Four Legs Team To Open East Coast-style Pizzeria Bar Etna

With Joe Beddia from Philadelphia’s Pizzeria Beddia

Ed McIlroy already has popular pub (The Plimsoll) and buzzy Spanish spot (Tollingtons) to his name, and now he’s getting into the pizza game with a helping hand from across the pond. Joe Beddia, whose Philly spot Pizzeria Beddia has won several plaudits (including a Bib Gourmand this year) is teaming up with Ed to open Bar Etna in Newington Green, which will be his first restaurant outside of the US.

The opening was first announced on Hot Dinners on Tuesday with a quote from Joe saying “I can’t wait to introduce London to what real pizza tastes like”. After some comments on Instagram (on a post that’s now been deleted) it looks like he’s eaten some humble (pizza) pie, as the quote has also been removed from the article. Lesson kids, if you’re opening any business, international or national, it’s worth visiting and getting to know a city first before shooting around big claims. Especially as London has so many excellent pizza offerings that have exploded post-Covid, something we covered in our article on how many pizzas London could take.

At Bar Etna, the pizzas will be made in Joe’s signature style and come as whole pies, with Ed adding an “ingredient-led approach” to the toppings, with rotating specials showcasing the best seasonal produce. There’ll be a number of Italian-American dishes, like aubergine parmigiana and meatballs on offer too alongside soft serve, house spritzes, negronis on tap, and low-intervention wines.

Speaking about the opening, Ed said: “This feels like a natural next step for Four Legs to work with chefs beyond our immediate circle. Joe is an incredible chef and a great guy with a similar ethos to ours across The Plimsoll and Tollington’s, so the partnership felt like an opportunity we couldn’t turn down.”

London isn’t exactly light on pizza and Newington Green certainly isn’t short of hot spots either but everything Four Legs touches seems to turn to gold so no doubt Bar Etna will be a hit.