Two-Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi (Bibendum) and restaurateur Samyukta Nair (Jamavar) have formed a rather epic partnership to launch their Mayfair restaurant Socca, located on South Audley Street. Occupying what was once the home of French-British tea room Richoux, Socca pays homage to the coastal towns of Cannes, Marseille and Nice with an emphasis on French-Mediterranean cuisine and wines by the glass.
Samyukta and designer Tom Strother from Fabled Studio have worked together to reimagine the iconic building (which survived World War Two) into a modern bistro that draws inspiration from classic French establishments, while still leaving many of its bespoke features intact. Guests are led through a charming hallway entrance into an elegant dining room, inspired by the whimsical stylings of Villa Santo Sospir. The room is warmly lit with scallop shell lights and features banquette seating upholstered in deep navy leather separated with warm timber paneling, to create a cosy and intimate dining space. While the team want the restaurant to be elegant, they are also looking to create a space that inspires conviviality and joy.
Meanwhile, the menu focusses on simplicity and seasonality, serving comforting dishes that still showcase an element of refined skill. Claude, who designed the menu, has drawn on his childhood memories spent in the South of France to create a series of family-style, traditional, home-cooked dishes made for sharing. All of which will draw on the pair’s nurtured relationships with growers and producers over the years.
Claude commented: ‘It has been a dream of mine to open a bistro in Mayfair for as long as I can remember. It is such a pleasure to be fulfilling this with my dear friend Sam.’
Sam says: ‘My family and I have known Claude since we exchanged hands at the former Hibiscus site five years ago and since then have remained firm friends. I am so excited to open our restaurant together, and share our love for beautifully prepared home comforts in the heart of Mayfair.'
Socca is the fifth restaurant from LSL Capital, following Koyn, Jamavar, Bombay Bustle and MiMi Mei Fair.