Il Calcio to open flagship London restaurant as UK expansion begins
Situated on North Audley Street on the former Mangosteen site, the 60-cover fine-dining Italian restaurant will be the flagship UK site for the group, which is also planning a second London site on the former site of Saddlers steakhouse on Old Brompton Road.
And Il Calcio's development in the capital doesn’t look like stopping there with a spokesperson for the group telling BigHospitality it had money to spend and was 'not afraid to expand.'
“First, we have to test the water here and then we’ll see. Right now we have to get these two locations running smoothly, if we have positive results then we’ll definitely go further.”
Il Calcio currently operates 10 casual dining trattorias and two upscale restaurants in Romania. The group’s founder, Valentin Salagean, is also behind Nello’s restaurant in New York.
“We are excited about bringing our Il Calcio product to Mayfair,” added Salagean. “I believe it will be extremely well received here.”
Fastest transaction yet
Commercial property advisors Coleman Dean brokered the deal on behalf of Il Calcio, with Dean Gambles of Coleman Dean noting the swiftness of the deal. “We love doing business with Il Calcio,” said Gambles. “This was the fastest transaction we have completed on to date.”
Overseen by group restaurant manager Cosmin Bunescu, the new Il Calcio restaurants will feature an extensive a la carte menu with antipasti ranging between £12 and £25 and mains between £15 and £30. A two-course lunch menu will also be on offer, priced at £19.50.
The second Il Calcio will provide 50 covers and is earmarked to open at 241 Old Brompton Road in December. Meanwhile, Saddlers - the gourmet grill owned Michael Roche, owner of The Savoy Hotel in Ireland – is currently in the process of acquiring a new London property which is said to be opening its doors ‘very shortly’.
