BOLO by Gennaro marks the return of celebrated Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo to London's restaurant scene. Opened on 25 September 2026 at 17 Air Street, on the Soho side of Piccadilly, it occupies the former Il Conte site next door to Prezzo on Glasshouse Street. Created with Brava Hospitality Group, the team behind Prezzo and the revived Jamie's Italian, the restaurant takes its name from Contaldo's signature bolognese.
Born in Minori on the Amalfi Coast, Contaldo has spent more than 60 years in kitchens and decades championing regional Italian cooking in the UK. He built a loyal following through his Fitzrovia restaurant Passione (1999–2009), bestselling cookbooks and television appearances, and is widely known as an early mentor to Jamie Oliver. BOLO is his first London restaurant since Passione closed.
The intimate 32-cover space nods to 1970s Italy, with the feel of a small, buzzy neighbourhood trattoria. The concise menu centres on six fresh pasta dishes, most celebrating bolognese in some form. The Original pairs tagliatelle with Contaldo's pork and beef ragù, while Antonio, a tribute to Antonio Carluccio, brings together pappardelle, porcini and mascarpone. Polpo matches orecchiette with octopus and 'nduja, Salsiccia combines mezze maniche with sausage, Calabrian chilli and friarielli, and Al Forno sees conchiglioni stuffed with bolo and mozzarella. Limone breaks from the theme with tagliolini in Amalfi lemon butter and mint.
Antipasti include tomato bruschetta, 'nduja meatballs, a bolo arancino and buffalo mozzarella with agrodolce peppers, while desserts keep it simple with ricotta doughnuts, gelato and sorbetto. The wine list follows a one-wine-per-colour approach.
With big flavours, generous plates and Contaldo's warm hospitality, BOLO is a return to the uncomplicated Italian cooking that has defined his career: fresh pasta, regional recipes and a welcoming trattoria atmosphere.