In the last week of January, Kew newcomer Cotham Dining quietly opened in the long-vacant Hellenic Republic site. The owners, chefs Ayhan Erkoc and Federico Perez Lopez, bring their Turkish and Colombian heritage to the table. The duo worked together for five years at Panama Dining Room and Feast of Merit before branching out on their own.
At 150 seats a la carte (and event space for 100) it’s a huge venue for two first-time owners — even with their combined 40 years of experience, but Erkoc and Perez Lopez couldn’t say no. “From the moment we saw it, it was like, where do we sign,’ Perez Lopez says. “It was a bit destroyed, but we knew we could put a bit of effort in and clean it up.”
The dining room now has a rustic and bright interior and exposed brick, featuring large tables with room for plenty of food, closely surrounded by lush greenery. The chefs decided to keep the wooden roof detailing from the previous venue. “It adds such character to the restaurant,” said Perez Lopez.
Going big meant Erkoc and Perez Lopez could replicate the large family meals they grew up eating. “The whole concept of the restaurant is based on family and sharing and the relaxing environment you have at home,” Perez Lopez says. They’re cooking up range of culturally rich dishes taking influence from Turkey, Colombia, South America and the Middle East.
Staffing issues scuppered early plans for breakfast service, at least for now. Much of the lunch/dinner menu is cooked over woodfire or charcoal, be that beef rump with marrow custard, a flame-licked whole snapper or a charred corn and jalapeño salad.
During lockdown, Perez Lopez built the restaurant’s wood-fired pizza oven just in case they needed an option for takeaways. So far, no pizzas have been required, however the oven earns its keep baking fresh bread and pastries and slow roasting meats. Sounds like a good move to us.