Modern Iranian restaurant Nutshell to open in Westminster next week

Modern Iranian restaurant Nutshell is to open its doors on London's St Martin's Lane on 31 July.

The restaurant, which is the brainchild of Marwa Alkhalaf and Mohammad Paknejad, will put a new twist on homely classics under the direction of head chef Jeremy Borrow, previously of the Palomar.

Bazaar bread will be baked to order in-house, while mast-o khiar will incorporate roasted pistachio, rose petals, strained yogurt, finely diced cucumber and sumac.

Menus will also feature josh pareh, an Iranian beef dumpling dish, as well as khoresht bademjan, a stew made of pearl onions, split chickpeas and aubergine.

For dessert Nutshell will serve up a Persian sundae of zesty lemon, sour cherry and basil, as well as chocolate and roses with salted pistachios and cardamom.

A drinks list has been developed inspired by the sweet sherbet visitors are welcomed to a friend's home with, which will come through in the use of syrups, spices and herbs. For example, the Silk Road gimlet will be made of Tanqueray Rangpur gin, green cardamom and Persian lime cordial.

The design of the restaurant, which takes its name from the pistachio orchards farmed by Paknejad's family, has been influenced by Persian patterns and a palette of greens and pinks.

Nutshell will be open for dinner from 31 July with a lunch service added from 5 August.

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