A new Italian restaurant, created by Nick Levantis and Darryl Healy, will launch in July in the market town of West Malling, Kent, in a refurbished grade II listed building. The menu at Amano combines local Kent produce with some delicacies imported from Chef Fabio Moschini’s home country.
The menu starts with Stuzzichini and Antipasti with simple plates of meats, vegetables and fresh seafood such as Calamaro grigliato (grilled squid, aioli and lemon); Patatine di Ceci (chickpea fries and anchovy mayo); Burrata e prosciutto crudo (fresh burrata with prosciutto ham and balsamic). Primi are freshly made pasta dishes with classic recipes including Spaghetti carbonara made with guanciale, pecorino and eggs, Spaghetti Pomodoro e basilico (tomato and basil) and some twists on traditional dishes including Tagliolini al granchio (crab, parsley, chilli and fresh tomato); and Risi e bisi (pea and parmesan risotto).
Secondi features main dishes of Melanzana alla Parmigiana (baked aubergine with tomato and mozzarella); Scaloppina di pollo alla milanese (crumbed chicken escalope with a green bean salad); Sogliola alla mugnaia (lemon sole, anchovies, garlic, lemon olive oil); and Pescato del giorno catch of the day dish served with cherry tomatoes, parsley, garlic and white wine sauce. Pizzas will also be on offer as part of the evening meal.
The interiors are rustic with a play on various textures, with blackened timber cladding and clay wall finishes. Real asparagus ferns, creepers and vines, and marble table tops create a classic Mediterranean feel in a contemporary setting. The restaurant sets itself apart by its internal courtyard or Orangery area with a clear glass roof and sloping glass to let natural light shine through on the warm interiors and banquet seating beneath.
Four boutique rooms sit above the restaurant that have been individually decorated in a contemporary and functional style, with comfort in mind, retaining as many of the original features as possible from the surrounding building. Named after Italian actresses and singers, each room features Hypnos mattresses with cosy Egyptian cotton bed linens, a flat screen television, hairdryers and complimentary Wi-Fi.
