Opening on 17 June, Acciuga will specialise in dishes from Arnulfos’ home region of Liguria. Priced at around £50-60 a head, the 70-cover restaurant’s menu will focus on provenance and high quality ingredients.
“I’m so excited to be opening my first restaurant,” said 24-year-old Arnulfo. “The concept behind the menu has been many years in the making and I have ensured everything on it is of the highest standard.
“The manager (Luigi Festant) and my sous chef (Cristina Orilia) share the same values as me when it comes to choosing ingredients, with emphasis on provenance and quality, so it’s been a wonderful experience working with such a talented and creative team.
“It’s such a fantastic thing for me to be bringing the food of my region to the people of London and I can’t wait to see the reaction.”
On the menu
The Italian, who has only been cooking for three years, has developed the entire menu which includes stuffed courgette blossoms, troffie al pesto – a Ligurian speciality pasta with just flour and water; and cuttlefish in zimino – a Tuscan Cuttlefish Stew.
Acciuga’s menu will also feature liguria and piedmont specialities such as vitel tonne – slow-cooked veal in an Italian caper mayonnaise; and cima alla genovese - stuffed breast of Veal – along with a selection of cured meats.
The wine list offers an array of wines from across Italy to suit all budgets, with each wine will be paired to customers’ dishes.
The restaurant’s design will have a monochrome colour scheme throughout, with ‘a hint of Italy’ infused into the decor from panelled walls. Guests can also enjoy a wine cellar which incorporates private dining and seats up to 15 on the lower-ground floor, with candelabras and ornate wall panelling throughout.
When probed about the possibility of opening more restaurants in the UK, Arnulfo replied: “Watch this space.”
Acciuga will open on the former site of TIMO at 343 Kensington High Street.