Barbarella: Big Mamma Group To Open New Waterside Restaurant

From Sicilian-inspired Circolo Popolare to larger-than-life Ave Mario in Covent Garden, Big Mamma Group is famous for its Instagrammable Italian eateries. And now the restaurant group is adding another eatery to its collection, Barbarella, launching this summer in Canary Wharf.

Big Mamma Group Is Opening A New Restaurant In Canary Wharf

Set to open within the YY Building, perched beside the docks amid the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, Barbarella is inspired by the golden age of Roman cinema in the ‘70s. The restaurant’s interiors will be characteristically maximalist: think vintage Ferragamo silks, a mirrored glass bar, a retro lounge and an open kitchen, framed in gold.

Rome-born Marco Rastelli will be heading up the kitchen, serving dishes inspired by his hometown, including extra-thin Ruota di Carretto pizzas, caramelised Italian tomato tarte tartin with Parmigiano cream, and fresh pasta (notably, a new one-metre long spaghettone dish). Mains will include a sharing buttered Cornish lemon sole, filleted tableside, and grilled steaks ranging from fillets to large T-bones. For dessert, diners can head outside to the waterside terrace to enjoy a selection of gelati – white chocolate, pistachio or chocolate, all drizzled in your sauce of choice.

Barbarella will also have Big Mamma’s largest ever cocktail menu, featuring fun twists on classics such as a pistachio espresso martini, plus an extensive wine list featuring Italian magnums and vintages. 

Jacuzzi

Founded by Tigrane Seydoux and Victor Lugger, Big Mamma Group was born in Paris. Over the years the group expanded around Europe, with a collection of restaurants dotted around London as well as Paris and Madrid. The group’s first London restaurant was Gloria, opened in 2019, followed by Circolo Popolare in Fitzrovia, with Carlotta, Ave Mario and Jacuzzi to follow.

Barbarella is set to open at YY Building in Canary Wharf this June at YY Building, 30 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, E14 5HX. bigmammagroup.com