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Glasgow's
oldest and best known Italian restaurant has been taken over by the
Di Maggio chain in a £2million deal.
City centre eaterie L'Ariosto,
a favourite with Old Firm footballers and visiting Italian teams,
has been celebrated for its upmarket authentic dining for 40 years.
It was bought from the Cecchetti
family, who have run the business for six years.
Mario Gizzi, director of the Di
Maggio chain, moved his staff into the premises on Monday and said he
wanted to "rejuvenate" the business and widen the clientele
while keeping its upmarket theme.
In its heyday in the 1970s, under
ownership of renowned Glasgow restaurateur Mario Romano, the Mitchell
Street restaurant was a favoured venue for Old Firm Christmas parties
and entertainers, including Billy Connolly.
It still attracts footballers,
including Ibrox legend Ally McCoist and Italian side AC Milan, when
they are in the city.
The eaterie is named after an
Italian poet and won a top gong in the 2002 Auchentoshan Spirit of
Glasgow restaurant awards. It was also named "most authentic
Italian restaurant" in an industry poll.
The Di Maggio chain also owns
Amarone and Cafe Andaluz and employs around 500 staff.
Mr Grizzi said: "We tried
to buy the restaurant six years ago and then it came back on the market. It
is a Glasgow institution and landmark. It has iconic status and is
in a prime position, close to Glasgow's premier shopping street.
"We are trying to
rejuvenate the brand and bring it back into the public domain so it
is not just a special occasion restaurant, while retaining its
upmarket status. It has always been a family-run business and we will
continue along these lines.
"We have just moved in
and are looking at the options to formulate plans."
L'Ariosto is the only restaurant
in Glasgow that still offers diners authentic flambé cooking
at the table.
The 120-capacity eaterie's other
claim to fame is its long history of providing live music along with
your meal, a tradition that continues.
Former owner Mr Romano is the
father-in law of ex-Rangers' star Rino Gattuso and dad of GMTV
presenter Carla Romano, who is now based in Los Angeles.
Di Maggio's was launched in 1980
and has restaurants in the city centre and South Side of Glasgow, as
well as East Kilbride, Hamilton and Airdrie.
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