Chef-restaurateur Stevie Parle (right in photo) will next week open his second London restaurant in quick succession – Motorino, a “big Italian” with 150 covers in Fitzrovia, this time with Luke Ahearne (left), the chef behind the successful opening of Lita in Marylebone last year.
With its mix of carefully sourced ingredients and slick interior styling, Motorino follows the template Stevie laid down May with the critically acclaimed opening of Town in Covent Garden, described in the new 2026 Harden’s guide as a “big, throbbing, retro-futuristic Theatreland brasserie”. The new venue’s name combines ‘motor’ and ‘Torino’ (home city of Fiat and Alfa Romeo), and its walls are decked with photographs of classic Italian cars.
Stevie says: “We’ve been looking for another site that could have the scale and impact of Town. People sometimes imagine we go through endless analyses, hire consultants, crunch the competition and trends … but the truth is we don’t. We just do what feels right and excites us, and when the place matches that energy, it works.
“I’ve always liked Fitzrovia – it’s professional and hard-working but also creative and fun. It’s home to some of London’s best pubs, but apart from a few classics, there aren’t many really good places to eat. That felt like a gap worth filling.”
He added that he was excited to work with Luke, who is “one of London’s best chefs – passionate about produce, obsessed by quality and consistency, and together we want to create something really special.”
For his part, Luke says: “Opening Motorino with Stevie is a chance to create something new, bold and exciting in central London. For us it’s all about celebrating great produce, cooking with joy, and bringing my perspective on Italian food to Fitzrovia.”
As at Town, Kevin Armstrong of Satan’s Whiskers is directing the drinks offer at Motorino, which includes seasonal cocktails on tap as well as quick-serve “direct” Martinis.
