Insider
NEW OPENING
Banca
Published Thursday July 12th 2012
Details
Banca
30 North Audley Street,
London, W1K 6HF
Arjun and Peter Waney (co-founders of Zuma and Roka) and entrepreneur Giuliano Lotto (Aurelia and Il Baretto) are opening up Banca in the heart of Mayfair. The glamorous new Italian promises classic interiors, Northern Cucina Italiana and timeless style. The dining room will seat between 80 and 100 and there's also a pavement terrace with room for 16 diners.
Banca’s menu celebrates Northern Italian dishes using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients from Executive Chef Marzio Zacchi who opened Il Baretto and Head Chef Gabriele Milani who most recently was the sous chef at Galvin at Windows. Expect dishes such as baked Sea scallops with spicy Calabria N’duja; Char grilled Asparagus with slow cooked Egg and Black Truffle; Saffron risotto "al salto" gratinee with asiago cheese and Potato gnocchi with taleggio, girolles and summer truffle.
The restaurant features separate hot and cold bars with a traditional bread oven on display. There’s also a long bar opposite serves fine wines and classic cocktails such as Negroni, Aperol spritzer, Americano and a range of Italian spirits.
Located in a former NatWest bank, the opulent interior features a palette of dark tones accented with hints of gold and bronze - all set against a striking black and white marble floor and illuminated by statement pendant lighting. The designers are TP Bennett who were behind the Chancery Court Hotel, they have capitalised on the building’s heritage by retaining functioning safety deposit boxes by the bar and the original vault door in the private dining room – it protects you from the heat of the adjacent open plan kitchen.
