Haiku closed down

Pan Asian restaurant Haiku in London's Mayfair has closed, Kitchen Rat has learnt.

The restaurant on New Burlington Place was launched by South African group Bukhara last year after a reported £3m investment. Bukhara operates two very successful restaurants in Cape Town - their much celebrated eponymous Indian eatery and the award-winning Haiku.

But Haiku London never really seemed to take off. It opened to a lukewarm reception from the critics, who found the menu of more than 200 dishes just too much to handle. Then the location round the back of Regent Street wasn't exactly screaming for passers by to stroll in for a spontaneous meal and the few times Kitchen Rat popped in for a bite of sushi (which was excellent by the way) Haiku was always empty.

It will be interesting to see what will happen with the space - it's massive, set over three floors. Any takers?