Theme - June 2003

As we went to press, the second Shish restaurant and bar was gearing up to open its doors on Old Street in Shoreditch, and the visuals testify that the interior has been considerably softened from its original clean, modern canteen look in the first Willesden Green unit. Architects, Stiff + Trevilion, have evolved the design to suit a more relaxed operation, with the downstairs bar receiving design input from Delphine Chevalier & Bruce Towler, who consulted on the Buddha Bar and the Barrio Latino, Paris.

The menu remains a tribute to the cuisine encountered in countries along the ancient Silk Road trading route, from China to Rome, whilst the bar side of the business has been invested in considerably. Tim Halilaj, ex-Manager of Atlantic Bar & Grill, Mash and Lab, is consulting on the cocktail list at Shish Bar, whose signature drinks include Holy Shish, Chinese Passion and Lycee & Cranberry Fizz, which complement the diversity of ingredients used in the cuisine.