Actor Theo James opens a Roman restaurant in London
A restaurant specializing in Roman cuisine is about to open in London, with all the hallmarks of Roman gastronomy, from supplì to carbonara, and even a decidedly evocative name: Lupa.
The Lupa restaurant
The two promise the "beauty and simplicity" typical of Roman cuisine, which they have come to appreciate during their various stays in the capital. Bringing this vision to life will be chef Naz Hassan, renowned in London for the cuisine of his restaurant Pidgin. Originally from Bangladesh and raised in Italy, Hassan met Templeton during his time as a guest chef at Carousel.
The venue will open in the Highbury area, to which the two founders of Lupa have close ties: “Theo and I are both from Highbury, and we share the ambition of opening a venue that will become an enduring classic for the area.”
Templeton continues: "It took 18 months to become a reality, but we knew from the start that it was a special corner of Highbury. We just needed a special chef to allow us to bring our Roman dream to life."
Apparently, they've found it: "Working with Naz, we've come up with a casual and fun menu. We want customers to enjoy it to the fullest, saving room for the homemade desserts. Lupa is the kind of place we've always wanted to have near our home. There are some Roman dishes that people already know, but there's still so much to discover."
The three promise authentic Roman and Lazio cuisine: make way for fried foods, stuffed zucchini flowers and supplì, and strictly handmade pasta dishes, including carbonara, amatriciana, and cacio e pepe.
On Sundays, lasagna, maritozzi, and porchetta sandwiches will be available to support Arsenal fans during matches. Lupa will seat about 30 and will also offer Spritz and a selection of reasonably priced Italian wines, with first courses expected to start around £15. The opening is scheduled for late June.