Obikà restaurant to open in Canary Wharf with three more UK sites to follow

02-Dec-2011 - Last updated on 08-Mar-2024 at 15:23 GMT

Obikà restaurant in Canary Wharf will have 98 covers beneath a large canopy along with a 20-cover terrace and a takeaway area and deli counter

Obikà Mozzarella Bar, an Italian restaurant chain with 17 sites worldwide, is set to hit the UK with a restaurant to open in London’s Canary Wharf later this month and three more sites to follow in 2012.

The 2,500sq.ft Canary Wharf restaurant will open on 19 December, boasting 98 covers beneath a large canopy along with a 20-cover terrace and a takeaway area and deli counter.

The name Obikà means ‘here it is’ and aims to indicate the simplicity of the produce on offer. The Obikà restaurant food concept will centre around mozzarella cheese, which can be ordered with a range of accompaniments.

Head chef of the new Obikà restaurant will be Maro Bellezza, while Juliana Hila will be general manager.

Obikà restaurant menu

Antipasti dishes on the menu will include Caponata alla Siciliana (Sicilian aubergine casserole) and Crostini with organic tomatoes, in addition to a number of salads and hot dishes including Schiaffoni di Gragnano (pasta with Mozzarella di Bufala Campana and tomato sauce).

Obikà will also serve freshly baked pizza and typical Italian-style ‘Aperitivo’ in the early evening. The takeaway area will sell sandwiches, pastries, salads and soups, prepared fresh daily and displayed in a glass counter at the front of the restaurant.

Silvio Ursini founded and established the Obikà brand in 2004 with the aim of creating the world’s first mozzarella bar. Chief executive David Haimes has said that further expansion of Obikà within the UK is ‘definitely planned’, with an aim to open three restaurants next year and more to come.