Interview with Garry and Asher - Founders of Piraña

We caught up with Garry and Asher - Founders of Piraña, to find out the inspiration behind the restaurant, why the name Piraña and much more.

1.What inspired you both to start Piraña, and how did you come up with the name?

Garry: We saw a gap in the London restaurant market. Our clientele travel the world, and we wanted to create an offering which could stand up globally within the festive dining scene.

Asher: Actually one of our business partners came up with it. We knew we wanted something South American and aggressive sounding. PIRANA seemed like the perfect fit to make an impact! 

2.What sets Piraña apart from other similar restaurants? 

Garry: We see ourselves as the home of celebration. When you come to Piraña, you’re not simply here to eat, you’re here for an experience and that is what you get. 

Asher: I would say it’s the quality of the food. There are lots of restaurants who focus on the party first and the food is always an afterthought. We wanted the food to take centre stage and the moments of energy to come secondary. I think this works as we deliver great quality across all aspects of the experience. 

3.  What’s your favourite dish on the menu and why? 

Garry: For me, as a carnivore, our Lamb Chops Anticucho are unparalleled! Our Peruvian nuances really stand out. 

Asher: For me our Chilean sea bass is the best I've ever tried… EVER!

4. Is there anything exciting you’re working on that you can spill the beans on?

Garry: Without revealing too much, we want to continue building our ecosystem in hospitality over the upcoming years. A rooftop bar above Buckingham Palace could be cool! (Dad joke?)

Asher: We also want to open Pirañas in other key cities around the world. We think the concept will work well in several territories.

5. What’s been your biggest achievement with Piraña?

Garry: Before Piraña, our background was predominantly nightclubs. Taking our first step into the restaurant scene successfully I would say is an achievement in itself! More to come. 

Asher: Biggest achievement. I’m really proud of the interior design. It’s turned out far better than we ever hoped and gives a cosy, almost ‘sexy’ feel as soon as you walk in which is cool as it is such a vast space. 

6. What would your ideal day in London be like?

Asher: I love getting out of the city to the countryside. London is magical and 100mph but sometimes it’s nice to get the calm to truly appreciate what we have in the City.

Garry: I am biased but I do love lunch at Piraña so I tend to be there most days for meetings with clients and suppliers... then I enjoy walking around St James with a coffee as I find it the best place to think. A bit of an oasis in central London. For dinner I will most likely pop into Pirana at some point and make sure to catch up with friends at another restaurant in Mayfair.

To find out more about Piraña visit https://www.piranalondon.com/

Photography courtesy of Piraña