Last Updated on September 24, 2020
Go West to Golborne Road to check out Cha Cha x Sister Jane
Perhaps the ultimate lifestyle dining concept is to put your restaurant in the heart of a unique fashion boutique. The kind of place that out-of-towners might hear about from their City friends and aspire to visit. Cha Cha has done just that by teaming up with Sister Jane, taking over the ground floor of the Sister Jane headquarters, while the retail store sits on the first floor. So, you can browse the stunning vintage influenced collection upstairs then pop down to Cha Cha for a bite to eat.
It’s a remarkable and cohesive space with stunning interiors throughout the building, designed by Sella Concept. The kind of head office that you wouldn’t want to be furloughed from, with beautiful bespoke furnishings teamed with hand-picked vintage pieces from the 1970s including Gio Ponti chairs and Guz-zine pendants.
The amazing bar is perfect for people watching – and I get the feeling this is the kind of place where beautiful people will want to hang out. Nevertheless, all of that matters not if the food and drinks are not up to scratch. I was invited along to find out more – and started the evening wishing I’d had enough time to pick out a vintage frock from the showroom so that I blended into the surroundings just a little better!
We started, as everyone should, with a glass of champagne.
There’s an all-day dining menu at Cha Cha with a more extensive set of options in the evening. Everything is designed for sharing – and everything sounds truly delicious. We picked a few of the sharing plates as a first course and enjoyed feasting on the beautifully Instagrammable plates of food.
Crispy squid with coriander and chilli was perfectly cooked with not a hint of rubberiness and with just the right balance of kick from the chilli and tang from the coriander.
Salt cod croquettes with jalapenos mayo were light, delicately salty and full of flaky fish. Perfect.
We ordered a plate of beetroot carpaccio with melon Campari and hazelnuts more out of intrigue than necessity. I’m now a convert and this dainty plate of finely sliced beet with crunchy nuts and a fragrant melon and Campari sauce will be mandatory when I visit again. Washing everything down with a bottle of Cipreses Vineyard 2018 Sauvignon Blanc from Chile suggested by the restaurant seemed like an excellent idea. This wine is regarded as the top Sauvignon Blanc from Chile and one of the best in the world. It’s fresh and fruity with a lovely citrus and saline note. Delicious. Cha Cha x Sister has a short but beautifully formed wine and cocktail list complemented by some interesting spirits (tequila, mescal and pisco sit alongside the gins and whiskies) – next time I’m definitely trying one of the sharing cocktails!
For mains, we ordered chargrilled boneless baby chicken with ginger garlic and lime – a nod to Asian cuisine – it arrived with a delicious sticky gingery char from the Robata, tender and moist inside.
Dover sole with burnt butter and capers was neatly presented, on the bone but with skin and head removed, and perfectly cooked. Another great, light dish to enjoy.
Sides of new potatoes with chilli and avocado mousse and tenderstem with almonds and romesco sauce completed a perfect main course. By which time we were very, very full.
Cha Cha x Sister Jane
36 Golborne Road
London, W10 5P
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