Opening of the week: Hai Cenato

What:​ It might sound like a new Japanese restaurant, but Hai Cenato is actually a New York/Italian restaurant in the newly-opened Nova development in London’s Victoria.

Who:​ It is the second collaboration between Jason Atherton and his wife Ihra and chef Paul Hood, who also heads up the Michelin-starred Social Eating House in Soho. James Brown, former senior sous chef at Social Eating House, heads up the kitchen.

The vibe:​ It’s probably the most mainstream of Atherton’s London restaurants to date, but with good reason given the area’s high shopper footfall and lunch trade. Located in a huge glass box, there’s a clatter and clang to the dining room that you don’t usually associate with the top chef, but which is well suited to grabbing a quick lunchtime bit. Victoria also has a bona fide late-night drinking spot at last thanks to upstairs bar The Drunken Oyster, which is open until 1am every day.

The menu:​ Pizza and pasta is the thing here, with four red pizzas and four pizza biancos on the menu as well as a number of grills – such as 250g Cumbrian rib-eye and whole boneless gilthead bream. Atherton is also teaming up with a top chef each month for a guest chef pizza – kicking off with Tom Kerridge’s ground venison, salami, gorgonzola, sorrel and lemon zest creation.

And another thing:​ For those whose Italian is a bit rusty, Hai Cenato translates as ‘have you had dinner?'

2 Sir Simon Milton Square, London​    www.haicenato.co.uk​