Parle’s follow-up to Town brings a London-Italian spirit to Pearson Square.
Stevie Parle is on a roll. Fresh off the launch of Town on Drury Lane, the chef and restaurateur is preparing to open Motorino, a new Italian restaurant in Fitzrovia. He has teamed up with chef Luke Ahearne, formerly of Lita, with the debut set for October.
The name offers a wink to Parle’s past. Motorino nods to Rotorino, his Dalston restaurant that closed in 2018. Parle’s track record also includes Pastaio, a crowd-pleasing concept that helped shape London’s current appetite for fresh pasta and unfussy Italian cooking. He previously collaborated with restaurateur Jonathan Downey on Rotorino and on Town, and the new opening continues that momentum in the capital.
Luke Ahearne joins Stevie Parle with a serious pedigree. At Lita, he led the kitchen to its first Michelin star in less than a year. His approach blends precision with personality, and expectations are high for what he will bring to Motorino. On leaving his previous role at Lita, he shared on Instagram, “I wish Lita all the best for the future and continued success. The future is bright and very exciting, and I look forward to what’s ahead.”
Set across 140 covers, Motorino is designed to feel lively from day to night. The look takes cues from the retro-futuristic feel of Town, but switches to a yellow palette for a sunnier mood. A large bar anchors the room, an open pasta bench puts craft on display, and tall windows will open onto Pearson Square with views toward Fitzrovia Chapel. Kevin Armstrong of Satan’s Whiskers is shaping the cocktail list, which hints at a drinks program with both classic technique and contemporary flair.
Menu details for the Stevie Parle and Luke Ahearne project remain under wraps, though Parle and Ahearne are signalling an accessible price point. With Parle’s knack for building buzzy, quality-driven Italian restaurants and Ahearne’s fine-tuned cooking, Motorino looks set to land with confidence and charm.
GO: Follow @motorino.london on Instagram for more information.