As she plans to launch 'Bibo' at the former Wallace & Co site

Putney veteran restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas is coming back. her latest project will be at Gregg Wallace's Wallace & Co site on Upper Richmond Road in Putney will soon be reborn as an Italian restaurant, Bibo, to launch on 6 March.

The original plan was to open Bibo with Theo Randall at the Lower Richmond Rd site where she ran Cantinetta but in July 2013 we reported the joint venture had collapsed. The new site includes a new partnership as the kitchen will be led by Chris Beverley, who coincidentaly worked with Theo Randall at The Intercontinental and before that he was at Chez Bruce.

Rebecca Mascarenhas said, “I have lived in the Barnes/Putney area for nearly 30 years, and have marveled how the neighbourhood has flourished with great bars, shops and residents, this part of Putney is especially buzzy, and we expect that Chris Beverley’s modern Italian food will hit just the right note.”

Chris Beverley has adopted Italian food as his favoured cuisine. His modern Italian menus will feature typical dishes such as Farro arancini; Fritto misto of squid, prawns and zucchini; Pasta e ceci; Pappardelle with rabbit and Prosecco ragù; Poussin, braised greens and lemon; Cod, artichoke, potato and taggiasche olives; Pannacotta with caramel oranges; and Chocolate and almond cake with crema di mascarpone.

Prices for Antipasti will range from £4-£7.50, Primi from £7.50-£9 (and all pasta dishes will be available as
main courses at £14), Secondi from £15-£19, and Dolci from £6-£6.50.

Noted wine specialist Zeren Wilson will be responsible for the wines at Bibo; he has assembled a 60-bin all-
Italian list, and will be on hand to assist customers with wine selections. Wine prices will range from £17.50 (bottle), with 15 by the glass (from £4.50). There will also be a wide range of Italian aperitivi, cocktails and grappas.

The 70-seat site is being refurbished and will feature a simple, understated design placing emphasis on the quality of the materials – there will be warm hand-blown glass lighting, encaustic tiling, and solid oak table tops set against whitewashed brick and stripped timber floors.

Bibo will be open daily for lunch from Noon-2.30pm (until 3pm on weekends), and dinner from 6pm-10pm (until 11pm on Friday and Saturday, and until 9.30pm on Sunday). The 40-seat bar will be open throughout the day, offering a great selection of antipasti at lunch and dinner, as well as salumi and cheese throughout the afternoon.

The General Manager of Bibo will be Amy Boden, previously at Pollen Street Social and The Square.

Rebecca brought us The Phoenicx & Cantinetta in Putney plus Sonny's Kitchen in neighbouring Barnes, Kitchen W8 in Kensignton and in partnership with Sam Harrison at Harrison's & Sam's Brasserie.

February 14, 2014