Bernardi’s, a new modern Italian restaurant from brothers Gabriel and Marcello Bernardi, will open on 8 September in Marylebone, London.
The 120-cover all-day restaurant and bar will sit on the corner of Seymour Street and Seymour Place, occupying two floors of a restored Victorian property in Portman Village. Along with Gabriel and Marcello’s passion for food, design has also been an integral part of the opening for the brothers, whose vision is to create a sense of understated sophistication while making guests feel completely at home amongst their surroundings.
On entering, guests will be greeted by an open plan room seating 80, made up of muted greys, blacks and accented colours, with extensive use of natural woods, stone and textiles that reference a vintage Italian style. Booths and banquette seating break up the space, making the grand room intimate and friendly. Large windows running the length of the room will flood the restaurant with natural light, and in warmer months will open out onto the street to give the room an al-fresco feel. At the rear, a large communal table will overlook an open kitchen and bar, where guests will be able to work and relax through the day with Italian coffee, and watch their pizzettes and breads being made to order.
Downstairs, the relaxed theme will continue with grouped sofas and a hidden snug. The bar, finished with light dappled-grey marble will serve up classic Italian cocktails, and provide the perfect spot for those wishing to perch pre-dinner. A few larger tables will make this an ideal space for private events for up to 40, with French doors opening out into an outdoor courtyard, which will give a greater sense of space. At street level, raised outdoor seating and grey awnings will frame the restaurant along with clustered olive trees giving a sense of Mediterranean simplicity.
In the kitchen head chef Sabrina Gidda, a two-time Roux Scholarship finalist, joins the team from Restaurant Associates, and will create a simple and seasonal, modern Italian menu. Expect dishes such as antipasti of Rose veal tonnato, parsley, red onion & caper salad, White peaches, burrata, almonds & basil and Market fish crudo to share. Pastas incuding Tarragon gnocchi, rabbit ragu, broad beans & pancetta and Orchiette, n’duja, romanesco broccoli & basil will follow on the menu, and will be available alongside Secondi dishes comprising of Salted cod, white polenta, peperonata & sorrel, Duck, cime de rapa, pistachios and Rare-breed pork, preserved lemon, clams & fregola. From the open-kitchen guests will also be able to order pizzettes of Veal sausage, sage & chilli and Potato, Scamorza & red onion, as well as popular Cicchetti dishes including Pea & watercress arancini and Olive, white anchovy & duck egg crostini to nibble on over a glass of wine or cocktail.
Drinks will come in the form of a fully Italian wine list, and vintage inspired Italian cocktails. Bernardi’s aim is to bring together the best of heritage brands and combine them with artisanal British produce to create modern favourites. A brunch menu will run across the weekends, with the addition of a weekly changing roast on Sundays.
Owners Gabriel and Marcello Bernardi, Italian brothers from Australia, hope that the restaurant will bring together Italian cooking and hospitality, with a fresh antipodean approach to style and service. Both brothers bring with them extensive experience in London’s hospitality industry from their key roles as part of the Cubitt House Group. Joining them is Zoe Charlton-Brown, formerly general manager at Café Murano St James and The Bull & Last who will add another pillar to the brother’s experience in her role as director of operations.
“Growing up in Australia, food was always really important to us – even more so because of our Italian heritage,” comments Gabriel and Marcello. “We both enjoy light, fresh, uncomplicated food and wanted to create somewhere that we could eat in day-in-day-out, a restaurant that capitalises on flavour but isn’t too heavy, fussy or ‘once in a while’. It’s our hope that both the local Marylebone residents and others who share our passion for good Italian food, will enjoy it as much as us!”
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