Phil Howard Set to Launch Pasta Bar OTTO in November

The Staff Canteen

Editor

Michelin-starred chef Phil Howard and business partner Julian Dyer are set to open their first permanent site in early November

This announcement comes following the success of London-based pasta delivery company OTTO and while it initially debuted as an online delivery service back in May 2021, OTTO will now have its first sit-down restaurant

With its simple ingredient-led dishes and chic, all-day pasta bar located in Piccadilly, it will celebrate Phil’s career-long love of pasta.

The restaurant will be headed and overseen by executive chef Louis Korovilas, who has worked at Locanda Locatelli, Pied à Terre, and Bancone and alongside several acclaimed chefs including Giorgio Locatelli and Marcus Eaves.

Alongside Louis, Nicholas Georgoulakis, who has worked at Sloane Street Deli and Elystan Street, will join as General Manager, and Harvi Singh, formerly of Le Manoir aux Quat’saisons and Elystan Street, as Operations Manager.

Despite this new opening Phil Howard along with restauranter Rebecca Mascarenhas will continue to run their other restaurants, Elystan Street, Kitchen W8 and Church Road, with no changes planned.

OTTO's menu will offer authentic seasonal pasta dishes alongside simple, freshly prepared snacks, starters and desserts. Some of what can be expected are; Gnocchetti with smashed sausage, white wine, fennel and chilli (£10), Pappardelle with slow-cooked shin of beef, oxtail and red wine (£13), Bucatini with a ragout of autumn vegetables, mushrooms and chestnuts (£9), and Squid ink spaghetti with a sauce of sardines, garlic, sweet peppers and tomato (£13).

Snacks will range from Olives to OTTO’s own rosemary, rock salt, tomato and garlic focaccia and endless crostini. Whereas starters will see traditional staples such as Vitello tonnato given all the love they deserve.

The restaurant is a 74-cover site and will focus on being casual with the focus being on the pasta bar
with an open central kitchen where the chefs are visible for all to see. OTTO is planned to be an affordable and accessible concept celebrating the simplicity of Italian cuisine.

Phil said: “It would be fair to say that I have spent my career to date cooking a certain kind of ingredient at a certain kind of price point. I’ve loved it all, and continue to do so, but it is exciting however to have a project that can be delivered without compromise, at a price point that is wholly accessible to all.

"The fact that pasta is the medium is the icing on the cake and with the fantastic team we have in place the goal is simple - to bring pleasure to fellow Londoners by sharing authentic pasta dishes in a relaxed fun environment.”

OTTO will be opening in early November, with initial booking details to be announced soon.

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