Dante London opens its doors in Islington on 1st August, the first independent venture from acclaimed chefs Louis Korovilas and Taylor Sessegnon-Shakespeare. Nestled inside the intimate 27-cover Islington Arts Club, the restaurant promises an experience grounded in fine technique, expressive flavours, and intimate hospitality.
Designed to evolve weekly, Dante’s menu is built around the rhythm of the seasons and the ethos of whole-animal cookery. Drawing from French and Italian traditions, the dishes reflect the pair’s rigorous training and long-standing interest in provenance and restraint. No à la carte option is available – instead, a single set menu is served across three days, allowing the kitchen to refine each element and create a unique experience that is fluid from week to week.
Launch dishes include broad bean orzotto with glazed chicken wing, aubergine scarpece with clam bagna cauda and crispy palourde clams, and beef carpaccio with oyster mayonnaise and baby artichokes. Dessert will begin with a seasonal financier. Larger sharable dishes, such as whole suckling pig belly for two, reflect the team’s commitment to using lesser-known breeds and cuts in full. Those who pre-pay in advance will be treated to an additional off-menu course, starting with a red prawn crudo.
Korovilas’s career includes time at Locanda Locatelli, Pied à Terre, Bancone and Notto, while Sessegnon-Shakespeare trained at Pied à Terre before going on to Gazelle, Luca, Brunswick House, and Bancone. Dante London has reunited the duo to develop their shared culinary journey, reflecting on their foundations of fine dining and shaped by a desire to move beyond its more rigid forms.
The residency takes place in a warmly lit dining room, framed by deep aubergine walls, mismatched vintage furniture, and candlelight. With just one sitting per evening on Fridays and Saturdays, and a more relaxed approach to Sunday lunch, the experience is deliberately slow-paced and intimate. Seating is extremely limited, and early demand suggests Dante London may be among the most anticipated new openings in the city. Advance booking is strongly advised.
Dante London is located at 235 Upper Street, London N1 1RU, and is open for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays and for lunch on Sundays. Further information and bookings can be found here.
