Charlie Mellor to launch Italian Osteria in Soho
Charlie Mellor, best known for founding the now-closed Hackney institution The Laughing Heart, will make his grand return to the restaurant world next February with the opening of a new Italian eatery, Osteria Vibrato, in Soho.
Soho will welcome a new Italian restaurant in February as Charlie Mellor – best known for founding the now-closed Hackney institution The Laughing Heart – opens Osteria Vibrato with long-time friend and sommelier Cameron Dewar.
The restaurant is arriving at a particularly interesting moment for Italian dining in London. New openings are popping up across the capital, signalling a renewed appetite for the cuisine. Padella is set to launch a third restaurant next spring, while Jamie’s Italian plans to open in Leicester Square around the same time.
After stepping away from the London restaurant scene, Mellor has had time to reflect on what he feels it is currently missing.
Championing simplicity
Osteria Vibrato will champion classic Italian cooking and high-quality ingredients. The menu, co-created with Burro e Salvia founder Gaia Enria, will offer antipasti such as cured meats and fresh fiordilatte mozzarella, daily rolled pasta and shareable small plates.
The name ‘Vibrato,’ taken from the musical term for resonance, nods to Soho’s storied musical past and Mellor’s early career as an operatic tenor.
“We’ll delight in showcasing our love of impeccable hospitality, art, candlelight, narrative, nostalgia, vibes, music, Italian food, fine wine, cold martinis, people and generosity,” says Mellor.
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A wine list to match
Lunchtimes will feature a fixed-price menu of antipasti, primi and dolce, stretching into the early evening for pre-theatre guests.
A £3 coperto charge grants diners access to premium olive oils, aged parmesan, freshly baked bread and kitchen scraps for the traditional scarpetta. For dessert, guests can expect riffs on Italian classics.
The wine list, curated by Mellor and Dewar will feature 250 bottles, some from Mellor’s personal cellar. There is an explicit focus on minimal-intervention classics and age-worthy wines, with a broader off-site collection drip-fed onto the list.
The Vibrato Experience
Inside, diners can expect cream tablecloths, candlelight and terrazzo floors by Diespeker & Co., as well as red banquettes. Head to the back of the restaurant for an intimate 12-seat Green Room cocktail bar offering martinis, negronis and occasional masterclasses.
Music will be at the heart of the venue, ranging from acoustic sessions to a sound system that will play selections from Mellor’s own record collection.
“To deliver well takes passion, technique, and generosity of spirit,” he says. “Guests need to trust you; to feel safe. Osteria Vibrato will always strive to build that connection.”
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