After a very successful twelve years, the award winning and critically acclaimed French restaurant Racine closed its doors on Friday 9 January 2015. Chef Patron Henry Harris has sold the business and has resigned as its director with immediate effect. An increase in running costs and a rapidly shifting residential demographic in the Knightsbridge area has resulted in a multitude of new operational challenges, in light of which the decision was made to evolve the brand and take it in a new direction.
Henry is not privy to the new owners’ plans but the Racine sign will remain above the door for a short duration, prior to undergoing a refurbishment.
Knightsbridge favourite
Opened in spring 2002, Racine quickly became a Knightsbridge neighbourhood favourite and gained a loyal following for its hearty French cuisine. Seen as one of the best French restaurants in London, Racine was equally adored by the national restaurant critics with Matthew Fort saying “Heaven knows how well Henry Harris speaks French, but he cooks it rather better than most Frenchmen”, and Tim Hayward commenting that “Henry Harris….is widely regarded as the finest French chef with the decency to be British”.
Harris will now look to take the Racine Kitchen brand elsewhere in London in 2015, as well as exploring other opportunities for business consultancy in the interim. Although no fixed plans are in place, Henry looks forward to welcoming diners to the next incarnation of Racine in the near future.