Crowne Plaza London – The City completes F&B offering with new Italian restaurant

04-Aug-2013 - Last updated on 27-Apr-2021 at 12:46 GMT

Crowne Plaza London – The City has spent £90k developing the new 120-cover restaurant

Diciannove, a new Italian restaurant, deli and cicchetti bar, is set to open within the walls of Crowne Plaza London – The City later this month as the IHG-owned hotel looks to complement its existing Chinese restaurant and cocktail bar offerings.

The hotel group has spent £90k developing the new restaurant, which sits on the former site of its Refettorio restaurant. The new offering, which opens on 19 September, will have 120 covers, split between the main dining area, a deli, bar and private dining space.

“The exclusive chichetti menu will offer a unique sharing experience and make the restaurant stand out as a contemporary among more traditional Italian restaurants,” Crowne Plaza London – The City’s general manager Anthony Worrall told BigHospitality.

“We decided to launch this new concept to keep our F&B offering current. We want to offer our guests a unique experience that is still Italian but also in keeping with our city location.”

Overseen by executive chef Alessandro Bay, who trained under Michelin-starred Giorgio Locatelli, Diciannove will offer authentic seasonal Italian dishes alongside a drinks list that features a range of aperitivoCampari and Aperol cocktails.

On the menu

The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner with an average spend of £27. It’s main menu will feature antipasto, freshly made pasta and risotto alongside a range of grills and salads. Sharing dishes will also be available, including artisan Italian meats and cheeses, homemade pickles, freshly baked breads and ‘fritti’dishes such as prawns, calamari and zucchini.

Signature drinks include a selection of ‘twisted negronis’ cocktails in flavours such as rhubarb. Italian and London craft beers also feature, as well as an exclusively Italian wine list.

With the design, specialist agency Brand Architects have made the venue ‘stylish and contemporary’ with an illuminated glass-fronted bar, chestnut leather seating, oak tables and upholstered banquettes. A central feature of the main dining area is a floating halo-lit ceiling raft suspended over a high table and stools.

Worrall added that the new restaurant will complete the triangle of F&B offerings housed within the hotel. “Voltaire complements the new restaurant as the bar is ideal to enjoy pre/post dinner drinks and light bites,” he said. “Chinese Cricket Club offers a menu that is very different to Diciannove - the Sicuhuan cuisine in Chinese Cricket Club offers guests an excellent choice should they wish to try something other than Italian.

“Diciannove offers a new deli and a unique chichetti offering to complement the modern Italian menu, with produce that remains regionally sourced and seasonal dishes intrinsic to the Italian dining experience.”

Diciannove will open within Crown Plaza London – The City on 19 September.