Former Locanda Locatelli chef to launch new Covent Garden restaurant

​Ex-Locanda Locatelli chef Louis Korovilas is to open a new Italian restaurant in the heart of the West End.

Bancone on William IV Street will open in May in collaboration with restaurateurs William Elner and David Ramsey.

Korovilas comes to the venture following a five year stint working with Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli at his London restaurant, Locanda Locatelli, having also spent time at Pied à Terre.

The restaurant will focus on pasta dishes (a skill honed by Korovilas during his time with Locatelli) and Italian small plates.

Dishes include small plates such as seasonal arancini, duck ham giardinera and oysters with panelled fritters.

The pasta menu will feature lamb neck ravioli, a taglioni with clams and a spaghetti alla chitarra “cacio e pepe”.

Korovilas will also be serving up hearty ragùs – including a pappardelle served with kid goat and rosemary – many of which will be slow cooked for over 10 hours.