A Bristol restaurant which hasn't even opened yet has taken more than 400 bookings in a little more than a week.
Bianchi's is the latest instalment from cousins Dom Borel, Ben Harvey and Joe Harvey, the team behind the highly-rated Pasta Loco, Pasta Ripiena and La Sorella.
Taking over the Bell's Diner site on Picton Street in Montpelier, Bianchi's will adopt the style of a classic Italian trattoria, with a laid back feel and an emphasis on top-quality Italian food.
With the launch fast approaching, Dom has revealed the restaurant will be split up into four separate areas, including a main dining room with 16 covers, a smaller dining area big enough for 12 diners complete with a vintage record player and a bar area where people can enjoy a few drinks before their meal.
Unlike the family's other restaurants, six tables cannot be booked in advance and will instead be left free for walk-ins, which means people can rock up on the night and potentially get seated, rather than having to wait months for a table, as is the norm at Pasta Loco.
But naturally there has already been plenty of interest in the forthcoming restaurant from the city's foodies, given the esteemed reputation of the cousins.
More than 400 bookings have already been made up until Christmas, just over a week since the booking system launched - a response which has blown Dom away.
"It's overwhelming that we've already taken so many bookings and a good sign of things to come," he told Bristol Live.
"We're both nervous and excited - we've put a lot of thought, time and money into this and we've had the help and support of friends and family, which has been really amazing."
Although the exact menu is being kept under wraps for now, we do know that Bianchi's will become the first restaurant in the world to boast a custom-made oven from Harrison, producers of 'the most high-performing and beautiful charcoal ovens in the world'.
With such an impressive bit of kit in the kitchen and a talented team at the helm, we're hardly surprised there's been such incredible demand - just make sure you get your visit pencilled in sooner rather than later.
Dom said he is aiming for a full launch on September 1, following a soft launch towards the end of August.
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