Bringing with us an incredible passion and enthusiasm added to over 30 years of combined experience in the industry, we aim to bring back the ‘buzz’ of the old Italia (see history below) whilst providing something new and exciting to catch the imagination of the good folk of Low Fell! Our passion for all things food and drink married to a genuine love for providing quality customer service will hopefully result in an experience you’ll want to repeat again and again.
Our aim is to be at the head of your thoughts for all things restaurant related. We can cater for large and small parties, and provide private areas for family occasions from weddings to christenings. We can also host business meetings with facilities for presentations. We have a takeaway collection service for all of our menu options including buffets – and delivery can be arranged, just ask for details. We have a wide variety of lunchtime and evening offers, and in addition to being a child friendly venue, we also have the versatility to be a great spot for just the grown-ups!
Now let us tell you a little about what we’ve done with the place…
In addition to an extensive renovation of the existing site we’ve also stumbled across a previously unused part of the old place that we think you’re going to love!
There was lots of space to fill but we still struggled to fit everything in! As a result the first thing you’ll see on arrival is the ground floor spilling out onto a smart patio service area. A great spot for watching the world go by on a sunny afternoon amongst the hustle and bustle of Durham Road.
Once through the doors you can relax in one of the comfortable seating areas of the ground floor cafe. Enjoy a coffee and a cake, have some lunch or just grab a drink from the well-stocked be-spoke bar before moving to your table for dinner…
Wander up the beautifully hand crafted oak staircase to the first floor restaurant. Fabulous; modern décor and a great atmosphere are more than complimented by the simply stunning views of the rolling hills of the Team Valley and beyond via our spectacular picture windows. Choose from a varied selection of fresh and delicious pizza, pasta or be a touch more adventurous and test the skills of our talented, passionate team of chefs with the a la carte menu. All the while you’ll be enjoying a warm, friendly and efficient service from our front of house team.
Or are you looking for something completely different?…
Hiding out of sight is our best kept secret! Sneak down the stairs to the rear of the ground floor and discover the ‘Lugano’ Cellar Bar. Decorated in a rustic, traditional style the ‘Lugano’ provides an excellent alternative to the cafe or restaurant. Low lighting, low ceilings and subtle background music help to create a unique and intimate atmosphere to be enjoyed. This area also makes an excellent private function area for large groups and provides a fabulous venue for hosting regular live music and themed nights.
We’re extremely proud of the place we’ve prepared for you and hope that whatever the occasion you visit us for, and whichever floor you choose you’ll have a night to remember and an experience you’ll want to repeat again and again.
We’ll see you soon!
A little bit about our home…
Opened on September 20th 1961 the building was originally known as ‘The Lugano’ Coffee Bar, a popular spot for the people of Low Fell to gather and catch up on the days affairs. We’ve spoken to several members of the community who remember the place fondly but the stand out statement has to be: “Where were you when they shot JFK!? I was in The Lugano having a coffee.”
However, if the buildings first inhabitants were popular then there’s no describing the impact the next ones would have!
‘The Italia’ was arguably Newcastle’s most famous Italian restaurant throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. It was an ‘old school’ Italian which led the way in introducing the people of the North East to that fabulous nation’s now famous style of food. We’ve lost count of the number of people who; when asking us where we were setting up have responded: “the Italia!? We used to go there all the time!” or “That place was always really busy!” Anybody working in Italian restaurants around the North East these days probably has a lot to thank the Italia for.
So after 50 years in existence the building is morphing into only its third incarnation with the arrival of Rosa Twelve.
We’re hoping we can provide you with experiences to either; match your memories of our predecessors or introduce you to the building for the first time. Who knows you could be under our roof when the next ‘JFK’ moment occurs!