Sotto Cucina & Bar is an Italian restaurant inspired by the food and culture of Sicily. Located between Aldgate East and Whitechapel, the restaurant can be found on the lower ground floor of Hyatt Place London City East hotel, where it offers casual dining and a particular focus on the sourcing and quality of its ingredients.
The bright and contemporary dining room has been designed to evoke the warmth of Italian hospitality. Orange walls and seating provide a vibrant backdrop to multi-coloured artwork, verdant foliage throughout and black and white geometric flooring. It’s a room that’s designed to lift spirits.
The restaurant’s attention to freshness and vibrancy is also applied to the food menu. Celebrating the very best Italian and British suppliers, as well as the diversity and nuances of regional Sicilian cuisine, head chef Vittorio Meli has designed a menu that's exciting and varied. To start, small plates include tuna carpaccio with pickled celery, prickly pears, bergamot and sesame dressing, sardine rolls with parmesan, orange, raisins, herbs and pine nuts, as well as a selection of snacky items from the deli (cured meat and vegetable plates).
A handful of pizza and pasta dishes are on offer, from crab linguine to pizza capricciosa (ham, tomato sauce, quail egg, parmesan). While signature mains include ‘Guazetto di Pesce’, a classic stock pot of Cornish hake, olives, potato, capers and pear, as well as grilled octopus with preserved lemon sauce, monks’ beard and crispy chickpeas. For dessert, opt for a flourless almond and orange cake or ricotta-filled cannoli.
The wine list includes a selection of global varieties, from Portugal to New Zealand, with a bottle to suit every taste. Wines are available by the glass, carafe or bottle. You can also choose to sample one of its carefully crafted cocktails or local craft beers.