Thomas Straker Brings His London Restaurant to Keith McNally's Former Lucky Strike Space in SoHo

Chef Thomas Straker, 37, will open his Italian-leaning restaurant Straker's in New York's SoHo on October 10, taking over 59 Grand Street, the address that housed Keith McNally's Lucky Strike until 2020. The London original, in Notting Hill, is known for its "dinner plus" concept—combining quality food with strong service, ambiance, and music. Straker's career includes stints at The Dorchester, Dinner by Heston (then two Michelin stars), and Casa Cruz, where he learned front-of-house energy from Juan Santa Cruz. The New York space retains its wooden ceiling and floor, adding an open kitchen, marble bar, back dining room with banquette seating, white tablecloths, and a high-end sound system. The menu follows a small plates to mains to dessert progression, adapted to local ingredients with an emphasis on raw fish and beef. Straker, who has over 2 million Instagram and TikTok followers, holds an American passport and cited New York's dense, fast-paced dining scene and American customer demand as reasons for expansion. He plans to cook in the kitchen initially, splitting time between London, family, and New York, with a focus on delegation. He is friends with McNally, and hopes the restaurant becomes a neighborhood fixture with regulars and long dinners. Straker's favorite New York spots include Theodora, Four Horsemen, Altro Paradiso, Croft Alley, Birley Bakery, and La Cabra.