Rare Restaurants launches new sister brand, the Crane Tap

Rare Restaurants, the hospitality group behind Gaucho and M Restaurants, has launched a new sister brand called the Crane Tap.

The first site opened yesterday in London’s Twickenham on the banks of the River Crane and aims at being a “friendly neighbourhood hangout”.

The menu showcases dishes by ‘M’, a ‘Gaucho’ beef offering, and burgers inspired by the group’s lockdown delivery service Meat & Bun (by Gaucho).

Highlights from the a la carte menu include a chicken schnitzel, ginger baked cod, sweet potato rendang and a Burmese chicken salad. The Gaucho and M specials will focus on Argentine beef, for example a wagyu scotch egg, a beef and Malbec pie, and a steaks including rump, spiral cut rump marinated in chimichurri, and ribeye. The menu also includes a Crane club sandwich, a Tap burger, a karaage chicken burger and a vegan burger using a Beyond Meat patty. There is also a weekend brunch menu.

The Crane Tap bar has a range of sparkling, wines, spirits and local beers from Twickenham and Wimbledon breweries. A selection of wines, beers and cocktails are served ‘by tap’ – including espresso and passionfruit martinis.

The 80-cover restaurant has been decorated with vibrant artwork and colourful soft furnishings, while the 80-cover bar area has low-level seating, bar stools, and a large, shared table, as well as a pool table and 'hidden' TVs for guests to watch major sporting games and matches. There is also a covered terrace and outdoor seating area.

Martin Williams, chief executive of Rare Restaurants, said: “The opening of ‘the Crane Tap’ marks the start of an exciting growth period for all our restaurant brands and can only be attributed to the talents of the teams and the guest loyalty we enjoy at Gaucho and M.”