New Italian restaurant and hidden cocktail bar hoax to open in Dalston this December

A new Italian restaurant and cocktail bar is opening in Dalston, London, in early December. HOAX, the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Simone and Lidia Crepaldi, will take over the former Chick ‘N’ Sours premises at 390 Kingsland Road. The venue will offer a two-storey experience, featuring a casual dining restaurant upstairs and a hidden cocktail bar in the basement. The couple, both experienced hospitality professionals, say the project has been nearly a decade in the making.

The ground floor restaurant will seat 30 guests indoors, with additional outdoor seating available in warmer months. The interior will feature black and white striped wallpaper and a semi-open kitchen. The menu, designed by Italian chef Riccardo Lottero – Simone’s cousin – will draw on traditional family recipes with seasonal updates and contemporary touches. Dishes expected on the launch menu include Steak Tartare with Robiola Cheese and Hazelnut, Slow-cooked Beef Cheek in Red Wine Broth, and a House Tiramisu served tableside.

Lottero, originally from Sardinia, has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens in Italy, as well as in France, Spain, and London, including stints at Soho House and The Curtain Hotel in Shoreditch.

“HOAX is born from Italian roots, yet with East London energy!” said Simone Crepaldi. “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, and to be doing it together as partners in business… and life, is even better. 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.”

Beneath the restaurant, guests will find The Devil You Know (TDYK), a 24-seat cocktail bar accessed through a velvet curtain and concealed doorway. The space will feature teal tones, a black and white chequered floor, and a neon sign bearing the bar’s name. The cocktail menu will be curated by Simone Crepaldi, who brings over 15 years of industry experience, including his role as General Manager and Operations Manager at Shoreditch’s Callooh Callay, a regular fixture on the World’s 50 Best Bars list.

Drinks at TDYK will be Italian-inspired creations such as a white chocolate and strawberry Negroni, a Truffle Martini made with truffle-washed gin, and a Tiramisu Espresso Martini featuring pavesini-infused dark rum and clarified milk.

Food Desk

For further updates, visit the restaurant’s website and check the Instagram account @hoax_london.