Straker’s from London’s Notting Hill is opening in NYC’s SoHo. British by way of Italy, chef Thomas Straker is bringing his sold-out pop-up to a permanent home.
There’s a short list of restaurants that manage to be beloved by both the people who eat with their phones out and the people who eat with their eyes closed. Straker’s in London’s Notting Hill is on that list.
Chef Thomas Straker built his name on TikTok, yes, but he earned his reputation the old-fashioned way: by cooking food that people can’t stop thinking about. Now he’s bringing it to New York, taking over the space that once held Keith McNally’s Lucky Strike in SoHo. The Straker’s NYC opening is the most talked-about restaurant news in the city right now, and for good reason.
Why the Straker’s NYC Opening Is Different From the Usual Hype
Every year, a handful of restaurants arrive in New York trailing enormous expectations and then quietly disappoint. The room is beautiful, the press release is immaculate, and the food is fine. Straker’s has a real argument against that fate. The London flagship has survived the scrutiny of both influencer audiences and serious food critics, which are two very different juries. Passing both is rare.
Thomas Straker is also not a stranger to New York. He ran sold-out pop-ups in the city in 2024 and 2025. The demand was proven before a single lease was signed. That’s a different position than most import restaurants start from.
He’s also, technically, a TikTok chef, which is the kind of label that makes food critics roll their eyes and then quietly check his page after dinner. The numbers don’t lie and neither does the food.
The Menu: British by Way of Italy, With No Apologies
Straker’s doesn’t try to be everything. The menu at the London location is focused and confident, built around high-quality ingredients treated with a light hand and a clear point of view. “British by way of Italy” is how the team describes it, which sounds like a contradiction until you eat it.
Think girolles flatbread with enough earthiness to smell the forest floor. Seabass tartare that’s clean and cold and precise. Venison with lingonberries, a Nordic note in a very Italian-British composition. And burnt honey ice cream for dessert, which sounds simple and is absolutely not.
The changing menu means the NYC version will evolve with seasons and sourcing. Straker has always been ingredient-led, which translates well to New York’s produce calendar. Expect Hudson Valley farms to start showing up on the menu by summer.
The Space: Lucky Strike’s Ghost and What Comes Next
Keith McNally’s Lucky Strike ran for decades as a SoHo institution before closing. The bones of the space are there: the long room, the patina, the sense that something real happened here. Straker’s team will work with that history rather than erase it.
If the London restaurant is any guide, expect a room where the food arrives looking effortless, where the lighting is just dim enough to be flattering, and where the wine list is the kind that makes you order a second bottle before you’ve finished planning the first.
Straker’s arrives as part of a genuine wave of London restaurants landing in New York. Dishoom has signed a permanent lease in Lower Manhattan. Ambassadors Clubhouse is open in Nomad. Dean’s, a British seafood spot, is coming to SoHo. For those tracking the transatlantic dining moment, the Financial Times has been covering it closely at ft.com.
London used to look to New York for restaurant inspiration. Apparently that road goes both ways now, and we are not complaining.
The Straker’s NYC opening represents something larger than one restaurant. It’s a signal that New York’s appetite for food that takes a clear position, that has a real voice and a real chef behind it, is stronger than ever.
MINI FAQ: Straker’s in NYC
Q: When does Straker’s open in NYC?
A: An exact opening date hasn’t been announced yet. The NYC location is taking over the former Lucky Strike space in SoHo. The team ran successful pop-ups in 2024 and 2025, and the permanent location is expected in 2026. Follow Straker’s on Instagram for the latest news.
Q: What kind of food does Straker’s serve?
A: Straker’s menu is described as British by way of Italy, with a focus on high-quality seasonal ingredients treated simply. The London menu has featured dishes like girolles flatbread, seabass tartare, venison with lingonberries, and burnt honey ice cream. The menu changes regularly.
Q: Where is Straker’s NYC located?
A: Straker’s is taking over the former Lucky Strike space in SoHo, Manhattan, one of the neighborhood’s most storied restaurant addresses.
This will go fast when they open
Reservations for Straker’s NYC will go fast when they open. Our recommendation: follow the restaurant’s Instagram now and set a reminder for the day bookings drop. In the meantime, the pop-up history tells you everything you need to know about whether it’s worth the effort. It is.
