Restaurant News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
Ornella, a new Milanese restaurant from the founders of Roman-inspired restaurant LUPA, will open this April on Wilton Way, London Fields.
Ed Templeton, Naz Hassan, and Theo James have created a restaurant serving classic dishes that celebrate the vibrant flavours of Northern Italy. The menu reflects the city where Head Chef Naz Hassan was raised, shaping his formative years and early culinary career.
Less trattoria, more ristorante, Ornella will present a refined menu showcasing the quiet confidence of Naz and his long-time collaborator, chef Alessandro Boscolo. The menu is rooted in the butter-rich, Alpine-influenced cuisine of Milan and reflects the region’s fertile landscapes and industrial heritage, alongside culinary influences from across northern Italy. Milan’s historic reliance on dairy and grains stands in contrast to the Mediterranean, olive-oil-driven traditions of Sicily and southern Italy, creating a distinctive flavour profile that carries effortlessly through every season.
At its heart, Ornella is a restaurant committed to doing the simple things exceptionally well, with a kitchen prepared to live and die by its risotto and cotoletta. In keeping with Italian tradition, the menu will follow the classic antipasti, primi, secondi, dolci structure, balancing accessible crowd-pleasers, such as Mondeghili meatballs, Penne alla Vodka, Tagliatelle al burro e Parmigiano and Risotto alla Milanese, with signature dishes like Vitello tonnato, ‘elephant’s ear’ Cotoletto di Vitello, and decadent desserts like Mille foglie alle Fragole and the wonderfully named Zuppa Inglese.
Ornella will seat 48 with a handful of sunlit window seats reserved for walk-ins and al fresco dining reflecting the street-side energy of Wilton Way. The interiors are a collaborative effort from the founders and Studio Arlette, with the craftsmanship of local carpenter Herb Palmer, who helped achieve the neighbourhood charm of LUPA.
On the opening, co-founder Ed Templeton said; “We’d always spoken about doing another one one day but I don’t think we ever imagined we’d be opening a second restaurant just nine months later. When we were discussing the concept, we knew immediately that we had to give Naz the chance to cook the food of his home city. He’s exceptionally talented, as is his sous chef Sandro. We can’t wait to see how they channel their talent into another iconic city with another very strong culinary identity. We’re super excited to become part of another very special neighbourhood”.
Theo James adds; “Ed and I are so excited to continue the journey with the exceptionally talented Naz, Sandro and the rest of the team. Their dedication to quality and delicious food has made Lupa a joy to shepherd and evolve. Ornella gives us a chance to tackle Milanese cuisine in an exciting new part of London, but still close enough to our front doors.”
Restaurant News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
