Set within 1 Pearson Square, formerly home to The Arber Garden, the 150-cover Motorino will showcase seasonal produce from Parle’s “trusted suppliers, farms and friends in the UK and Ireland”.
Menu details are yet to be released, with the pair saying they aim to deliver “an exciting, ambitious restaurant with fun at its core, and without compromising on quality and inventiveness”.
Ahearne (pictured above) is best known for his stint as head chef at Marylebone’s Mediterranean restaurant Lita, which won a Michelin star in under a year.
“Opening Motorino with Stevie is a chance to create something new, bold and exciting in central London,” says Ahearne, who left Lita earlier this year. “For us it’s all about celebrating great produce, cooking with joy, and bringing my perspective on Italian food to Fitzrovia.”
Parle added: “Luke is a fantastic young chef, passionate about produce, obsessed by quality and consistency, and together we want to create something really special. We’re determined to open the best London-Italian we can.”
Motorino will be Parle’s second new opening in six months, following his high-profile Covent Garden launch, Town. He is also behind London pasta restaurant brand Pastaio.
Like Town, the bar at Motorino will be overseen by Kevin Armstrong (of World’s 50 Best Bar, Satan’s Whiskers) and will feature seasonal spritzes on tap alongside a line-up of quick-serve martinis.