Rosario Sartore received The Order of Merit for Labour and was bestowed with the title of Cavaliere by Inigo Lambertini, the Ambassador of Italy to the UK

It was an occasion of honour for the whole family when Edinburgh well know chef Rosario Sartore received one of Italy's highest decorations from the Hand of the Ambassador of Italy to the UK, and Italian Consul-General in Scotland.

Sir Sartore (51) was created a Cavaliere of Merit of the Italian Republic for services to his country.

From the age of 14, Rosarios has faced numerous challenges. After his father's death, he moved to Scotland to financially support his family in Naples. Despite the difficulties, he pursued his passion for Neapolitan cuisine and eventually opened his restaurant. He now cooks for hundreds of patrons weekly at his renowned Traditional Neapolitan restaurant (Locanda De Gusti, 102 Dalry Road). Rosario can be found in the Kitchen daily, ensuring every dish is perfectly prepared.
This Italian order of chivalry was founded in 1923 by King Vittorio Emanuele III and is awarded to those who have excelled in agriculture, industry and commerce, crafts, lending and insurance.
Rosario Sartore's family and friends asked how it felt to be awarded The Medal of Merit for Labour. "As a chef, receiving compliments from customers is already rewarding, but being recognized and receiving words of appreciation from an Ambassador is a whole new level of honour."
Rosario is grateful for sticking to His true self and maintaining authenticity throughout their culinary journey.

We've Won TripExpert's 'Expert Choice' Award!

With praise from sources like Time Out and Lonely Planet, we are one of the highest rated restaurants in Edinburgh on TripExpert.com. The award reflects the views of journalists and professional travel writers and is only bestowed on the best restaurants around the world.

Time Out "The taste of Naples in the Scottish capital."

Lonely Planet: "This bustling family bistro, loud with the buzz of conversation and the clink of glasses and cutlery, is no ordinary Italian but a little corner of Naples complete with hearty Neapolitan home cooking."

The New York City based guide uses a unique rating approach that takes into account professional reviews from travel guides, magazines, newspapers and other respected sources.

Less than 2% of all restaurants worldwide receive the award! 

We're very proud of our neighbourhood, family restaurant, and we look forward to welcoming you soon!

Christmas 2019

We look forward to welcoming you this festive season at Locanda! We'll be serving our usual menu of regularly changing dishes made using fresh, seasonal ingredients with a few amazing traditional Italian Christmas dishes included for you to try. Please don't book expecting turkey and Christmas pudding! 

For parties of 8 or more, we will only be serving our sharing menu and it's essential that you book this in advance so we can discuss your preferences.

Opening times:

Christmas Eve - last sitting is 7.45pm with orders to be taken by 8pm. The kitchen will close at 10pm with guests kindly requested to leave by 10.30pm. 

Christmas Day - closed

Boxing Day - closed

New Years Day -Closed

Hogmanay - last sitting is 7.45pm with orders to be taken by 8pm. The kitchen will close at 10pm with guests kindly requested to leave by 10.30pm. 

Evening in Aid of Amatrice

Carlo Petrini, President of Slow Food and Terra Madre, launches an appeal to support the people affected by the earthquake in Amatrice and to keep them in our thoughts, from today and in the future.
Slow Food’s international network will be involved in raising awareness
we at Locanda de Gusti , On Monday 5th of September donate all proceeds along with staff salary to this cause .

call us to book a table or should you like to personally donate go towww.slowfood.com

#unfuturoperamatrice

We are very proud to announce that we raised £2,568.00 on the night along with kind donations ,from diners that were unable to attend . Thank you to all who came !

Watch Rosario prepare a pasta dish with Scottish clams

Rosario was joined in the kitchen recently by Foodioso. Watch as he makes fresh rough-cut pasta and serves it with a sauce of garlic, olive oil, white wine, cherry tomatoes, courgettes and Scottish clams, finished off with freshly-grated bottarga . Delizioso!

Win Film Festival tickets and dinner at Locanda

If you love a night at the movies followed by a great meal, this is the competition for you! We have 2 tickets to the UK premiere of Meg Ryan's elegant and moving World War II film Ithaca screening at the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival on Thursday 23rd June. After the film, join us for an authentically Neapolitan dinner at Locanda. The perfect night out we'd say. 

This impressively staged and beautifully shot (at times it feels like a moving Norman Rockwell painting) adaptation of William Saroyan’s novel The Human Comedy marks Meg Ryan’s directorial debut. Its coming-of-age story follows 14 year-old Homer (Alex Neustaedter) as he starts delivering telegrams in the early 1940s, with his breezy life changing as he has to start delivering bad news. Tom Hanks and Sam Shepard contribute telling cameos. 

Established in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is world renowned for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. This year's Festival runs from 15th – 26th June. For more information please visit edfilmfest.org.uk. 

