The House of Ho’s new flagship restaurant will open on 1st December 2015 on Percy Street, W1, with new Chef Director Ian Pengelley at the kitchen helm. Set in an impressive four-storey townhouse, The House of Ho will offer a contemporary, Vietnamese take on a bygone colonial era.
The House of Ho will be open for lunch, dinner and drinks, seven days a week, the restaurant will offer modern Vietnamese in a stylish and relaxed setting. The menu is inspired by Ian Pengelley’s extensive travels to Vietnam where he was influenced by the use of fresh ingredients and careful balance of aromatics. Dishes from the menu will include ‘Pho Bo’ (a hot and cold Pho) – Pho bo jelly, warm clear stock, waygu short rib carved at the table and Asian herbs to finish, Minced pork grilled on lemongrass skewers served with a caramel sauce and crab salad and Lemongrass free range chicken with chicken scratchings and a sweet caramel glaze. Also on the menu are Fresh giant prawns, cooked in a flaming hot pot and served with Vietnamese greens and rice noodles, Hanoi grilled red snapper served with rice noodles, cha ca ma noi and fresh herbs and Lapsang souchon smoked rainbow trout with starfruit, jack fruit, green mango and a lime and chilli salad.
The first two floors will house the restaurant, with a contemporary Vietnamese menu and fresh seafood bar. A secret wine room is hidden off from the first floor landing; the walls will be lined with fine wines for private tastings and events. The House of Ho will have three further private dining rooms; Hanoi, Mirror Room and Ho Chi Minh which will all be available for private hire and include LED screens for presentations and the facilities for small conferences or board room meetings.
The Ho Lounge Bar, situated on the third floor will be open seven days a week for drinks. The drinks list will present a modern assortment of wines, beer and soft drinks, along with a carefully curated selection of spirits – with a focus on craft spirits, small distilleries and producers. The Cocktail List will be Asian inspired and will include Rumgroni – a blend of Bacardi heritage, Aperol, M.Rosso / Gran Lusso and orange zest, East & West – Patron Reposado, Kamm & Sons, sake and a drop of mezcal and Pho Mary – a blend of Belvedere, wasabi, pho flavor sauce, tomato juice and matcha tea to serve.
The restaurant and bar interiors, designed by Studio Minerva will be reminiscent of a bygone colonial era; high ceilings adorned with whirring fans, a breezy open terrace and a collection of rooms each with a unique sense of character. Modern touches include the restaurant’s cool light
grey walls, green leather and velvet banquette seating and Tom Dixon wall lights. Original ceiling architraves, cornicing and classic Victorian staircase balance out the contemporary touches and remind guests of the building’s history.
Joining Ian Pengelley at The House of Ho will be new owner Jeff Lim, and Ladislav Piljar, previously General Manager at Bam-Bou who will continue in this role.
The original House of Ho restaurant on Old Compton Street has now rebranded to ‘Ho’ – a modern twist on the sights, sounds and aromas of a Vietnamese kitchen. Ho offers a contemporary Vietnamese menu, full in colour, intense in taste, using the freshest of ingredients in a relaxed and open setting.
Jeff Lim, COO of The House of Ho said: “We are excited to be opening our new flagship restaurant, The House of Ho and I’m delighted to welcome Ian Pengelley to the Group as Chef Director. He has made a significant contribution to pan-Asian food in the London restaurant scene and will bring a wealth of experience to both Percy Street and Ho.”
Ian Pengelley, Chef Director of The House of Ho comments: “I’m delighted to join The House of Ho and Ho Group, it’s an exciting time for us and I’m delighted to be back in the kitchen and running the pass at our flagship restaurant. We’ve created a great modern Vietnamese menu, so I’m excited to open the doors and welcome guests from 1st December.”