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Luke Tully, left, and Ricky Gouldesbrough celebrate with chef Salvatore Polizzotto |
Dream result for restaurateurs
TWO best friends have won a licence to open their childhood dream Italian restaurant in Finsbury.
Ricky Gouldesbrough and Luke Tully have brought in top Italian chef Salvatore Polizzotto, who used to run the kitchens at celebrity restaurateur Aldo Zilli’s Soho restaurant Zilli Fish, to bring Italian cuisine to L’Inizio, in St John’s Street, near Angel.
Neighbours from the Spa Green estate presented a petition of 80 names to a Town Hall licensing hearing on Monday protesting that the restaurant would add to noise and litter from existing businesses in the area.
Thomas Cooper, of Spa Green Tenants Management Office, told the meeting: “The residents will suffer from the fallout of this and will pay the cost.”
But the licensing panel ruled that L’Inizio would be allowed to serve alcohol until 2am.
Mr Gouldesbrough, who bought the business when it was known as Dino’s, said: “This is our dream. We’ve wanted to do it since we were seven. It’s called L’Inizio because this is the beginning of something.
“Me and my best friend have grown up in the community. We’ve lived here all our lives. We want the community to be involved, if they want to get married or have a christening, they can have it here. We’re really trying to fit in.”
He added: “We’ve a really good chef from Roma. We interviewed a lot of chefs but we wouldn’t just go on their food, we’re going on their passion.
“My favourite food is Italian, my great grandmother used to cook for 25 people, brothers, sisters, husbands, every week.
“We wanted to bring a traditional restaurant to Islington and do it the proper Italian way, make it like no other Italian restaurant.
“All our staff are Italian and we have a really good atmosphere. You’ve got all the fish on display, you can pick the fish, have it cooked which way you like. On a Friday all our specials are fish.”
Chef Polizzotto said: “I’m proud of my food and my country. I just want to give proper Italian food.
“People just think we eat meatballs and lasagne. They play around with Italian food, like putting cream in a carbonara. I want to do everything properly.” |
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YOUR COMMENTS:
Having spoken to your Granma Queenie, my Auntie, Ha!ha!, Gwyn and I would like you, Luke, your Partner and everyone connected with your new venture, all the very best for the future.Love to you all, Maggie and Gwynxx
G Chivers |
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