Chef Gino D’Acampo’s restuarant at the five-star ME London hotel Luciano is now welcoming guests.
Named after his 19-year-old son Luciano, the 100-cover restaurant on The Strand features an à-la-carte menu designed by Gino D’Acampo and headed by Executive Head Chef Lorenzo Minini (StreetXO, C-London Cipriani and Osteria San Lorenzo), who returns from Italy to join Gino’s team.
The menu features ten key sections – cicchetti; antipasti; carpaccio and tartare; insalata; pasta, risotto and gnocchi; pizza Napoletana; al mare; bistecca; and dalla terra; with a wide selection of accompaniments, contorni, to complement.
Signature dishes include braised beef cannelloni, spaghetti lobster and rose veal cutlet Milanese.
Mixologist, Chris Edwards from Salt of the Earth, has worked alongside Gino and the senior development team to create the cocktail menu, including signature Luciano cocktail, Goodfellas, featuring Maker’s Mark, Ancho Reyes red, thyme sugar, fresh lemon, miraculous foamer, red wine float, mozzarella, basil and pepperoni. An extensive wine list, including established Italian brands and exciting new names, is available.
Luciano’s interior incorporates polished white marble surfaces, warm woods, wall coverings featuring exotic birds and brushed gold accent features.
Gino D’Acampo said: “I’m super excited to open my new restaurant, Luciano at the ME London hotel. Every opening is an important occasion but this launch in particular has a personal and special place, it being named after my first born, Luciano, and it being my first with the world-renowned ME by Meliá.
“The last 18 months have been a difficult time for everyone. It makes the opening of Luciano all the more significant; to be looking forward and celebrating the start of something new is a real privilege and something of which I am incredibly proud.
“I have to say a huge thank you to my fantastic team and that of ME by Meliá who have been nothing short of amazing this last year and made the opening of Luciano possible. I cannot wait to join them in raising a glass and inviting guests to experience everything my beautiful new restaurant and bar at the ME London hotel has to offer.”
This is the first move this year for the Italian chef and television personality, with further plans for national and international restaurant openings in the pipeline.