Second Acciuga to open in Smithfield

Former lawyer and professional rugby player Guglielmo Arnulfo is to open a second Acciuga restaurant in London’s Smithfield.

The chef and restaurateur has secured the site of the former Chabrot Bistrot des Halles restaurant at 62-63 Long Lane in a deal negotiated by Restaurant Property.

The 100 sq ft restaurant is located directly opposite the site for the new Farringdon Crossrail station and will offer around 30-covers, with an Italian menu based on the original Acciuga in Kensington.

Sally French, a surveyor at Restaurant Property who advised said: “Smithfield is already one of the go-to destinations for London’s gastronomes and the arrival of Acciuga, which has been very popular since its opening in Kensington last year, will only serve to reinforce the area’s reputation.

“Acciuga a favourite of critics, will in particular benefit from its location opposite Farringdon Crossrail station which opens in 2018. Farringdon is set to become something of a hub in the capital and this can only be a positive for a restaurant with the pedigree and reputation of Accuiga.”

Acciuga

Arnulfo opened the first Acciuga in Kensington lastJuneafter just three years of working as a chef in restaurants including one Michelin-starred The Cook and Edoardo Ferrera’s Vizzi e Virtu in Genoa.

Acciuga, which means ‘anchovy’, specialises in dishes from the Italian chef’s home region of Liguria, with a focus on provenance and high quality ingredients.

Dishes include stuffed courgette blossoms, troffie al pesto – a pasta made with just flour and water – and brasato al Nebbiolo D’alba – slow cooked beef in Nebbiolo D’Alba wine.

Speaking to BigHospitality at the time, he said: “It’s such a fantastic thing for me to be bringing the food of my region to the people of London and I can’t wait to see the reaction.”