Straker’s, the acclaimed West London restaurant from chef and restaurateur Thomas Straker, has opened its first international location in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood.
Set within the former home of Lucky Strike, the debut marks a significant expansion for the brand and a personal milestone for Straker, who was born in the U.S. and raised in Herefordshire, England. The Soho menu follows the same ingredient-led philosophy that built Straker’s reputation in London, with food cooked over wood fire.
Post Company reimagines a Soho institution
Straker enlisted Post Company to execute his vision for the restaurant’s interiors. The design reinterprets the bones of the longtime Soho space, shaping it into a classic neighborhood eatery with a bright, natural palette.
At the heart of the room sits an expansive open kitchen clad in steel and finished with green stone counters, putting the wood-fired cooking on full display. Up front, the bar and low banquettes, upholstered in vegetable-tanned leather, offer direct sightlines into the kitchen, creating an energetic entry point for guests. The back dining room takes a different approach: dressed in white tablecloths, it’s built for a more formal setting suited to dinners, events, and larger groups.
Art and details throughout Straker’s
Artwork by Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Brian Clarke, and Jake Clark is displayed throughout Straker’s, lending the restaurant a gallery-like quality that threads through both the casual and formal dining areas.
Playful design touches, meanwhile, extend to the bathrooms, which are wrapped in floor-to-ceiling marble and mirrored surfaces.
For Straker, the Soho opening represents more than a business expansion. “Moving to New York is a massive move for the brand,” says Straker. “It’s something that I’ve thought about for a long time and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that this restaurant is a success and people have the best night of their lives when they come and eat with us.”
