After more than a century supplying some of the UK’s leading restaurants, Vallebona is introducing a new 12-seat counter in Wimbledon Village, offering intimate dining, coffee, lunch and candlelit evening service.

Founded in Italy in 1890 and operating in the UK since 1997, Vallebona is best known as a specialist importer and supplier to restaurants including Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Le Gavroche, The River Café, Bocca di Lupo, Trinity and Petersham Nurseries. The new format brings its wholesale-level produce directly to guests, with the counter facing the preparation area to offer a close view of the kitchen in action.

The refreshed interior, created in collaboration with Sherliker Design, integrates deli, retail and wine bar within a compact space. By day, the counter serves coffee and lunch; by evening, the lighting softens to candlelight, with a greater focus on wine and longer, more relaxed dining.

The menu reflects Stefano’s Sardinian heritage alongside Japanese influences from his wife, Naoko. Rather than a fixed tasting menu, it draws on dishes from across the store, using the same cheeses, charcuterie and specialist imports supplied to Vallebona’s restaurant clients. Dishes include Kombu Risotto made with rare kombu sourced from Japan; gyoza filled with sheep’s ricotta and lemon zest, served with truffle soy; porchetta with miso using yellow miso from Gifu Prefecture; and Naoko’s karaage chicken, marinated in Japanese soy and fried in the traditional style. An Italian cheese and charcuterie selection changes daily, served with artisan breads and condiments such as seaweed chutney and truffle honey.

Cocktails include a Berto Negroni from Turin, premixed and barrel-aged in Italy, and an Aperitivo Spritz Berto. The wine list spans hundreds of bottles from small producers across Italy, from the Dolomites to the slopes of Etna. With a particular emphasis on Brunello, Barolo and lesser-known grape varieties, Vallebona applies a flat £20 margin to shelf price, allowing guests to access wines typically found in high-end restaurants at a lower mark-up.

The 12-seat counter is bookable, with a number of seats reserved for walk-ins.