Phil Howard to open Piccadilly pasta bar Otto in November

Chef Phil Howard and business partner Julian Dyer are to open a bricks and mortar venue for their pasta concept Otto in London’s Piccadilly this November.

Otto launched as a pasta delivery service in May 2021 as a celebration of Howard’s love of pasta, and will now bring its simple dishes to the public at the pasta bar.

The chef 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.”

Executive chef Louis Korovilas, previously of Locanda Locatelli, Pied à Terre and Bancone will be at the helm in the kitchen alongside Nicholas Georgoulakis, previously of Sloane Street Deli and Elystan Street, who takes the role of general manager. Harvi Singh, who has worked at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’saisons and Elystan Street, will be operations manager.

Dishes on the menu will change according to the season, including 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 come in the form of olives rosemary, rock salt, tomato and garlic focaccia and crostini.

The 74-cover site will have an open central kitchen and evoke the warmth and comfort of a traditional trattoria.

Howard and restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas will continue to run Elystan Street, Kitchen W8 and Church Road.