Carousel’s Ed Templeton and actor Theo James to open Lupa in Highbury

Carousel co-founder Ed Templeton and White Lotus actor Theo James are teaming up to open a neighbourhood Italian restaurant in London.

The restaurant will be “dedicated to Roman comfort food”, with Pidgin’s former head chef Naz Hassan leading the kitchen.

Lupa – named after the she-wolf of Rome – will be located in Highbury, offering 26 covers for dinner and weekend lunches.

Opening in June, the menu will offer guests antipasti including fior’ di zucca, stuffed with anchovy and burrata and served with a courgette dip.

Primi dishes will include classic Roman dishes such as Carbonara, Bucatini all’Amatriciana and Cacio e pepe.

Secondi dishes will include slow-roasted porchetta, abbacchio alla scottadito (lamb cutlets from the grill) and carciofi alla romana  (artichoke hearts, stuffed with herbs and braised in white wine, olive oil and garlic),

Tiramisù, Bignè di San Giuseppe - sweet fritters of choux pastry piped with pastry cream - and freshly baked Crostata del giorno, served with seasonal fruits, will be a selection of desserts on offer to end the meal.

The drinks list will focus on aperitivo-style cocktails and spritzes and Italian wines from independent winemakers.

Templeton said: “Theo and I are both Highbury locals and share an ambition to open an enduring neighbourhood classic. It’s taken eighteen months to make it happen, but we knew it was a special corner of Highbury from the start.

“We just needed a special chef who could help us bring the Roman dream to life. Working together with Naz, we’ve conceived a menu that’s casual, fun and delicious. We want people to enjoy it in its entirety, making sure they save room for the homemade dolci. Lupa is the kind of place we’ve always wanted to have on our doorstep. There are certain Roman dishes that people know but much is still largely to be discovered”.