Eatdrink #54 July/August 2015

№ 54 | July/August 2015
Last July Elaine leased the former
Cakewalkers space across from the
Covent Garden Market. At the time the
space was a bare-bones shell, which
needed to be developed and adapted
for restaurant operations. Several
organizations provided help to Elaine
to expedite the development of the
premises, in particular Ethan Ling in
the Business Liaison office, Jason Silcox
in the Building Division, Cory Tung at
Middlesex London Health Unit, along
with the Fire Department.
Elaine also gives credit to her
neighbour, Downtown London.
The organization helps downtown
businesses take advantage of all
available incentives, promotes
downtown businesses and handles a
variety of other functions that support
their members.
A smart urban exterior features a
large window, which gives Wich is
Wich a close-up view of the Covent
Garden Market. It’s pretty much a sitdown
restaurant, with plenty of seating
and friendly hospitable servers, but
with a casual ambiance and a curated
soundtrack of predominantly laid
back rhythm and blues. There is a bit
of an urban-industrial aesthetic with
modern touches, reclaimed brick
walls, a playful mix of retro chairs,
window seating and a communal table
designed by Chris at McKaskell Haindl
Design Build.
The prepping and assembling takes
place in full view of customers, (behind
a glass partition), showcasing the
creative ways ingredients are being
paired by the chefs and facilitating
interaction with the customers.
Impeccably proportioned
sandwiches made with fresh
baguettes include such classics as
chicken w’anh mi, (their take on the
Vietnamese classic bánh mì), which
is given a twist when prepared with
marinated chicken thigh, pickled
crunchy vegetables, cucumber,
cilantro, sweet chili condiment;
Moroccan-inspired Marrakech chicken
prepared with certified Halal thigh,
ras el hanout, tzatziki, Shiraz salad,
lemon tahini, lettuce and pickles; The
Italian-inspired Bella is prepared with
The redesigned urban industrial interior features (from
the top): plenty of seating; sandwich prepping and assembly
in full view of customer, behind a glass partition; a great view
of Covent Garden Market; and a chalkboard menu.