Celeb restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini (yes Cheryl’s ex) is teaming up with Ivan Simeoli (who’s worked at Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana) to open Itaku in Fitzrovia. The restaurant will blend Japanese and Italian flavours – not unlike Angelina in Dalston – with dishes like Dover sole Milanese with capers & kombu, trout guanciale pizzetta, seafood tempura ragu, aged soy balsamic chicken with robata asparagus, black cod amatriciana, and Sicilian red prawns with truffle ponzu & shiso.
Former Savoy’s American Bar bratender Nicholas Medicamento will be overseeing the drinks list, which’ll feature cocktails like the East to West Manhattan (bourbon whisky, umeshu plum liqueur & vermouth, plum & rootbeer bitter) and the Madame Butterfly (vodka, Italicus, blue tea & rose champagne). Fernandez-Versini has been talking about opening a place in London for years so let’s see if it’s been worth the wait.
Opens Thurs 17th February 2022
110 Great Portland St, London W1W 6PQ
itaku.co.uk
