Impala will be opening next spring
After leading the kitchen at beloved Thai restaurant Kiln, Meedu Saad is getting ready to open his own Soho spot Impala, named after the cherry red 1964 Chevrolet Impala he drove during summers in Egypt. The restaurant will be influenced by his Egyptian heritage and grill restaurants in both north Africa and north London.
Speaking about Impala’s inspirations, Saad said: “Growing up, I saw river fish baked in bran around the community ovens in Ismailia, opened clams over small fires along the beaches of the Red Sea and watched spit roast sheep turning in smoke-filled Cypriot kebab houses in Haringey. All of these memories are carried through into our cooking today.”
Real attention is being paid to the sourcing of ingredients, with Saad collecting spices from around the world; getting fish and meat from across the UK (the restaurant will have an in-house butchery); and making garum (from sardines), soft cheese, and preserves (like green figs in honey and peppers and aubergines fermented with walnuts and chillies in Cretan olive oil) in house.
An open fire grill will be at the heart of Impala, where dishes will include:
- baked river fish
- molasses roasted dry-aged duck stuffed with black lime and chillies
- sardines cooked in grape leaves
- braised wild greens in olive oil
Saad is keeping a connection with Kiln (where he remains co-owner) by opening Impala with Super 8, the restaurant group that Kiln’s belongs to (along with Smoking Goat, Brat and Mountain), and by having Fanny Derozier, who spent seven years at Kiln, leading front of house.
Key Information
Opening date | spring 2026
Address | Dean Street, London
For more information | @meedu_saad
