Auguste restaurant to open in former Papi site

On Wednesday 1 April, a new restaurant will open in the former Papi site, overseen by chef Mike Bagnall (above right) of Elm London and Dylan Walters (above left), previously of east London's Bambi restaurant.

Auguste will open its doors in London Fields next month, built around arrosticini, the traditional flame-grilled skewers from the Abruzzo region of Italy.

The new launch brings the pastoral cooking of central Italy to east London. Abruzzese cooking is shaped by sheep farming and mountain pasture.

Bagnall, who developed his connection to Abruzzo while living in the region, will flame-grill lamb, cull yaw, wagyu, liver and wild boar. These charred skewers will be served alongside a selection of dishes such as Carciofi alla Romana, La Latteria stracciatella with ibérico tomato, Crushed smoked potato with Hikari miso and Lyonnais and crème fraîche capoletti in lamb brodo. Larger plates include whole grilled fish from the market.

Named after the melancholic figure in Soir Bleu by Edward Hopper, painted after his time in Paris in 1914, the owners say 'Auguste the clown' represents a counterpart to refinement and traditional hierarchy, belonging to the crowd rather than standing above it.

Two floors

Upstairs, the restaurant seats 31 guests, with a small standing counter for walk-ins and an open kitchen at the rear, where the charcoal grill anchors the room.

Downstairs, an intimate bar offers a looser counterpart to the restaurant above, designed for drinks and late evenings.

Cocktails feature a Camparino made with Campari, soda and lemon oil for £5. Negronis and Martinis (£10–£12, £8 on Wednesdays) sit alongside Italian lagers.

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.

Image: Scout O'Donoghue

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