Lita: The pursuit of the perfect neighbourhood restaurant

After running a three-Michelin-starred kitchen, Kostas Papathanasiou has set out to create the ultimate neighbourhood restaurant at Lita in Marylebone, writes Carys Sharkey. The perfect neighbourhood restaurant should have consistently good cooking, crowd-pleasing favourites, table availability without long wait times, and appeal to locals and tourists alike.

Lita, with its Victorian terracotta mansion blocks and posh surroundings, must satisfy both the well-heeled locals and tourists. Kostas, who previously helmed a three-starred restaurant and a triple-Michelin-starred establishment, understands this well. He explains that the neighbourhood aspect is crucial, as it allows a restaurant to become a part of people's lives, whether for celebrations, dinners with friends, or simply for a great meal.

Growing up in Greece, Kostas was fascinated by Jamie Oliver's energy and creativity in cooking, which inspired him to experiment at home. He went on to work at top fine-dining establishments before moving to Lita, where his culinary experience and understanding of neighbourhood appeal have allowed him to create a refined yet informal dining experience.

Lita's aesthetic, with dark wooden beams and golden light, reflects the area's confident wealth. The menu offers light, generous dishes like a fennel and tomato salad with crab or a yellow tomato gazpacho, as well as more substantial options like monkfish with beurre blanc and clams. The all-day dining concept allows customers to approach the menu in various ways, from sharing dishes at the bar to savouring a more extensive culinary experience.