Acclaimed Italian opens first Manchester site after renowned restaurant shuts in shock

An acclaimed Italian restaurant which is loved by customers for its homemade pasta dishes has opened its first Manchester site. The popular Yorkshire-based chain has opened in the former home of a city centre bistro led by a renowned chef.

Pranzo Italian - which first opened in 2018 and has four sites across Yorkshire in Ilkley, Harrogate, Horsforth and York - has taken over the former Kala unit on King Street. Last June, Gary Usher announced he had closed the venue after six years in a shock announcement.

The Italian restaurant has two AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence and a number of fan across Yorkshire. Its menu comprises homemade pasta and authentic Italian dishes including sourdough tray-baked Roman pizza, as well as salads, focaccia sandwiches and even Sunday roasts.

Pranzo is inspired by founder Marco Greco's Italian heritage - notably by his Nonna’s traditional Calabrese cooking which he experienced in his youth.

These traditions were passed down through the family and Marco has taken his favourite elements of her traditional recipes and added a modern twist to create the traditional Italian food experienced at Pranzo.

In 2018, they opened their first restaurant in Ilkley. It started as a humble Italian lunch bar employing a handful of people, with Marco and his dad cooking together in the kitchen. Two years later they opened another Italian restaurant in Harrogate.

Restaurant openings, expansions and relocations helped them gain their AA Rosette in culinary excellence, and they have achieved recognition from TripAdvisor as one of the best Italian restaurants in the North.

“We’re very excited to bring Pranzo to Manchester”, says Marco. "Opening a restaurant here has been a huge milestone for us – it has been eight years in the making.

“We’re all about creating dishes using honest ingredients and handcrafted cooking while providing genuine Italian hospitality in a welcoming setting.”

In the new Manchester site, photographs of family members and memories from days gone by occupy the red brick walls, while menus will not doubt impress lovers of Italian food.

A lot of the dishes you’ll see on their menu are unique to Pranzo and were lovingly developed by Marco’s Nonna over seventy years ago. Sample dishes from the brand's other restaurants include cannelloni al forno, nduja è salsiccia piccante, and pomodoro è mascarpone, all using fresh, homemade pasta.

There's also antipasti such as bruschetta, arancino filled with homemade spicy fennel sausage and smoked scamorza cheese, and herb-roasted pork belly, nduja and honey glaze, pickled fennel and red onion.

Seasonal specials from their other sites include herb-roasted chicken thighs with confit garlic and parsley, parmentier potatoes, fennel and sun-dried tomato salad; pan-roasted salmon, olives, capers, garlic, peppers, parsley butter, parmentier potatoes, and fennel; and sirloin steak, peppercorn sauce, tenderstem broccoli, with chunky chips.

“Every dish we serve tells a story of family, tradition and the recipes I grew up with in my Nonna's kitchen. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved at our restaurants in Yorkshire, and we can't wait to share that same passion and authenticity with the people of Manchester."

During their first full week (21-27 September), there will be a total of 700 prizes up for grabs too.

“We wanted to do something to thank the people of Manchester for being so welcoming. Every day for a week, there will be 100 prizes available at Pranzo. Guests will select a mystery envelope - with prizes including £50 off, free pasta, drinks and more. All prizes can be used at the time of dining."

Pranzo Italian Manchester, 55 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ.