The Clove Club to open Italian sister restaurant Luca in November

The team behind the Clove Club, one of London’s most renowned restaurant worldwide, have announced the opening of a new restaurant in Clerkenwell next month: Luca. The menu will reflect their love of British produce, but through an Italian lens. Luca will serve modern Italian food, using British ingredients.

It will be a different concept from the Clove Club, focusing on finger foods, sharing plates and stirred cocktails. Open from 8am to midnight, it will offer espresso and pastries in the morning, salads, sandwiches and cured meats at lunchtime and sharing plates in the evening. Drinks will feature vermouths, amaros and home-made Limoncello and Nocino.

Of the decision to cook Italian food, chef Isaac Mchale said: “Italian food is steeped in tradition, and pasta is one of the great foods of the world. I am really excited to celebrate and explore it, while using the amazing seasonal ingredients Britain has to offer.”

“The term ‘Britalian’ is a good short-hand for what we are doing. We won’t be using this phrase anywhere in the restaurant itself, but it sums up the approach: we will be using seasonal British ingredients in contemporary cooking inspired by Italy’.’

The restaurant will be open seven days a week and will observe the established traditions of Italian food, but breaking the rules a little, with a menu including Spaghettini with Morecambe Bay Shrimps and Mace Butter, Rump of Angus Beef Stuffed with Pancetta and Ravioli of Grouse with Potato and Whisky Sauce. The bar will be a separate and distinct space, open all day and people are encouraged to drop in and have a drink and snack.

The restaurant is designed by the award-winning Alexander Waterworth Interiors is inspired by 1950s Italy, featuring a gracious sage and blue colour palette accented with marble and brass. The main restaurant sits 60 with a semi-open kitchen and floor to ceiling glass walls overlooking an outdoor courtyard.  It also features a pasta-making room where guests can watch pasta being made by day, and transforming into a private dining room for special events and groups at night.  The other private dining space, The Garden Room, will be open to the sky in Summer.

Johnny Smith, who will be moving from The Clove Club to run Luca full time, said: “The ambience and service at Luca will capture the genuinely welcoming spirit of Italian hospitality and the warmth of the family table”. Of the wine list he said: “Italy produces some of the finest wines on the planet, and we have created a list that brings together the iconic producers, some lesser known gems, and delicious wines at every price point.”

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To book a table at Luca, 88 St John Street London EC1M 4EH, call 020 7253 6950 or enquire here.