Australian chef Scott Hallsworth is closing his peripatetic punk izakaya Freak Scene in Balham this weekend, and replacing it with a more “family-friendly” pan-Asian restaurant called Joe’s Oriental Diner.
The former Nobu chef has opened and closed several iterations of Freak Scene over the past nine years, including a site off Parson’s Green in Fulham that shut up shop last year. But this is by no means the end of the road: he’s promising to bring Freak Scene back in central London, at an as-yet unknown address.
Scott said: “After 20 months in Balham, we’ve realised that Freak Scene isn’t quite the right fit for the area – a bit like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole! It’s a brand we love and believe in, so we’ll be taking it back to its roots in central London, where it originally began life in Soho, and where we think it’ll really shine.
“But we’re going out with a bang! We’re offering a ‘Freak Scene Final Feast’ – a fantastic 2-for-1 deal on our 8-course family-style feast, working out at just £39pp– running until we close on Saturday 22nd August.
“Then, after a quick turnaround, we’re thrilled to be opening Joe’s Oriental Diner in time for the August bank holiday weekend! Originally launched as a King’s Road pop-up back in 2015, Joe’s is all about big, bold Southeast Asian-inspired food without the big price tag – family-friendly, with slicker, quicker service (using QR codes).
“Expect loud flavours, plenty of zing, smoke, chilli and crunch – but easy-going enough for everyone: affordable plates, kids’ bento boxes at lunch and dinner, simple East Asian-inspired cocktails, and a short, rotating wine list built around the food.
“We think Joe’s is going to be a brilliant fit for Balham – and while we’re sad to close one chapter, we can’t wait to get started on the next, and to make a real success of it here in SW12!”
