Theo James opens London Fields Italian restaurant Ornella

Now White Lotus and The Gentleman star Theo James and partners Naz Hassan and Ed Templeton has opened a second venture in London Fields this week.

Ornella opened in Wilton Way on May 8 and celebrates the cuisine of head chef Naz's home city of Milan.

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Posting on Instagram they wrote: "We’re excited to announce the opening of a project we’ve been working on these past few months. Introducing Ornella, our new corner spot on Wilton Way.

"Named after the legendary singer and inspired by the food of Naz’s home city, plus a few other favourites from across the north, we’ll be serving a menu of Milanese classics 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 (8th May)."

White Lotus and The Gentleman actor Theo James is a partner in LUPA in his neighbourhood of Highbury and is now going in on a second Italian restaurant. (Image: PA)

LUPA is a 28 cover trattoria dedicated to crowd-pleasing Roman comfort food with a neighbourhood vibe that springs from the fact that Templeton and James are Highbury locals.

It opened in summer 2025 and critics have praised punchy, hearty dishes such as a "sublime carbonara" burrata stuffed courgette flower, slow-roasted porchetta stuffed with apricot, and a savoury peach tart.

The new restaurant is on a corner site - previously occupied by Italian/British cafe Fran's, and is larger than LUPA with space for a pavement terrace on sunny days.

Along with sous chef Sandro, Naz Hassan ( ex Pidgin) will be serving a menu that it will include risotto Milanese, vitello tonnato and tagliatelle al burro e Parmigiano, and Zuppa Inglese for dessert.

Ornella opened at 51 Wilton Way, Hackney on May 8. Bookings can be made at ornella.restaurant.

Book in via the website: ornella.restaurant