Former Cipriani chef Alfio Laudani to launch Sicilian restaurant in Whitechapel

Located within the Hyatt Place London City East hotel, Sotto Cucina & Bar will marry the influence of its executive chef’s food-centred upbringing in the Catania region of Sicily with his 17 year’s cooking in London restaurants, including The Rex Whistler and Mayfair Italian Cipriani.

In general the kitchen will focus on ‘quality British ingredients’ but a few key things will be imported including olive oil and lemons from Etna. 

Dishes will include saffron arancini with Datterino tomato jam and superstraccia; whole grilled seabass with cherry tomato, olives, capers and Tropea onion; fried cod cheeks with sweet and sour onion, crispy potato and mint; and timballo alla norma (a baked pasta dish comprised of anelletti, tomato sauce, fried aubergine and ricotta). 

Overseen by Manuel Lorente Rubio, the wine list will focuses on Mediterranean wines with a number of wines from Sicily. 

Accessed by a steep industrial staircase, the 70-cover basement site will have the aesthetic of a Sicilian trattorias, with interiors combining rustic elegance with contemporary art. 

Wall art includes murals from local London based street artists along with an exhibition of sustainable art and a new Sam Kerridge artwork, specially commissioned for the launch of the restaurant.