London’s first gluten, dairy & sugar free Italian restaurant opens next month

Best known for Macellaio RC – the Italian butchery with tables – Roberto Costa has teamed up with chef Simona Ranieri to bring a brand new restaurant concept to London.

Taking over a bright, airy space in Fulham, Ardiciocca (meaning artichoke in Genoese-Italian) will launch on Friday 4^th May, inspired by the world famous Mediterranean diet: marking London’s first gluten, dairy and sugar free restaurant opening.

While Macellaio RC has a prominent focus on Italian Fassona beef, there will be no steak in sight at Roberto Costa’s fifth London restaurant. Instead, Ardiciocca will serve simple, vegetable-centric Mediterranean cuisine with fermentation a key focus. Dating back to Roman times, fermentation transforms the flavour of vegetables, fruits and grains, whilst increasing their nutritional value through the development of good enzymes, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics and antioxidants.

Ardiciocca will also champion produce selected from small farms and producers from around the world, with the supply chain carefully traced to ensure ingredients are treated with the utmost care and respect throughout their journey to the plate.

Leading the kitchen, renowned Italian chef and cookbook author, Simona Ranieri – a coeliac with a love of good food and passion for nutrition – believes that no flavour, colour or texture should be compromised in pursuit of healthy eating. The chef’s menu at Ardiciocca will include the likes of beetroot tartare with mustard and green apple sorbet; pea ravioli with almond, borage and clam broth; or slow-cooked lamb with kimchi. A selection of creative and nutritious salads will also be available, as well as dairy and sugar free desserts such as Matcha ice cream with pure chocolate, amaranth pops and quinoa; and Simona’s signature almond tiramisu.

The wine list at Ardiciocca will focus on natural, organic and biodynamic wines, selected not only to achieve a low allergenic impact on the body, but also to support small artisan traders around the world. A range of lesser-known orange wines sits alongside an array of red, white, rosé and sparkling options from Italy, France, South Africa and beyond.

Ardiciocca will officially launch on Friday 4^th May and can be found at 461-465 North End Road, London, SW6 1NZ. Further information can be found here.