About Us
Established in 1987, we are an independent, family run traditional Italian restaurant
based at the start of Compstall Road in Romiley, Stockport. Specialising in rustic Italian
home style cooking, open evenings only - 5pm till 10pm everyday except Monday.
Who is the Italian?
Originally from Naples, owner Ferdinando Mercogliano studied at catering schools in Vico Equense and in the centre of Naples before working across Italy and Switzerland, settling in England in the early 80’s. Our recipes and the ideology behind everything we do and make come from Ferdinando. Many of the dishes we make here today are made the same way that he learnt from his mother and grandmother. Hailing from a part of Naples famous for its pasta making history, cooking is in the Mercogliano family blood.
Now a grandfather, Ferdinando is based both here in Stockport and in Lucca, Tuscany. Sharing his time between Italy and England means Ferdinando guarantees constant fresh and original menu ideas, using the best local and seasonal ingredients. Trusting the day to day running of the kitchen to a carefully selected team of chefs, including the experienced Sandro Frangillo hailing from Puglia, southern Italy. In charge of the restaurant you will find his two eldest sons Alessandro and Luca. A true typical Italian family business!
Ferdinando's deep passion for Italian cooking is infectious and it has truly passed down in the generations of his family. Our heads, hands and hearts are firmly in the kitchen and we are driven to offer customers good food, value for money and a true taste of Italy.
Photo galery
The Italian over the years
Ferdinando and son Alessandro (January 2011)
Alessandro and Luca (Summer 2018)
True passion for what we do
Ferdinando's five children at the restaurant December 2013
Newspaper cutting from February 1999 - we have done many pizza and pasta making classes over the years for local schools all over Stockport.
Our new downstairs bar, opened summer 2019
 Compstall Road in 1905, before our building was built. Facing where we are now - and on the right the same image taken in 1987, the year we opened as an Italian restaurant |  If only the roads were as quiet now as they were back then...! |  Modern day |
|---|---|---|
 And the same image again taken on a warm summers day in 2019 |  Before we came along, in the early 80s our building was a unisex hair dressers. Do you know anyone that had their haircut here? |  Our restaurant frontage in early 2002 |
Valentines Day 2020 just before we opened to the public
Our current restaurant frontage
Our takeaway service in full swing! The lockdown was certainly a shock to us when it was announced, but we didn't stop and sit around. We converted to takeaways only, including doing a home delivery service here for the first time ever to the local area. It was a big adjustment to us at first, with the logistics of it all completely different to what we are used to. But we got used to it quickly, and we rather enjoy it now. It has certainly kept us busy! We have kept up the home delivery and takeaway collection service even after reopening as we understand many people are still isolating or just understandably aren't ready to come out yet. We would like to thank everyone for their constant support and for their constant orders, it really is very much appreciated!
Ferdinando and wife Helen celebrating a milestone
birthday here at the restaurant
As well as being sponsors at Stockport County,
we are also proud to sponsor Romiley Cricket Club with our restaurant logo featuring on the sleeve of their kits
Romiley Cricket Club
Everytime he is back from Italy, the apron is straight on and it is time to test out all the new ideas he has been picking up. Being based in Lucca, Tuscany gives him a great insight to great traditional rustic Italian cooking, and also an eye on the new trends in Italian cuisine that we are always keen to bring to our menu and special boards to showcase to our customers!
Here's to many more successful years!
(Pre-covid, large parties and families were always more than welcome and we used to have so much fun! Fear not, we aren't going anywhere and the good times will be back soon!
2b Compstall road,
Romiley
stockport
sk6 4ds
Be sure to follow us on our social media for offers, specials, and updates. Our favourite is Instagram which we fill with tempting pictures of our delicious dishes!