Chef/patron Carlos Capparelli to open deli shop, café and restaurant next year

01 December 2023

A new restaurant is set to open in Co Down next year.

A major renovation and restoration of the 250-year-old Dundonald Old Mill is taking place, with a deli shop, café and restaurant to open in autumn/winter 2024.

The chef/patron will be Carlos Capparelli, the chef behind the popular Capparelli Cooks artisan pasta, luxury ready meals and private catering service.

Originally from Brazil, Carlos moved to Northern Ireland from London with his young family in December 2020. In London, Carlos spent 12 years working in some of the city’s top kitchens including Ottolenghi and Gordon Ramsay.

The restaurant will seat approximately 55 people, with seating for an additional 15 within the café/deli shop.

The project is being supported by Yotam Ottolenghi, the chef-patron behind the Ottolenghi group which has seven delis and restaurants in London.

Carlos spent nine years working closely with Yotam across several of the London restaurants, including his role as head/exec chef of NOPI in London’s Soho.

The restoration and renovation are due to be completed in autumn/winter 2024.

A spokesperson added: "The deli shop, café and restaurant will be an all-day dining and visitor destination, creating jobs for the local community and bringing a much-loved local building back to life."

Alongside Carlos Capparelli and Yotam Ottolenghi, the board is completed by Paddy Bamford, originally from Belfast and who has several hospitality interests in London, Lucie Capparelli, a Belfast native who works in food and drink PR and comms, and Richard Aldworth of BH estates.