Old Town Italian restaurant wins three coveted restaurant awards
This year’s Scottish Italian Awards saw one Edinburgh restaurant standing above the rest as Divino Enoteca became a triple winner, receiving accolades for ‘Scotland's Best Wine Selection’, ‘Scotland's Best Pasta Chef’, and ‘Scotland’s Best Chef’, alongside a ‘Highly Recommended’ commendation for Best Restaurant in the East.
The 10th anniversary of the Scottish Italian Awards welcomed over 750 guests to the Double Tree in Glasgow on 26th November for an evening celebrating the best of the Italian hospitality community, who have all made an incredible impact on Scotland’s food scene.
Divino flew the flag for Edinburgh well through the evening, as the sole winners from the capital city. The awards cap off a successful year for the restaurant, with milestones including visits from Prince Albert of Monaco and Gerard Butler, following a £100,000 renovation at the end of 2022.
Tucked away on Merchant Street in Edinburgh’s Old Town, Divino is known for its high-quality food that provides a modern and creative take on Italian cuisine. Seasonal menus with dishes ranging from fresh pastas with silky sauces, to succulent braised meats are imagined by Chef Andrea Calistro – honoured with awards for ‘Scotland’s Best Chef’ and ‘Best Pasta Chef’.
The award for Best Wine Selection reflects Divino’s dedication to curating an impressive assortment of world wines, with regular wine-tasting evenings and a unique ‘enomatic’ machine allowing guests to sample rare wines from the bottle.
Vittoria Group’s other celebrated restaurants were also honoured in the awards, with Vittoria on the Bridge also ‘Highly Recommended’ for Best Restaurant East, and Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips ‘Highly Recommended’ for the Best Fish and Chips Award. Co-owner Alberto Crolla was delighted with the awards recognition, saying:
“While we strive for excellence each day of the year, awards like this are a testament to the team’s dedication to providing an incredible experience for each customer that visits our restaurant.
“This hat-trick of award wins makes a wonderful ending to an exciting year at Divino that began with a freshly unveiled restaurant and saw a myriad of exciting events like regionally themed nights and celebrity guests that keep our team energised to keep up the remarkable work they’re doing.”
The Crolla family have been at the forefront of Italian hospitality in the capital since Vittoria on the Walk first opened in Leith more than 50 years ago. Now three generations of the family have expanded the Vittoria group across the city, each offering something unique while honouring the traditions of great Italian hospitality.