An exciting new Italian restaurant has just been announced for the Royal Exchange by an exciting trio of up-and-coming chefs.
Banca di Roma will launch in March and will be opened by the Cozzolino Brothers – Antonio, Pasquale, and Simone – who are protégés of acclaimed London-based chef Francesco Mazzei.
Opening on Saturday, March 11, the plans for the two-storey listed building include a 180-cover restaurant, two private dining rooms, two bars for a further 100 guests and even a DJ booth.
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Speaking about the new launch, Antonio said: “We’re just weeks away now and we simply can’t wait. The décor is more than we could have ever imagined, a wow moment when you walk through the door.
"We’ve worked hard on creating a menu that delivers on a real Italian dining experience and we’re excited for everyone to try it."
The interiors of the exciting new restaurant will feature black and white marble flooring, bold royal blue and crisp white half-moon decorative cornicing (which will punctuate the floor-to-ceiling panelling and pillars) large skylights, and a winding staircase.
The first-floor wraparound glass balcony will overlook the ground level with statement round tables, soft furnished banquette seating and plush chairs perfect for convivial dining.
Antonio, Pasquale, and Simone say they will bring to Glasgow the traditions and flavours from their three-generation Vesuvian tomato family farm in the Campania region of Italy together with the authenticity of Italian dishes and innovative flair.
Banca di Roma’s menu is inspired by the brothers’ memories of mealtimes at home, think tables overflowing with huge bowlfuls of pasta, platefuls of salads and baskets full of Italian breads all prepared to share and enjoy with friends and family with loud laughter and cheery conversations.
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The menu will feature dishes like La Nostra Focaccia Ripena, baked focaccia stuffed with gorgonzola cheese and nduja sausage, and the La Regina, Vesuvian tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella and basil, an array of Italian homemade breads which will get their own section on the menu.
Pasta dishes range from the Il Classico Spaghetto a Pomodoro, Vesuvian tomato and basil with fresh homemade spaghetti to a showstopping Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe Con Tartufo served at the table in a pecorino wheel.
Other dishes include the Lo Sgombro, mackerel with fennel salad and yoghurt, Crocchetta di Cavolfiore, cauliflower croquettes and chilli jam and Il Tonno Piccante, a spicy tuna tartare with avocado cream add delicious options to starters.
And the brothers say the desserts are not to be missed with the Lingotto, a Banca di Roma gold bar dessert, which pays tribute to the building’s banking history.
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