East London Food & Culture

Opening soon: Mora, High Road Leytonstone

Another exciting addition to the area's restaurant scene arrives next month
The boys in their restaurant. Don't panic! It's not finished....Photo: Mora
The boys in their restaurant. Don’t panic! It’s not finished….Photo: Mora

We were a little surprised at the minority of readers grumbling about our preview of the lovely new Corner Kitchen in Forest Gate earlier this week. “It’s not E11!” they wailed.

To anyone who still doesn’t quite understand our concept, a simple look at the about section here or on our social media pages will clarify that, as with our other London sites, what some consider the ‘primary’ postcode is only ever our starting point.

Fortunately, thousands of you are thrilled to hear about local happenings in the wider area, whether that’s a new brewery bar in Leyton, a pop-up in Stratford, an art trail in Walthamstow, a scenic walk in Epping Forest, or a tap room in Wanstead.

Anyway, here’s a juicy one for you hardcore E11 hyperlocals: a new Italian gaff, Mora, is opening next month right on the High Road, not too far from Oven East. It lands in the neighbourhood courtesy of Carlo and Luca, two buddies who moved to the UK about twenty years ago from Sardinia.

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The boys have now amassed twenty years’ experience in the hospitality sector and are currently working in upscale central London joints until the time comes to fling the door open to their doors.

Spaghetti with bottarga. Photo: Instagram
Spaghetti with bottarga. Photo: Instagram

So what’s the concept? “Our desire is simply a small restaurant serving hearty Italian food using the finest (and where possible local) ingredients in east London,” says Luca. “It’s where we live, after all. And after about two years looking for premises, we found this place in Leytonstone, the perfect location for us.”

Their main focus will be on fresh pasta, so expect southern Italian delights like spaghetti with bottarga (the umami-packed grey mullet roe) and also a wide selection of dishes, accompanied by Sardinian and Italian wines from small producers, local craft beers and sustainable soft drinks.

As you can see from our main picture, there’s still a whole lotta work to get done inside the restaurant before opening “soon after mid February”, say the boys, “but we can’t wait to engage and welcome the neighbourhood in our little cosy restaurant.”

Mamma mia, we’re so there.

Mora restaurant will open in mid-Feb at 487 High Road Leytonstone E11. Follow them on Twitter @mora_restaurant

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15 thoughts on “Opening soon: Mora, High Road Leytonstone”

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