Theo James to Open Italian Restaurant Near Premier League Stadium

White Lotus actor Theo James as he gets ready to debut his initial restaurant venture with the opening of an Italian dining spot London the following month after 18 months of planning.

The star has joined forces with Ed Templeton, co-founder of Carousel – the creative space and eatery located in Fitzrovia – to launch 'Lupa,' which takes its inspiration from the she-wolf of ancient Rome.

The pair are collaborating on a menu for an eatery in Islington alongside Naz Hassan, the ex-head chef from Pidgin and Crispin restaurants, who will oversee the kitchen operations.

Lupa is expected to focus on the 'beauty and simplicity' of 'Roman comfort food' with inspiration from osterias in the Italian capital which sell simple dishes.

But it will also bring a 'distinct London flare' including takeaway porchetta sandwiches on Arsenal matchdays, given it is near the team's Emirates Stadium.

James and Templeton collaborated on the restaurant's design alongside their spouses - Ruth Kearney from "Primeval" and Georgia Maguire of "The Breeders."

Stuffed zucchini blossoms (fiori di zucca) along with telephone arancini (supplì altelefono) will be offered, alongside grilled lamb chops (abbacchio alla scottadito).

The pasta dishes are expected to cost around £15 per plate, and they will also offer carciofi alla romana (stuffed artichoke hearts filled with herbs and slow-cooked in white wine, olive oil, and garlic).

There will be 28 cover options with 'closely spaced' tables, and the drink selection will feature cocktails, spritzes, and Italian wines.

Mr Templeton, formerly of Rome, shared The Standard Theo and I are both from the Highbury area and have a shared dream of establishing a long-lasting neighborhood staple.

It took 18 months to turn this vision into reality, but right from the beginning, we recognized how extraordinary this part of Highbury truly is. What we lacked initially was an exceptional chef capable of helping us realize our Roman aspirations.

Collaborating with Naz, we've come up with a menu that’s laid-back, enjoyable, and tasty. Our aim is for folks to savor every bit of it, ensuring they leave space for our handcrafted dolci.

'Lupa is exactly what we’ve always dreamed of having right at our doorstep. While some Roman dishes are well-known, many remain largely unexplored.'

The structure located at 73 Highbury Park formerly accommodated the Highbury Arts Club, a venue known for serving tapas, hosting wine tasting events, art exhibits, and yoga sessions.

Other celebrities who ventured into opening eateries in London include Mark Wahlberg, whose restaurant Wahlburgers debuted in Covent Garden in 2019 but shut down after just one year.

Actor Danny Trejo from "Machete" launched the inaugural UK location of his Trejo's Tacos eatery in November 2023 on Portobello Road in Notting Hill.

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