Monica Galetti, formerly of the two Michelin star restaurant, Le Gavroche will open her eagerly anticipated restaurant, Mere with her husband, sommelier, David Galetti in January 2017.

The couple’s first restaurant will be situated at 74 Charlotte Street, in London’s Fitzrovia, and will open in partnership with Westbury Street Holdings (WSH).

Samoan born chef, Monica Galetti said: “For many years, it’s been David’s and my dream to open a restaurant together. In Mere, we want to deliver a restaurant that’s relaxed and casual, but with no compromise on comfort, or the quality of the food and wines on offer. The kind of place we both like to visit and one that’s personal and welcoming.”

Spread across two levels, the 64 cover restaurant will be situated on the lower ground with a bar serving bar snacks, cocktails and drinks on the ground floor.

Menus will be seasonal and market led, with a mixture of both Monica’s lighter take on the classics and new dishes currently in development.

Monica said: “The menu will be pretty straightforward.

“I want to create the kind of food and environment that guests can visit regularly and come to Mere to just relax - whether it’s a business lunch or an evening with friends and family.”

Mere – pronounced Mary – will pay homage, not only to the French for ‘mother’, but also to the Samoan for ‘Mary’, Monica’s mother’s name.

Monica Galetti rose to prominence in 2009 when she joined BBC’s Masterchef: The Professionals as a judge. Most recently Monica was a senior sous chef at the two Michelin star restaurant, Le Gavroche where she remained until March 2015 before leaving to focus on her own venture. Her husband David currently works at Le Gavroche as head sommelier where he will remain until October 2016 before leaving to help Monica with the opening of their new restaurant.

>>> Read more about Monica here