Trading from the former Chick ‘n’ Sours site on Kingsland Road, HOAX will comprise a 30-cover restaurant on the ground floor and a sub-branded cocktail bar, The Devil You Know (TDYK), in the basement with a further 24 seats.
Featuring a semi-open kitchen, the restaurant will be headed by Sardinian-born chef Riccardo Lottero, whose CV includes the Michelin-starred Massimo Camia Ristorante in Novello, Italy, as well as Soho House and The Curtain Hotel in London.
Focusing on Italian classics, the launch menu will include dishes such as steak tartare with Robiola cheese and hazelnut; chicken with black truffle and brioche; slow-cooked beef cheek in red wine broth; and tiramisu served tableside.
Hoax will offer an all-Italian wine list alongside an Italian-inspired cocktail menu created by Simone, who is operations manager at top London cocktail bar Callooh Callay.
Lidia, whose CV includes Vietnamese restaurant chain Pho, will lead front of house at HOAX.
Signature TDYK cocktails will include the White Chocolate and Strawberry House Negroni and the TDYK Truffle Martini.
“Hoax is born from Italian roots, yet with East London energy! This project has been almost 10 years in the making for me and Lidia, and it’s a bit of a pinch-me moment to see everything coming together at our new home on Kingsland Road,” Simone says. “To be doing it together as partners in business and in life is even better.
“The area is seeing a bit of a food and drink renaissance right now, and we’re so happy to be a part of it. We’re super excited to have Riccardo on board for the launch menu – he’s a brilliant chef and already part of the family! I guess I’m biased, but his cacio e pepe is the best I’ve tasted, and that’s coming from an Italian.
“Whether it’s a date night, long weekend lunch, or late-night cocktails down at The Devil You Know, we’ve got you covered, and we cannot wait to open the doors at HOAX and TDYK next month.”
Dining and Cooking