Osia offers a taste of Oz

Antipodean staff have long been an important part of London's restaurant scene, but April will see the opening of the capital's only restaurant to describe its food as Australian.

Osia, on a former Café Flo site in Haymarket, is co-owned by restaurateur Raymond de Fazio and chef Scott Webster, who moves to London from Sydney this week. Webster was most recently working at the Westin Hotel's Restaurant Mosaic at its No.1 Martin Place site.

De Fazio, who bought the eight-strong Café Flo chain last year with the intention of closing them all and converting all the sites, said that Osia will try to combine fine dining with a relaxed atmosphere. Meals will cost from £90 for two with wine.

Despite the Australian label of the cooking, diners will not be offered kangaroo steaks or spit-roast koala. De Fazio said that the ingredients used will include Welsh lamb and Scottish beef, but that Australian and Pacific Rim influences will be evident.

Webster has worked all over the world, including the Savoy in London and the Regent and Boulevard hotels in Sydney. He has captained Australia's culinary team, and has researched early Aboriginal use of flavours and spices.

The restaurant will have 80 seats in the main room and 50 in an adjacent bar.

Source: Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine, 30 January - 5 February 2003