Early this November, Fatto a Mano will launch a new pizzeria on Bethnal Green’s Paradise Row, bringing its signature Neapolitan pizza to East London for the first time. Fatto a Mano Bethnal Green will be their first London neighbourhood opening - joining siblings in Covent Garden and King’s Cross, alongside three neighbourhood sites in Brighton and Hove.
Guests at Bethnal Green will be able to enjoy the ‘Carolina’s Meatballs’, a limited-edition pizza special where Fatto a Mano’s signature pizza dough (made daily with a blend of Italian 00 flour, and proven for 24 hours for a light and pillowy texture) is topped with meatballs and a spicy tomato sauce, made with vodka from East London Liquor Co. The pizza is named in honour of Carolina Braccio – the mother of Fatto a Mano’s Head of Food, Antonio Braccio – whose recipe for perfect Neapolitan ‘polpetto’ has been used to create the meatballs. As part of Fatto a Mano’s ongoing community outreach, £1 from each special sold will go to the Bow Foodbank, a local charity supporting those in need across Tower Hamlets.
The menu at Bethnal Green will continue Fatto a Mano’s dedication to Neapolitan style, featuring classics like Margherita Buffalo, Salsiccia e Friarielli and Napoletana – all made with the best British and Italian produce, including mozzarella from long-time suppliers Lattai Ponticorvo, a family-run dairy farm in Campania. It will also offer more contemporary twists, such as Fatto a Mano’s beloved Lasagna Pizza – topped with beef ragu, béchamel, smoked provola, mozzarella, parmesan, and basil – and a new Black Truffle, Spinach and Artichoke Vegan Pizza, sitting alongside regularly-changing specials like ‘Carolina’s Meatballs’.
It also includes snacks such as ’Nduja Lasagne Fritta Bites, Porcini Mushroom Arancini and Fatto’s Caesar Salad with Cetara Anchovies. Perfect for aperitivo hour, or with a glass of one of the new natural wines - exclusive to the menu in this East London home. Further drinks on offer include craft beers, such as the Fatto x UnBarred Brewery Amalfi Lemon and Basil Pale Ale collaboration, launching in time for the opening.
Building on the vision of founder Rupert Davidson, the new site is tucked under Bethnal Green’s converted railway arches. Inside, warm but unfussy interiors at the 65-cover restaurant will draw on existing industrial features. Split over two levels, the mezzanine will look out over the dining room, with a bustling, central open kitchen, while a sun trap terrace will add an extra 40-covers when the weather allows. General Manager Michele Colella will join from the Covent Garden restaurant, bringing a wealth of expertise from his five years with Fatto a Mano.
Fatto a Mano ('made by hand’), opened in Brighton in 2015, bringing authentic Neapolitan pizza to locals in a relaxed atmosphere, with a passion for quality ingredients and warm hospitality at its heart. Fatto a Mano will now build on this reputation in London’s East End, where its dedicated team of pizzaiolos will serve the community seven days per week, for dine-in and takeaway.
Rupert Davidson said: “We’re very excited to launch our first neighbourhood restaurant in London. We’ve loved our adventures in London so far, and Bethnal Green is like going back to the early days of our first Brighton openings, with neighbours and community being at the forefront of everything that we do”.
Since its launch Fatto a Mano’s team has always engaged with grass-roots community projects in the neighbourhoods surrounding the pizzerias. The integral ethos of giving back to the community has seen Fatto a Mano support and fundraise for numerous charitable causes in the Brighton area over the years. Most recently, its continued support of the Brighton Table Tennis Club saw Fatto a Mano help to finance a trip for more than 100 local residents – including underprivileged children in foster care – to attend the 2024 Paris Paralympics. This community work will continue to be a core pillar at its new Bethnal Green home.
