A new restaurant which celebrates New York food and culture with Southern Italian ingredients. Londoners can take a bite of the Big Apple with the opening of Alley Cats Pizza. Championing New York’s iconic pizza scene, this bold and brilliant new neighbourhood joint, situated on 22 Paddington Street in Marylebone transports diners to the city’s swinging pizza scene with artisan creations inspired by Manhattan’s Italian community.

With distinctive style and flair, Sicilian Head Chef Francesco Macri has been honing his skills for over a decade and ups the ante using Southern Italian ingredients such as sweet San Marzano tomatoes and creamy Buffalo Mozzarella from Campania. With recipes passed down from his grandmother, his perfect pizzas also feature aged Mozzarella from Molise with added taste and size achieved through baking the pizzas in the traditional thin and crispy style with the option of bold toppings and dippers.

Grab a slice like a true New Yorker or enjoy in all their glory at 14-inches from lunch to dinner seven days a week. Highlights include Smoked Pepperoni dressed in tomato, aged mozzarella, habanero, and honey to Fennel Sausage with tomato, pancetta, red onion, and pecorino flakes alongside the ‘Vodka’ crafted with four-hour slow-cooked vodka in the creamy tomato sauce topped off with mozzarella.

Those seeking a lighter option can opt for the white-based Wild Mushroom with three types of wild seasonal shrooms - King Oyster, Portobello and Chanterelle - topped with taleggio cheese, aged mozzarella, red onion jam and fried sage, or Vegan Fire dressed with tomato sauce, roasted bell pepper, crispy potato, pesto and nduja.

Sweet-toothed signatures from the dessert menu include indulgent Tiramisù – the quintessential southern Italy dessert, drenched with modern New York flair with roasted hazelnuts, salted peanuts, and pistachio, alongside Vanilla Soft Serve – classic vanilla ice-cream with fun, flavoursome toppings to choose including Amarena cherries, toffee fudge sauce, honey, and salted peanuts.

Split over 50 covers, Alley Cats Pizza will pay homage to New York re-imagined with guests able to choose from central tables or upcycled church pew-style seating. With exposed concrete walls, gingham tablecloths, and a glazed tile framing the pizza oven and bar, guests can grab cocktails, wine, or beer pre- or post-pizza.

Alley Cats opened to the public in December and accepts walk-ins only.

alleycatspizza.co.uk