Burbank Roomers FRANKFURT A new restaurant by chef The Duc Ngo combines aromatic pan-Asian flavours with relaxed California vibes. Words: Jenna Campbell • Photography: Courtesy of Gekko Group
H
ome to one of the world’s largest stock exchanges
Having collaborated with Vietnamese-born Duc Ngo on a
as well as the headquarters of the European Central
string of successful restaurants including Golden Phoenix in
Bank, Frankfurt or ‘Mainhattan’ as it is sometimes
Berlin and Moriki in Frankfurt, Gekko Group challenged the
referred to, is a hive of high-powered financial activity.
chef to come up with a completely new offering for Roomers.
Every year, millions of business travellers descend on the
Inspired by the multi-cultural cuisine of the United States, his
business capital to attend conferences, exhibitions and
dishes are both aromatic and tasteful and are complemented
trade fairs thanks to its prime geographical position at the
by a beautifully upscaled restaurant environment.
crossroads of Europe.
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Enlisting his good friend and business partner Hyunjung
And whilst the German hotel market may once have been
Kim to breathe new life into the existing interior, the space
regarded as a little stale, filled with the same cookie-cutter
has been refreshed with bright accent colours and intimate
brands, a new generation of independents have helped
seating niches. Light wooden tables and dark velvet seating
to expand the variety of hospitality experiences on offer.
mixes with deep green granite surfaces and a contrasting
Amongst them is Roomers, the trendy hangout from Gekko
dove blue and desert orange palette, conjuring up images of a
Group’s Micky Rosen and Alex Urseanu.
Californian vista punctuated by long highways and boundless
With outposts in Baden-Baden and Munich, Roomers is
beaches. “To show the theme, our designer used blue and
a pleasure-seekers paradise, describing itself as electric,
orange colours, right away you feel that you could be in
hedonistic, sensual and glamorous. In Frankfurt, the 116-
Los Angeles or Mexico,” says Duc Ngo. “She also decided
key property occupies a former office block, yet behind the
to incorporate grand silver mesh light fixtures from Moooi
gleaming façade is a seductive world of subdued lighting,
as well as coloured glass and mirrors – it really shows the
moody tones and industrial-inspired fixtures. The hotel first
intention of the restaurant.”
made its debut in 2016, but, in a bid to stay ahead of the
Regarded by many as a culinary innovator for his role in
competition, has recently revamped its dining offer with the
characterising Asian cuisine in Germany, Duc Ngo’s style of
opening of Burbank – an Asian-fusion, Californian-inspired
cooking has been heavily influenced by his upbringing. “I’m
concept headed up by Germany’s hottest chef, The Duc Ngo.
half Chinese; half Vietnamese; I came to Germany when I was
