Morchella, a new Mediterranean-inspired neighbourhood restaurant with a separate bar, opened this week in a former bank off Exmouth Market, from the team behind Perilla in Newington Green, Running the kitchen is chef Dan Fletcher (centre in photo), back in London after a stint at 28 Market Place in Somerset. A former finalist in TV’s […]
The Fat Badger in Richmond has closed down after two years, and its Hill Rise site is to be taken over by ambitious fresh pasta chain Noci. The closure this week marks a step backwards for the three Gladwin brothers – Richard, Oliver and Gregory (pictured) – who launched their Local & Wild farm-to-fork restaurant group in […]
A West London arts space has opened a chic new Italian restaurant under the direction of highly rated chef Emanuele Pollini. The venture shares Ladbroke Hall, a former car factory from the early motoring era, with contemporary art and design operation Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Pollini at Ladbroke Hall occupies the vaulted lobby of the grand […]
A new Mediterranean restaurant taking inspiration from both its European and North African shores launches next week in Marylebone. Bellazul opens on Thursday 1 February in Blandford Street on the former site of Italian restaurant Il Baretto, with ex-Cecconi’s and 5 Hertford Street head chef Simone Serafini directing the kitchen. Dishes range from lobster spaghetti […]
A self-proclaimed ‘New York Italian’ restaurant, The Dover, has opened with little fanfare in Mayfair from Martin Kuczmarski, former chief operating officer at Soho House. It occupies the former site of the short-lived Moncks of Mayfair in Dover Street. Moncks closed during the pandemic in 2020 and never reopened. The Dover’s menu features a range […]
The London restaurant world this week mourned the passing of Russell Norman, creator of Polpo, Spuntino and Trattoria Brutto, who has died suddenly at the age of 57. Born and brought up in London’s northwestern outskirts, Russell was a host of legendary charm host who cut his teeth in the trade as a barman-turned-restaurant manager […]
A new Italian neighbourhood restaurant has opened on the former site of hip natural wine bar Peg, in Hackney’s Morning Lane. Dalla has been created by Naples-born brothers Gennaro and Gianmarco (ex-Claridge’s) Leone, along with Mitchell Damota, former head chef at P Franco. Gennaro, who runs the design gallery Spazio Leone in Lower Clapton, has […]
American-Italian restaurant Lavo is to launch its first European branch in Marylebone this month – the latest in a rash of upscale Italian-inspired openings from international operators in London this autumn. Lavo was founded in New York in 20 years ago by Noah Tepperberg of the Tao Group and took off as a brand following the […]
Fast-growing Manchester pasta specialist Sud has opened its first branch in the city centre, on the site of the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre. Sud joins the highly rated Basque outfit Baratxui, formerly of Ramsbottom, and modern Scandi small plates specialist Osma at Exhibition, a new food and drink destination in the city’s former natural history […]
Hong Kong-based restaurateur David Yeo is adding two Italian venues to his growing Aqua London portfolio this year – the informal Luci, which opened in Covent Garden last month, followed by Azzurra, a more upscale seafood specialist in Chelsea. Aqua already has six restaurants in London, covering cuisines from East Asia to Spain – Hutong and […]
