Puccio's, an independent family-run restaurant which launched earlier this week at Greenland's Ram Quarter, brings a slice of Italy to residents and visitors of the Wandsworth hub.
The restaurant is the brainchild of Sicilian brothers-in-law Gaetano Lo Presti and Vincenzo Puccio, and has had great success already as a popular addition to the culinary scene at Greenland's award-winning redevelopment of the former Young's Brewery. Puccio's offers high-quality traditional Italian meals, with a particular focus on its pizza and focaccia which are freshly made on site every day. Gaetano has been a figure in the London food world for decades, running an Italian restaurant in the heart of Pimlico, long ago established as a local favourite, and Vincenzo is a seasoned pizzaiolo with more than a decade's experience in London's finest pizzerias.
The new café and restaurant at Ram Quarter opens early, and has already been delighting morning customers with a wide selection of breakfast options including espressos and cappuccinos, cannoli, freshly-baked croissants and other pastries, and hearty Italian breakfasts. The restaurant serves a range of Italian staples for lunch and dinner too, such as lasagna and chicken escalope, cooked with ingredients hand-selected in Italy and the UK, and delicious salads made with fresh, seasonal ingredients such as olives, rucola and sun-dried tomatoes.
Puccio's has created a warm, inviting and family-friendly atmosphere, evoking a true Sicilian pizzeria. Its design was devised over dinner between Gaetano and Vincenzo and their architect: the richness and simplicity of the Margherita pizza inspired the restaurant's interior - the walls are tomato red - and the style is very much that of a classic Italian café.
Vincenzo Puccio, co-owner of Puccio's, said: "Puccio's is so much more than just a pizzeria. We're somewhere for people to come together and enjoy great Italian food in a friendly neighbourhood environment. The beautiful Ram Quarter is the ideal location for us to put down new roots, with its lovely community and its existing reputation with London foodies. We've already had a really warm welcome, with some customers coming in every single day. Whether you're looking for a meal, or just a cup of coffee and a pastry, please stop by and see us!"
As the business expands, Gaetano and Vincenzo remain as dedicated to their craft and authenticity as when they gathered around that first Margherita. They look forward to offering seasonal variation to the menu at Ram Quarter - and will soon offer a selection of Italian beers and wines when they will stay open until later into the evening too.