CAU, the innovative restaurant offering modern Argentinian cuisine in a competitively priced and contemporary dining environment, launched its first UK site in Guildford, Surrey in July 2011. It will now launch its second site in Cambridge in January 2013, and has signed its third site in Kingston planned also to open in 2013.
CAU Cambridge will be located on Bene’t Street, CB2 3PY, and CAU Kingston in the brand new Riverside restaurant development just off Clarence Street in Kingston town centre. The development will contain six new restaurants, all of which will overlook The Thames.
Charlie McLean, Managing Director of CAU, says:
“We are very excited to be opening CAU in Cambridge and Kingston. We will be serving high quality Argentinian steak as well as many other freshly prepared Argentinian influenced dishes, all cooked from scratch on site. We hope that this, combined with our modern and funky design, will create a new restaurant for Cambridge and Kingston that everyone will love.”
Uncomplicated menu, impressive range of Argentinian beef
CAU’s uncomplicated menu – featuring steak sandwiches; grilled sausages; handmade ravioli; pork cutlets cooked on charcoal – is underpinned by an impressive range of Argentinian beef including the tender Lomito Fillet and Tapa De Cuadril (taken from the haunch). As well as using the traditional option of a classic Argentinian grill, CAU will also be using a new charcoal Josper grill, which reaches higher temperatures than any other indoor barbeque. This hybrid oven/grill ensures none of the natural moisture or flavour escapes, guaranteeing the most succulent meat. Alongside the meat is a range of similarly unfussy dishes including pasta, fish and fresh salads.
Bold, distinctive design
Aesthetically, CAU boasts a bold, distinctive design, incorporating key Argentinian themes with a modern twist. The design marries the bright and bold urbanity of Buenos Aries with the intense blue of the South American skies above the green of the Pampas grazing grasses. White corrugated walls evoke the neighbourhoods, whilst the distinctive appearance of grass imagery on the ceiling and blue sky on the walls enable a bright, fresh and relaxed space.
CAU Cambridge has a contemporary steel staircase cleverly dividing the restaurant into both large and intimate spaces. Striking glossy “Bubble lamps” from design company Innermost create pools of lights within the booth seating, whilst the white-on-black resin floor recalls the star studded night skies of South America.
CAU – food and drink
CAU uses beef bred on the Argentinian Pampas, wet-aged for six weeks and grilled in such a way that the meat is turned only once, and is salted on one side only. Diners can choose from a detailed list including Sirloin (8oz, £14) Rib Eye (a delicately marbled steak, 10oz £15.95) Lomito (a lean and tender fillet of rump, 16oz, £27.50), and Tapa De Cuadril (taken from the haunch, 8oz £14.50). CAU’s range of grilled steaks, chicken, pork and burgers is balanced with a variety of fresh fish and pasta.
CAU Cambridge
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: midday – 11pm; Sunday and Bank Holidays: midday – 10:30pm
15 Bene’t Street, Cambridge, CB2 3PY
For more information click here