Simone, the creative force behind the bar, brings years of cocktail expertise and global influences to the menu, while Lidia anchors the kitchen with warmth, intuition, and cherished family recipes woven throughout. Together, they’ve created something that feels personal rather than performative – a restaurant with a clear point of view and plenty of personality.
Tucked into Haggerston’s ever-evolving dining scene, this Italian spot is polished yet playful, with black-and-white striped walls, dark ceilings and panelling that lean theatrical rather than moody. Pops of colour arrive via a chequered tiled floor and burnt orange chairs, striking just the right balance between cool East London minimalism and something a little more cheeky.
Around 7:30pm, as the room filled and the evening found its rhythm, the lights dimmed. Disco and house tracks drifted through the background, and suddenly the whole place clicked into its night-time persona. Relaxed, inviting, quietly buzzing. This isn’t a quick bite kind of restaurant – it’s built for long dinners, lingering drinks, and the slow pleasure of ordering “just one more thing.”
Service here is genuinely warm. Plates disappeared almost magically, cutlery refreshed before you had time to notice, and every recommendation arrived with a story – a family recipe, a secret ingredient, a small nod to the thinking behind the dish. After each course, we were asked if we’d like a pause. No rush, no pressure. Hoax understands that dining out isn’t just about eating; it’s about settling in.
The cocktail list is tight but beautifully judged. Classics anchor the menu – Negroni, Hanky Panky, Aperol Spritz – but every drink arrives with a subtle twist. The Hanky Panky was herbal, fragrant and silky smooth, crowned with a sweet maraschino cherry and served in perfectly chilled glassware (always a winning move). The Aperol Spritz leaned brighter and fresher than usual, lifted with grapefruit juice and a rosemary and olive tonic that added just enough intrigue without straying into gimmick territory.
The wine list is similarly concise, favouring classic Italian varietals at refreshingly reasonable prices. And yes, in true East London fashion, there’s an organic orange wine in the mix, a Cortese Nostru from Sicily that feels entirely at home here.
Then comes the food, where Hoax’s personality really shines.
Italian purists may need a moment. The Caprese arrives reinvented: a roasted tomato topped with whipped mozzarella, resting on fine breadcrumbs and finished with a crisp dried tomato skin perched like a tiny flag. It’s clever but not self-conscious – soft, juicy, creamy, with a satisfying crunch. The beef tartare, paired with creamy Ribillola cheese, hazelnut purée and toasted focaccia crackers, was rich and balanced.
The pasta courses were standouts. The Cacio e Pepe, made with fresh pasta crafted on site, was everything you want: glossy, creamy, with a lingering hit of black pepper. The rigatoni shape held the sauce beautifully, each bite indulgent without tipping into heaviness. Even the Aglio Olio, traditionally oil-forward, was given Hoax’s signature treatment, emulsified into a lighter, silkier sauce where garlic and spice hummed.
And in a move that perfectly captures the restaurant’s sense of humour, two small chunks of soft bread arrived alongside the pasta – dyed to resemble little sponges, explicitly designed for mopping up every last drop of sauce. Playful, practical, oddly delightful.
Mains leaned into comfort. A poached egg perched on potato purée with mushroom ragu, gorgonzola sauce and potato puffs delivered rich, creamy, cold-weather satisfaction. Across the table, the braised beef cheek was meltingly tender, wrapped in a deeply savoury sauce with hazelnuts, padron peppers and kale adding texture and lift.
Dessert sealed the deal. The tiramisu – described reverently as a sacred family recipe – vanished in seconds and easily ranks among the best versions in East London. Light, luscious, perfectly balanced. The apple tart, with sweet chopped apples dusted in cinnamon and paired with crème fraîche, offered a gentler, homely finish.
But Hoax isn’t done once dinner ends.
Downstairs lies The Devil You Know, the restaurant’s hidden speakeasy bar. Finding the door involves solving a few riddles – a detail that feels charming rather than contrived, before you’re ushered into a moody, intimate, distinctly New York-feeling space. Dim lighting, dark panelling, teal accents, leather seating, tongue-in-cheek artwork, hip-hop on the speakers. It’s a whole different energy, and it works.
The cocktail list here is seriously inventive, stretching from a plum Negroni to a truffle Martini. Simone clearly enjoys pushing classics into unexpected territory, drawing on elements of molecular mixology without losing sight of flavour. With cocktails starting at £13 (and alcohol-free options at £10), the value feels remarkable for drinks of this calibre. You can even order bar snacks, making it dangerously easy to lose track of time.
There are cosy corners for dates, booths for catch-ups, and enough flexibility for larger celebrations. Whether you’ve dined upstairs or not, The Devil You Know is worth seeking out as a destination in its own right.
In a stretch of Kingsland Road packed with serious competition, Hoax manages to carve out something distinct. The cocktails confidently go shoulder to shoulder with neighbours like Bar with Shapes For a Name and Brilliant Corners, yet the overall experience feels warmer, more playful, less self-serious.
Hoax isn’t interested in rigid tradition – it’s interested in joy, creativity, and the simple pleasure of a very good night out.
HOAX, 390 Kingsland Road, Dalston E8 4AA
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