A new Italian restaurant is set to open in London next month on the former site of Gennaro Contaldo’s famous Passione restaurant, which closed in March this year.
Mennula, which will open in the site on Charlotte Street in mid-October, is a joint venture from chef Santino Busciglio and business partner Joe Martorana.
The 44-seat restaurant will comprise three distinct areas including a main dining room and a private dining room, with interiors featuring Venetian wall covers, walnut floors, and both banquettes and stand-alone tables.
Formerly the head chef of the Number Twelve and Vault restaurants in London, Busciglio will lead a brigade of six chefs in the kitchen and serve a modern Italian menu focused on dishes from Sicily.
Mennula will offer an à la carte menu of around seven antipasti, pasta, risotto and meat dishes as well as a set menu priced £17.50 for two- and £19.50 for three courses.
Front of house will be overseen by restaurant manager Angelo Todaro, who was previously restaurant manager of the Michelin-starred Zafferano in Belgravia.
“Mennula is a very personal project and inspired by Sicily, where both myself and my business partner Joe are from,” Busciglio told Caterersearch.
“The menu will be an extension of me and we will offer great value for money.”
Giaconda Dining Room is Time Out’s Best New Restaurant >>
Three-Michelin-starred Heinz Beck to join London’s Lanesborough >>
Steamed grey mullet, green beans, sun-blushed cherry tomatoes, black olive purée, potato and thyme sauce - by Santino Busciglio >>
Gennaro Contaldo >>
By Kerstin Kühn
E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn here.
If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk
Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next restaurant job here with Caterersearch.com jobs
| | Newsletters
For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our e-mail newsletters. | | |