Gennaro Contaldo opens BOLO, a Bolognese-led trattoria in Soho

Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo has opened BOLO, a 32-seat trattoria at 17 Air Street in London’s Soho, built around his Bolognese and a short menu of fresh pasta. The restaurant, launched with Brava Hospitality Group, takes its inspiration from the small, busy restaurants of 1970s Italy.

The restaurant takes its name from the dish most closely associated with the chef, his Bolognese, known as Bolo. It appears on the menu as the Original Bolo and anchors a selection of six fresh pasta dishes served trattoria-style, which also includes new variations on the classic recipe.

Several of the dishes draw on Contaldo’s personal history. The Antonio is dedicated to his friend and fellow Italian chef Antonio Carluccio, reflecting a friendship built on a shared love of Italian food. The Limone refers to the chef’s childhood on the Amalfi Coast, where lemon trees were a feature of everyday life. Each plate on the menu was chosen to reflect part of Contaldo’s story and heritage.

The small menu is a deliberate choice, with the restaurant focusing on a limited number of traditional recipes rather than an extensive offering. The same approach applies to the drinks: the wine list follows a one-wine-per-colour policy.

Contaldo, whose cookbooks have introduced Italian home cooking to readers for decades, is inviting diners to “Pull up a chair”.

Speaking about the opening, he said: “After more than 60 years in the kitchen, I’m still a romantic at heart. Love the food, love the people you’re cooking for, and everything else will work out beautifully in the end. Italy has given me so much throughout my life, and I’ve always wanted to celebrate that generosity through the food I cook. I want people to come to BOLO, eat well, feel at home and experience a little piece of the Italy that I know and love.”

BOLO is open from 11am daily, from Monday to Sunday.

Food Desk

For further information and reservations, visit Bolo’s website here.