Paesan Italian restaurant brings ‘cucina povera’ to Exmouth Market

Anthony Brown has taken an assignment of a 20-year lease on the two-tier restaurant, which will offer ‘a refreshing take on Italian dining’ when it launches on 1 July.

Paesan’s ground-floor dining room will seat 70 with an open kitchen, while a separate bar area and outside terrace offer additional space for 50 and 30 customers respectively.

The restaurant will embrace ‘cucina povera’ – the tradition of using simple ingredients to create high quality and flavoursome food. Dishes will include pappardella with wild rabbit ragu and mussels impepata with rosemary crostini.

"Cucina povera isn't just a style of cooking, it's a way of life - the soul of Italy,” said Brown. “It is the tradition of sharing great food, from one paesan to another. At Paesan London, we want to recreate an authentic Italian experience, a place to share food or unwind with a drink in a relaxed setting.”

On the menu​

The menu has been devised by head chef Mattia Antonioni - previously of Polpo, The Ivy Club and Assaggi. It will be filled with hot and cold dishes channelling this cucina povera theme. Meat and seafood dishes will sit alongside pizza fritta and pasta plates, with a selection of antipasti and ‘piccolo’ sharing dishes completing the menu.

The basement bar, which will benefit from a late licence, will offer a selection of vintage cocktails and Italian specialities including an extensive list of negronis and Martinis, as well as homemade lemoncello and sambucca created by head barman Paris Mattocks, formerly of Polpo.

Designers B3 – who created Bubbledogs – have given Paesan’s interiors a ‘raw and contemporary’ feel. The decor will embrace the building’s original features with exposed brickwork complimented by timbers and tiling, reclaimed materials and antique-style furnishings.

Strong competition​

The downstairs bar will feature exposed wooden flooring, low ceilings and secluded booth seating areas for groups. Candles and low lighting will create a more relaxed atmosphere.

The premium for the property on 2 Exmouth Market was undisclosed with an annual rent of £70,000. Leisure agent Shelley Sandzer acted for the vendor, serial entrepreneur Robert Newmark.

Casey Phillips from Shelley Sandzer said: “One thing is certain, Anthony Brown will face strong competition from this address, as Exmouth Market continues to be a hot bed for gastronomic talent, a la Moro, Morito, Caravan and Sanatore, which continues to be a firm favourite with locals.”