Bar Etna is the latest venture from Finsbury Park-based Four Legs and is moving into the space vacated by Nico’s Italian restaurant in Newington Green.
The East Coast-style pizza bar will open in April and is a collaboration between Four Legs founder Ed McIlroy and Philadelphia based chef Joe Beddia.
It will be Joe’s first and only establishment outside the US, offering London diners the chance to try his ingredient-focused menu that spotlights American pizza traditions.
Joe first opened Pizzeria Beddia in Philadelphia in 2013 – earning the acclaim of Bon Appetit’s best pizza in America in 2015.
And in 2025, it was awarded a Bib Gourmand – a Michelin accolade for good value high quality neighbourhood restaurants.
Joe will bring his careful sourcing and meticulous prep to Bar Etna with a rotating selection of seasonal specials, whole pies, and Italian-American classics such as aubergine parmigiana, caponata, and traditional meatballs.
Joe said: “Opening in London is a dream come true, and together with Ed and Mike they’ve helped make that happen. I’m so excited to finally open the doors and bring my cooking outside of the US for the very first time.”
Founded by Jamie Allan and Ed McIlroy, Four Legs started out as a two-year residency at The Compton Arms serving “quality, local, British ingredients” including their award-winning burgers.
They then turned the Auld Triangle pub in St Thomas’ Road into The Plimsoll in 2021 to showcase a wider repertoire of food – going on to open Spanish-style fish bar Tollington’s in 2024.
Inspired by a mid-century Milanese design, Etna will spotlight the building’s original features using reclaimed materials and letting in natural light.
The bar will stay open late with the bar serving house spritzes, negronis on tap and a range of low-intervention wines.
Ed said: “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.”
