Latest openings: Gino D'Acampo's Luciano, Engine Rooms, Sucre and more
A look at the latest restaurants, hotels, pubs and bars to open their doors.
Luciano
Celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo has launched a high-end Italian restaurant at the ME London hotel on the Strand as part of his partnership with Meliá Hotels International.
Named after D'Acampo's 19-year-old son, Luciano has taken over the site once occupied by celebrity-backed venue Zela, which counted Cristiano Ronaldo, Enrique Iglesias and Rafael Nadal as investors.
Luciano has its own separate entrance to the hotel and features a 100-cover, open-plan dining room and outdoor terrace with space for a further 100 guests.
Executive chef Lorenzo Minini, who has cooked at London's Street XO and C-London Cipriani, leads the kitchen team and has designed the menu alongside D'Acampo. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are on offer, with the main menu split into 10 sections including cicchetti; antipasti; pasta, risotto and gnocchi; and pizza Napoletana.
Guests can order an in-room dining service from Luciano and the restaurant team will work with the hotel to host events.
Opened 30 July
Executive chef Lorenzo Minini
Hotel general manager Samantha Kandou-Fulton
Typical dishes Braised beef cannelloni; spaghetti lobster, rose veal cutlet Milanese
Website www.lucianobyginodacampo.com
Engine Rooms
Paul Michaels, owner of classic car dealer Hexagon, has launched a restaurant, events space and art collection in London's Highgate, with a Mediterranean-inspired menu created by James Harrison, formerly of Taka Marylebone.
Opened 4 August
Founder Paul Michaels
Head chef James Harrison
Typical dishes Mandilli pasta with wild garlic dressing; rainbow chard pizza
Website www.theenginerooms.co.uk
Wilding
Wine expert Kent Barker has opened a second restaurant, wine bar and shop under his Wilding brand, in Salisbury. The menu is based on ingredients foraged by executive chef Dominique Goltinger.
Opened 4 August
Founder Kent Barker
Typical dishes Potato gnocchi with aubergine, Westcombe ricotta and basil pesto; trout tartare with Hampshire wasabi and watercress
Website www.wilding.wine
Sucre
Argentine chef Fernando Trocca is opening an outpost of his respected Buenos Aires restaurant Sucre in the former London College of Music concert hall on Great Marlborough Street. Bartender Tato Giovannoni oversees a downstairs cocktail bar, named Abajo.
Opened 26 July
Design Noriyoshi Muramatsu
Typical dishes Brill with tarragon, maitake and chicken butter sauce; half chicken, peas à la française
Website www.sucrerestaurant.com
Bellefields
Mediterranean restaurant and bar Bellefields has opened at the Department Store Studios workspace in London's Brixton. It seats 120 covers with a menu of light snacks, larger plates and weekly specials.
Opened 26 July
Head chef James Mathieson
Typical dishes Grilled octopus, butter beans, spinach; roast butternut squash, baba ganoush, pine nuts
Website www.bellefields.com
Slice by Pizza Pilgrims
Restaurant group Pizza Pilgrims is launching the first permanent site under its spin-off concept Slice. The 50-cover site in London's Finsbury Park features 1990s arcade games, with high scores rewarded with pizza slices.
Opens 11 August
Founders Thom and James Elliot
Typical dishes Pizza varieties include Margherita, double pepperoni with chilli honey, and penne alla vodka, with pasta baked into the pizza
Website www.slicebypizzapilgrims.co.uk
Slim Chickens Bournemouth
US-born fried chicken chain Slim Chickens has opened its first site in Bournemouth. The brand is run by Boparan Restaurant Group in the UK and offers chicken wings, sandwiches, salads and wraps.
Opened 29 July
Typical dishes Buttermilk-marinated chicken tenders; honey-barbecue chicken sandwich
Website www.slimchickens.co.uk
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