Giorgio Locatelli Alumnus Is Behind London’s Latest Pasta Restaurant

A new Italian restaurant with a focus on fresh pasta will open on William IV Street in Covent Garden at the end of April. The head chef at Bancone arrives with form — Louis Korovilas has cooked at both Locanda Locatelli and Pied à Terre, Michelin-starred Italian and French standard-bearers, respectively.

The restaurateurs behind Korovilas are William Ellner and David Ramsey. Ellner, a long-time operator runs Joanna’s in Crystal Palace, the restaurant his family opened in the 1970s, and which next month will celebrate its 40th birthday. Bancone will be Ellner’s first opening in central London.

He said: “I’m thrilled to have Louis on board at Bancone. He’s incredibly passionate about Italian food and produce and comes from a prestigious restaurant background. Italian food — particularly pasta — is enjoying the limelight in London once again and we can’t wait to open on William IV Street and bring you our modern interpretation of the cuisine.”

Bancone wants to serve “crowd-pleasers” with prices promised to range from £6 to £12. The menu will include: Pappardelle with slow-cooked kid goat and rosemary ragù; and garganelli, salsa Genovese, alongside tagliolini, clams, seaweed and purslane; or lamb neck ravioli with spring vegetables.

Seasonal arancini (rice balls) will change on a daily basis, and smaller plates might include assemblies such as celery, anchovy, green olives, mint and bottarga; or charred, pickled artichokes, young rocket, Parmesan snow. There will also be a wide selection of Italian wines by the glass, which wants to “champion lesser known vineyards and growers.”

A bar area will serve snacks — aperiviti and cicchetti — amid glass cabinets for drying pasta.

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