Taking its name from the clown archetype, Auguste will bring the ‘pastoral cooking of central Italy to East London’, majoring on flame-grilled skewers from the Abruzzo region — arrosticini — alongside ‘lively, imperfect wines’.
Bagnall, who developed his connection to Abruzzo while living in the region, will flame-grill lamb, cull yaw, wagyu, liver and wild boar.
The charred skewers will be served alongside a concise selection of supporting dishes including carciofi alla Romana; La Latteria stracciatella with ibérico tomato; crushed smoked potato with Hikari miso, Lyonnaise onions and crème fraîche; cappelletti in lamb brodo; and whole grilled market fish.
Specifically named after the melancholic figure in the painting Soir Bleu by Edward Hopper, Auguste ‘represents a counterpart to refinement and traditional hierarchy, belonging to the crowd rather than standing above it’.
Bagnall is co-owner of Elm, currently at The Montpelier pub in Peckham. Originally from Australia, his CV includes Brunswick House.
Walters was restaurant manager at Bambi for 18 months, joining shortly after opening. Before this he briefly worked as assistant general manager at BAO.
After working in the fashion industry, Walters founded Twang!, representing a collective of chefs to create special dinners and events, with Bagnall the first client on its books.
The ground-floor restaurant will seat 31 guests, with a small standing counter for walk-ins and an open kitchen at the rear, where the charcoal grill anchors the room.
The space draws on the warmth and energy of streetside bistros and bars in Paris, Barcelona and Madrid. White tablecloths sit alongside rich walnut wood and soft pastel tones, with a playful palette of pale blues, reds and warm neutrals.
Downstairs, an intimate bar offers a looser counterpart to the restaurant above, designed for drinks and late evenings.
Cocktails are described as classic and generous. The wine list focuses on low-intervention bottles from small producers, with a particular emphasis on Italian and Abruzzese varieties including Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Pecorino, alongside a rotating cast of European wines.
Five wines will be served by the glass, including a weekly magnum (£9–£16 per glass), spanning sparkling, white, red, chilled red and skin-contact bottles.
Low-waste-focused restaurant Papi closed earlier this year after a three year run.
Its owners have teased an ‘exciting’ new project that will be run under a new name in a ‘fancy’ new location.