Little Nino’s will move into a bigger premises later this month and has been nominated for six Italian Food awards
Maria and Antonio Manco from Little Nino’s in Spital Tongues(Image: Maria Manco)
A popular family-run Italian café’s expansion into a bigger premises will see it offer evening meals and alcohol when it opens later this month.
Little Nino’s opened on Cross Morpeth Street in Spital Tongues in 2021 and has become a huge part of the local community in that time. This October is set to be one of the busiest months yet for siblings Maria, Antonio and Gaetano Manco; as they are expand into a bigger premises on Morpeth Street and are nominated for six categories in the Italian Food Awards.
Drawing on their southern Italian heritage, they aim to offer a taste of Naples in Newcastle. Moving to a bigger site has been in the works for around a year, but Maria admits says it feels like much longer, as the site was a blank page when they acquired it.
Maria and Antonio Manco from Little Nino’s in Spital Tongues.(Image: Maria Manco)
Maria told ChronicleLive: “We’ve had to start from scratch, I feel it’s taken longer than a year! It’s the same kind of vibe but bigger.”
Previously an off-licence and an estate agent, the new premises is expected to have space for around 20 covers, and has been granted an alcohol licence. Most importantly for Maria, the kitchen is bigger, meaning a few new items will be on the menu.
She said: “We want people to be able to come in and relax with their food, catch up with friends, and if they want an evening meal they can. We don’t want to change it too much because customers love it, but we’ve added some extra pizzas, we’re going to start doing cocktails, and we’ll add some Italian beers and wines too.”
Sadly, the original Little Nino’s will be no more after the new premises opens, which Maria has earmarked for Monday, October 14. And there is hope that they will be opening with some trophies up to decorate it too.
Little Nino’s has been nominated for six Italian Food Awards, with an awards ceremony set for Sunday, October 6, in Leeds. They are competing against other establishments around the country in the hope of bringing home awards for best deli/café, best family-friendly restaurant, best family business, best chef, best pasta chef and best team.
Chefs Antonio and Federico took part in a cook-off event last month ahead of the best chef and pasta chef categories, with the food judged by a panel including Aldo Zilli. One that’s already under their belt is the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award, for the second consecutive year.
On the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, Maria said: “It’s a great achievement for such a little spot. Antonio and I are thrilled and grateful for all our customers’ support and all our team’s hard working dedication.”
Whatever happens at the Italian Food Awards, it’s going to be a busy few months for Little Nino’s!
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