last to go, with a closing date of January 11 2026 in place. And if Google reviews are anything to go by, the restaurant doesn't appear highly rated. With a total of 3.7 out of 5 stars, one diner wrote: "We tried the Hell's Kitchen Burger - they didn't even ask how we wanted it cooked. It came well-done, dry and rubbery. The Oklahoma Smash? No caramelisation, no flavour, just chewy meat pretending to be premium." Another said: "While the prices are quite high, the quality of the burger and lobster roll fell far short of Gordon's usual standard." Tom Kerridge The Michelin-starred chef known for his modern British cooking had an outlet called Kerridge's Fish & Chips inside Harrods' Dining Hall. The posh fish and chips shop is set to vanish by the end of the month, with more bad ratings on Google dubbing it 3 stars out of 5. One diner wrote: "It felt a bit over-priced, even though it's in a fancy department store.. The atmosphere of the restaurant didn't really impress me either." Another said: "Very underwhelming to be honest... the fish itself was the skinniest flattest bit of fish I'd seen, the batter was very thin also, not much crisp to it, was like the frozen batter you get from a Youngs frozen fish." Jason Atherton Known for his refined approach to global cuisine, the chef had a restaurant called Harrods Social by Jason Atherton, focusing on "hearty, locally-sourced food". Jason is a Michelin star and multiple award-winning Chef with 16 restaurants around the world. But his collaboration with Harrods ultimately closed down last year, being transformed into the Harrods Cafe instead. Björn Frantzén Superstar Swedish chef Björn Frantzén ended his tenure at Harrods at the end of last year. An Instagram post confirmed the closure. "We are in the process of closing our Harrods location and relocating to a new venue, with the grand opening scheduled for the summer of 2025." The Grill on Fifth replaced the restaurant, which was called Studio Frantzén London and focused on gastronomy with Asian influences. Harrods statement Harrods issued a statement saying it was in the process of "rebalancing its F&B offering in store to be led by Harrods-owned restaurant concepts offering all-day dining options for customers", following a strategic review and reflecting the current trend toward dining earlier in the evening. Harrods' managing director Michael Ward said: "As part of Harrods' considered customer approach, we took the decision a number of months ago to review feedback and data to ensure our in-store experience is delivering against customers' evolving preferences. "Harrods has a rich history of serving the finest food and drink and we are constantly progressing our dining offerings. We'd like to thank all the fantastic chefs that we have been very privileged to work with over the last few years for their partnership. "Together we have served many thousands of diners from shoppers to families and friends celebrating special moments in our restaurants. We are currently investing in a number of new developments across both our retail and F&B offerings within store and look forward to welcoming our customers into these in the near future."
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time Out
One of the world's best sushi restaurants is coming to London
Sushi heads, you're in for a treat. Chef Masayoshi Takayama – the man who launched one of New York's most influential sushi restaurants, Masa – is set to open his first ever proper London restaurant. Tobi Masa will open at Mayfair's Chancery Rosewood hotel – aka the former US Embassy – in September. It'll be serving up some of Masa's signature dishes such as Masa toro tartare and peking duck tacos, as well as a host of brand new dishes, unique to the London opening. You can currently get a little taste of things to come at Sushi by MASA in the Harrods dining hall, but this outpost is set to close in the autumn. Masa opened in New York in 2004 and is one of the most expensive restaurants in America, with the omakase offering set at $750 (£553) per person (and that's before drinks, tax and tip!). It also offers a chef's table experience for $950 (£701) per person. Oof. Masa has held three Michelin stars since 2009, which maybe justifies the cost. Maybe?! Prices for Tobi Masa have yet to be confirmed, but we can't imagine it'll be cheap. 'I'm so proud to be partnering with a creative and innovative brand like Rosewood. We are very excited to embark on this new adventure together, and especially in such a historic landmark building in the middle of Mayfair,' said Takayama of the new opening. Tobi means 'to fly' and draws its inspiration from the 10-foot high, 30-foot wide eagle on top of the building, which has been there since the site, built by architect Eero Saarinen, opened in 1960. The Chancery Rosewood hotel is set to open on September 1. It'll feature 139 rooms, five retail spaces and a 750-guest ballroom. It's also set to be home to a London edition of legendary New York dining spot Carbone. The best sushi restaurants in London, according to Time Out.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tobi Masa: New York's celebrated Masayoshi Takayama is bringing his three-star sushi to the Chancery Rosewood
One of the most influential figures in modern Japanese cuisine, Masayoshi 'Masa' Takayama, is to open a standalone restaurant in London for the first time. Tobi Masa will launch at the Chancery Rosewood hotel in September, where Masa will bring his famous sushi, snacks and small plates to the new Mayfair hotel. The Standard understands the restaurant will be a continuation of Masa's self-titled restaurant in New York, which, with encouragement from the legendary American chef Thomas Keller, he opened in 2004 and which has held three Michelin stars since 2009. Soon after opening in NYC, the New York Times said Masa 'changed the sushi game', introducing a new style of omakase to the city, combining fish from Japan with luxury ingredients such as white truffle, caviar, and foie gras. Wagyu beef is almost a staple, while the price of a meal starts at around $1,000 per head before drinks and service charge, according to US media. That same high-end concept is to be brought to London at Tobi (which loosely translates as 'to fly') Masa and the chef promised equal precision, minimalism, and fine ingredients as are used across the Atlantic. The menu at the upcoming restaurant will feature some of the dishes that helped define the original, including tuna tartare with caviar and Peking duck tacos, alongside new creations developed for London. 'I'm so proud to be partnering with a creative and innovative brand like Rosewood,' said Masa, who featured on an episode of Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown in 2016, showing the US chef around his native Japan. 'We are very excited to embark on this new adventure together, and especially in such a historic landmark building in the middle of Mayfair.' The move marks Masa's second foray into London. The chef is also behind Sushi by Masa, a more casual, less high-profile sushi experience at Harrods department store, though the Standard understands this contract is to finish in October and so the Rosewood will be his only UK operation. The much-anticipated hotel is located in the former US Embassy in Mayfair and Tobi Masa is expected to be one of many new restaurants at the site. One is another New York import, the celebrity-filled Italian-American restaurant Carbone (a favourite of Barack Obama) and which is also set to open in the autumn. Tobi Masa is to open at The Chancery Rosewood in September 2025 in line with the hotel. 30 Grosvenor Square W1K,
