After what seems like quite a while since we got too excited about the food and drink scene in Dalston, it all seems to be happening on the Kingsland Road at the moment. Just weeks after new East London pub The Black Eel opened its doors, a very interesting new Italian is about to be unveiled.
HOAX is being billed as a modern Italian restaurant with a 'secret' downstairs bar (more of which later). It's taking over the old Chick n Sours site on the main drag. But it's the folks involved who have really piqued our interest. Husband and wife Simone & Lidia Crepaldi have tonnes of hospitality experience. Lidia's worked for Pho for years and Simone has been the running things one of London's best cocktail bars, Calloh Callay since 2019.
Now the pair are opening their own place and they're keeping it in the family by employing Simone's cousin Riccardo Lottero as chef. It's not just the ease of working with a relative as Riccardo's got form, having worked at Michelin-starred Massimo Camia Ristorante in Italy as well as Soho House here in London.
As for that menu, we're told that the dishes will include options like slow-cooked beef cheek in red wine broth, chicken with black truffle and pan brioche, as well as a house cacio e pepe. For desserts, of course there's tiramisu, and here tiramisu will be served up tableside.
All of that sounds good, but then there's the extra joy of the cocktail bar downstairs. The Devil You Know or TDYK as it's going to be more casually named. That's going to be much more of a moody spot, with room for just 24 drinkers. Simone's in charge of the drinks list here and given that Calloh Callay, where he oversaw the drinks programme, has topped many a Best Bars list, we're quietly confident that the cocktails here will be great. On the opening list there'll be a White Chocolate & Strawberry Negroni a Truffle Martini and an Italian ‘Vecchio Stile’ (apparently a take on old fashioned using butter-washed Italian Brandy and Banana Water from the freezer.
"This project has been almost 10 years in the making for me and Lidia", says Simone. "The area is seeing a bit of a food and drink renaissance right now, and we are so happy to be a part of it."
More about HOAX & TDYK
Where is it? 390 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AA
When does it open? 13 December 2025
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @hoax_london.
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