Rigatoni’s, the Italian trattoria which sits opposite the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh’s Southside, has launched a second branch in Tollcross.
The new Rigatoni’s is on Leven Street in the former Leven’s Restaurant premises. The old restaurant was a Thai/European fusion place which I reckoned wouldn’t last more than six months.
Not for the last time, I was wrong and the place had a good run of several years.
Kings and queens
Anyway, the new Rigatoni’s looks likely to be known as Rigatoni’s at the King’s due to both its proximity to the King’s Theatre and in order to differentiate it from Rigatoni’s at the Queen’s.
The Molfino family have spent a reported £100,000 family on the new venture.
Naples-born Stefano Molfino said: ‘Already our customers are referring to the two restaurants as Rigatoni’s at the King’s and Rigatoni’s at the Queens, which is brilliant.
‘The original Rigatoni’s is hugely popular and customers love the casual dining feel which is based on the informal trattorias and pizzerias of Napoli.
‘With the new Rigatoni’s there is a much sleeker and more sophisticated feel. We are looking to create an enhanced – but still totally genuine – Italian dining experience with a broader menu which includes many fish and meat dishes, as well as pastas and pizzas.’
The business is very much a family affair with Stefano and wife Maria taking charge of Rigatoni’s at the King’s, while their children Adriano, 24, Valentino, 22 and Cinzia, 17, are taking over the running of the south side pizzeria.
Traditional Italian ingredients
Both restaurants use traditional Italian ingredients imported from Naples while all other ingredients, including meat and fish, are locally sourced.
Stefano said: ‘We want to give our customers a real taste of Italy, while also reflecting the very best of Scotland’s larder.
‘So, while we import all the Italian essentials, such as olive oil, wine, beer, Italian cider, cheese, ham, and tomatoes, we also used the best locally sourced fish, meat and vegetables wherever possible.’
You can browse all of the Edinburgh Italian restaurants on 5pm here.