Antony Brown's Italian restaurant Paesan to open in Exmouth Market

Paesan, a new bar and kitchen serving simple Italian dishes, is set to open on the corner of Exmouth Market, London, in July.

The restaurant is the first solo venture of Antony Brown, formerly of Pasta Brown in Covent Garden, and its focus will be on the tradition of cucina povera (which literally translates as "poor kitchen"), and use simple ingredients to prepare "honest and flavoursome food".

Mattia Antonioni, who previously worked in the kitchens of Polpo, the Ivy Club and Assaggi, has devised the menu of hot and cold dishes, such as chargrilled sardine bruschetta; roast lamb with castelfranco lentils soffrito; and pork involtini with smoked ham and ceps.

A selection of antipasti and "piccolo" dishes will also be available, including grilled radicchio with smoked mozzarella and Florentine tripe and panzanella.

The ground floor dining room will accommodate 70 diners and feature an open kitchen. Designers B3, the team behind Bubbledogs, has been brought in to do the interior, which will feature stripped back décor that aims to embrace the building's original features.

Diners can also be seated outside during the warmer months and there will be a bar with booth seating available downstairs.

Brown commented: "Cucina povera isn't just a style of cooking, it's a way of life, the soul of Italy. It is the tradition of sharing great food, from one paesan to another.

At Paesan London, we want to recreate an authentic Italian experience, a place to share food or unwind with a drink in a relaxed setting."