The 32 year-old chef, who has worked under Angela Hartnett at Murano in Mayfair and also at Galvin La Chapelle in Spitalfields and Babbo in Mayfair, will open the split level venue on Thayer Street. Divided into two distinct spaces, it will comprise a 62-cover, ground floor casual dining restaurant, called XR, with a more ambitious 38-cover dining room, Xier, above.
The food will draw inspiration from Naples-born Scotto’s upbringing and travels through Europe and Asia and is described as being ‘a take on modern European with a global influence’.
XR will serve an à la carte casual menu with mains priced at £15-£24, including yellowfin tuna tartar with aubergine caviar, garden salad and taro chips; and hanger steak, pickled walnuts, shallots, parsley and baby aubergine. Xier will serve a 10-course tasting menu (£90) with dishes such as obsi blue prawns served with wild fennel, wasabi caviar and fresh raspberry; and rose-cured salmon with foie gras, burnt figs, leaf oil and citrus dressing.
Much of the produce used at both restaurants will be sourced from the Rhug Estate organic farm in North Wales. “It’s always been my ambition to open a restaurant that showcased what I love about food from around the world,” says Scotto.
“Since I arrived, London is a place that has brought me incredible opportunities, so it felt right to open here and to showcase fantastic British produce. I’m excited to be opening a venue that will take people on their own culinary journey.”