The old Peg site in Hackney is being turned into a neighbourhood Italian joint
Gennaro Leone, who runs the Spazio Leone furniture showroom, is getting into the restaurant game with Dalla, a new neighbourhood Italian restaurant opening on Hackney’s Morning Lane. Given his background, you can bet the place is gonna look the part – Gennaro has worked with Sicilian artist and maker Oscar Piccolo to source pieces for the restaurant, including a limited-edition Stilnovo chandelier, Robert Mallet-Stevens chairs, a 1930s Piero Fornasetti painting, a Gio Ponti brass mirror from the 1950s and a Riccardo Dalisi-designed prototype cafetière, made to celebrate 100 years of Alessi. These will all sit alongside custom menu holders, wall lights and a hand-hammered sign all made for Dalla in Naples.
The kitchen side of the operation sounds just as promising, with Mitchell Damota (ex-P.Franco and Burro e Salvia) and Gennaro’s brother Gianmarco Leone (ex-Claridge’s) leading the charge. The pair will be cooking home-style regional Italian dishes, including some old and unfamiliar recipes, that reflect the season, so richer food from the north in the winter and fresh dishes from the south in the summer. Though the dishes will change, you can expect to find antipasti, pasta, risotto, a handful of meat or fish dishes, tiramisu and cheese on the Dalla menu – sounds like everything you could possibly want from an Italian restaurant.
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Put the kettle on!
Opens Thurs 2nd November 2023
120-122 Morning Ln, London E9 6LH
@dalla.restaurant