To be in with a chance of winning this superb prize, please email locandadegusti@gmail.com before midnight on Tuesday 21st June. Include your name, email address and telephone number in the email, and please ensure you state 'EIFF competition' in the email subject header.

Terms & conditions: This prize is non-transferable and must be taken on Thursday 23 June; the film begins at 6.25pm at Filmhouse Lothian Road; dinner afterwards at Locanda de Gusti includes a bottle of house wine - all other drinks will be charged; the prize is for 2 people.

By entering this competition you are agreeing to receive future newsletter emails from Locanda de Gusti.

Italian Wine Dinner

Join us for a fabulous evening of Italian food and wine on Wednesday 27th April. Rosario will prepare a 5-course sharing menu, each course carefully paired with wine from the Venegazzù Estate in the north of Italy. The evening will be hosted by the estate's owner and passionate producer Lorenzo Palla. Lorenzo was born and grew up on the estate, taking over the vineyard from his father in 1998, and will share with us his depth of knowledge on these wonderful wines.

Wednesday 27th April at Locanda de Gusti.

7pm arrival for 7.30pm start.

£48 per person (includes one glass of wine per course).

Please call us on 0131 346 8800 or email on locandadegusti@gmail.com to book.

Sunday Masterclass and Lunch

What better way to spend a Sunday than eating amazing food, and it's even better when you see how it's made! Join us at Locanda on Sunday 1st May to watch Rosario demonstrate how to make the courses you will then enjoy for lunch. Everyone will then be seated together and lunch will be served sharing style - just like we do in Italy!

The event begins at 11.30am and will finish around 4pm, and costs £35 per person (no drinks included). 

MENU

Pasta e patate

Fillets of lemon sole stuffed with fresh ricotta, chives and lemon served on a bed of zucchini scapece.

Millefoglie with crema pasticcera and Amarena cherries 

Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment!

Call 0131 346 8800 or email locandadegusti@gmail.com to reserve your place.

Our Italian Sunday Lunch Raised £2100!

Katy Sandford from The Edinburgh Sick Kids Friends Foundation with Raffaele, Rosario, Maria and Elena.

We hosted a fantastic fundraising Italian Sunday lunch earlier this month, raising £2100 for The Edinburgh Sick Kids Friends Foundation. Thanks to everyone who came and gave so generously for the raffle - and also for our guest who bid for Rosario to cook at his home!

Today the Locanda team presented a cheque to Katy from the Sick Kids Foundation for £2000, and a sack of small toys which Maria bought with the other £100.

Maria said: “Rosario have I have 4 children, all of whom have been cared for at Sick Kids, either for minor procedures, appointments and long term aftercare. We wanted to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff for their care, support and dedication, by raising funds for the foundation. Our Italian Sunday lunch was a great day for a great cause.”

Katy Sandford, Corporate Fundraiser Sick Kids Friends Foundation said: “Christmas can be stressful for children and families in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, which is why we’re so grateful to Rosario, Maria and the whole team at Locanda De Gusti for organising such a special fundraising event during this festive period. This incredible total will go towards our Play department fund which ensures that every child receives a special gift on Christmas Day, and the playrooms in each wards are well stocked with toys, games, books and arts and craft materials throughout the whole year. We rely on the support of local businesses such as Locanda De Gusti to help us transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital, so they can be a child first and patient second, especially at Christmas.” 

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation believe that nothing should get in the way of being a child.  They exist to transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital so they can be a child first and a patient second. As a result of what we do Children and young people’s live are less interrupted by illness; Children and young people are less scared of hospital and have a positive experience; Children and young people’s families are better supported and comforted; Children and young people have an improved experience of healthcare in their community. For more information please visit www.edinburghsickkids.org

Italian Sunday

If you can't make it to our Italian Sunday feast - you can still help us to raise money for Edinburgh Sick Kids by donating on our JustGiving page!

Why I Love Food with Rosario Sartore

Find out just how passionate Rosario is about food in this great short film...

Why I Love Food - Rosario Sartore from Immagine Productions on Vimeo.

Win tickets to the EIFF Opening Gala

We're delighted to give away 2 tickets to the Opening Night Gala of the 69th Edinburgh International Film Festival on Wednesday 17th June.

This black-tie evening begins with a world premiere screening of The Legend of Barney Thomson starring Robert Carlyle, Emma Thompson, Ray Winstone and Tom Courtenay at Edinburgh's Festival Theatre (6pm) followed by the EIFF Opening Night Party at the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street (8pm).

Established in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is world renowned for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and for heralding and debating changes in global filmmaking. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to spotlight the most exciting and innovative new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. This year's festival runs from the 17th to the 28th June. find out more here.

To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize, please email locandadegusti@gmail.com before midnight on Friday 12th June. Include your name, email address and telephone number in the email, and please ensure you state 'EIFF competition' in the email subject header.

Terms & conditions: This prize is non-transferable. Admission to persons over 18 only.