Burger & Lobster co-founder takes the Mayfair crypt site Undercroft left after six months

Misha Zelman, co-founder of Burger & Lobster, has taken the space in the crypt of St George's Church, Hanover Square, Restaurant Online reports. His new restaurant, Elezar, opens on 2 November.

The site was most recently Aldo Zilli's Undercroft, which opened early this year and closed quietly in the summer after less than six months' trading. Restaurant Online understands that Zilli's backers and the site's former owners are no longer involved.

The format - An Eastern European chophouse pitched as relatively affordable, built on pickling, fermenting, curing and preserving - Head chef Erik Miotto (Cycene, Akoko) and consulting chef David Bury, with whole-carcass butchery and whole fish prepared in-house - Meat and fish mains at a flat £28, with premium cuts such as ribeye and T-bone as specials - Meat fridges of whole carcasses and dry-aged cuts at the centre of the room, plus counter seats over the prep area - Head of wine Merlin Ramos, with house claret on tap and a Czech house beer

The takeaway A single main-course price keeps the menu easy to read and puts the premium cuts on the specials. Whole-carcass butchery means the kitchen has to find a use for every cut, which is where those specials earn their place.