London’s immersive dining experience, The Monarch Theatre, which subtly pays homage to some of DC universe’s most iconic superheroes and villains, with interactive, immersive experiences and themed fine-dining, has announced the launch of its new Iceberg Lounge restaurant – run by no other than The Penguin, AKA Oswald Cobblepot!
Opening November 10, the new Iceberg Lounge at Park Row – which boasts an exquisite Grade II Art Deco listed interior – comprises a Champagne bar and a caviar & oyster bar, is part of the overall Park Row dining experience, and celebrates The Penguin’s love for the very best seafood. The large circular bar, situated in the heart of the venue, will offer its guests an abundant selection of the freshest oysters, plus the “world’s finest” caviar, either by the gram or as bumps, eaten straight from the hand. The venue will continue to provide a home to a range of exciting live musical performers, with music being played throughout the week. The lounge will also see the addition of a brand-new Champagne bar at the front of the room to give guests an exhilarating ‘bubbly’ welcome.
Executive chef Raymond Steplin, formerly Dinings SW3, brings Park Row’s second instalment to life with a meticulously curated new menu, showcasing his flair for modern Japanese food. Guests can indulge in a mix of small and large plates to share, along with a range of Japanese delicacies as the menu moves between Youkoso starters, salads, small plates, Hot Shuko including Kushiyaki skewers, Tempura, Gyoza and Bao, Sashimi, Oysters, Caviar and large plates including Alaskan King Crab, Wagyu steaks and Miso marinated black cod. Crowd pleasers set to take Gotham City by storm include Truffle tuna tartare, Short rib bao, Scallop ceviche, Wagyu katsu sando and a Gyoza ‘Roulette’ taking a leaf out of Gotham City’s Clown Prince, The Joker’s playbook of chaotic crimes.
Whether guests are seeking a lavish lunch, late-night dinner, or pre-theatre bites, The Iceberg Lounge promises a dining experience like no other. Open Tuesday to Friday 5pm – 12pm and Saturday 1pm – 1am, with regular hours extensions to capture the late-night vibe, guests are invited to immerse in a world of wonders, where each dish and drink tells a unique story.
“Much like every great story deserves a second chapter, and every iconic film merits a thrilling sequel, we believe Park Row’s culinary journey should be no different,” said James Bulmer, chief creative officer of Wonderland Restaurants. ” Our new restaurant represents a fresh chapter in the saga of gastronomic excellence, promising an experience that transcends expectations. We can’t wait to welcome guests to the Iceberg Lounge so they can enjoy this culinary masterpiece and embark on this exciting new adventure with us.”
Park Row is also the venue for London’s first DC-inspired restaurant experience, The Monarch Theatre, with the whole Park Row site created in partnership with Warner Bros consumer products and DC. The Monarch Theatre itself is a 20-seat venue within Park Row serving an eleven-course tasting menu with accompanying drinks for £195 per person. Guests are taken on a culinary and visual journey with carefully crafted staging and immersive courses that play with the senses.
Floor-to-ceiling screens and 360-degree projection delivered by 6 x Epson EB-L1075U laser projectors – all fixed with an ELPLX01 ultra-short-throw ‘periscope’ lens – delivers varying content across eleven courses of DC-themed dishes.
Created by Park Row (part of the Wonderland Restaurant group) founder Bulmer – in collaboration with AV solutions experts and story engineers Sysco Productions, which delivered and installed the display solutions – The Monarch Theatre experience is designed to trigger specific emotions through the environment of the room and the food on the table, tied to the theatrical narrative of the evening, driven by projected content.
Sysco assembled a multi-disciplinary team that included ISO Design (designers and producers of the themed media), design and construction specialists Fraser Randall, and Epson.
“This has been an incredibly exciting and unique project, and it’s one that gave us a real scope for creativity in that its goal was to push the boundaries of the sensory dining experience,” said Teresa Juncosa, Sysco’s engineering director and lead AV designer for Park Row, when The Monarch Theatre first opened in 2021. “Working with Wonderland offered an amazing opportunity to collaborate with a team who were equally as passionate about designing the perfect show technology that would enhance the DC Comics story narrative, and deliver an extraordinary experience.”
Culinary highlights at Monarch Theatre include a ‘poisonous’ mushroom made from a rich and earthy parfait; a decadent scallop, oyster, caviar and white chocolate dish topped with gold leaf; and a USDA Black Angus tenderloin with truffle fit for the Bruce Wayne dinner table.
As well as the impressive, immersive, four-wall projection experience – themed to complement the eleven courses and the DC-themed narrative, delivered by a team or Park Row ‘narrators’ – the finale of the dining experience includes ‘floating’ plates showcasing the desert. Installation wasn’t disappointed – this is a dining experience to treasure: fine dining, fine wine and impressive, immersive sound and vision working in concert to wow the senses.
In DC lore the Monarch Theatre was once the epicentre of entertainment for Gothamites until it shuttered its doors following the tragic deaths of D Thomas and Martha Wayne in the alley adjacent to the iconic movie house – giving birth to the Batman.
Home to now The Iceberg Lounge and Michelin-listed The Monarch Theatre, Park Row continues to wow foodies and DC fans alike, presenting two of the finest immersive themed dining experiences in the capital.
The Monarch Theatre is taking reservations Tuesday to Saturday, with two sittings per day for lunch and dinner. The Iceberg Lounge opens November 10.
