The owners of an Italian restaurant in Heywood which has recently been named the best in the region say they hope their win will help put the area ‘on the map’.
Bella Sera, located on Rochdale Road, was named the Best Restaurant in the North West at the Italian Awards 2023 last week, which has been recognising excellence in the country’s Italian restaurants since 2015.
Owner and chef Mondo, who has previously worked at San Carlo and was head chef of Don Giovanni for five years, took over the Rochdale restaurant last year after spending seven years at Pagliacci in Hyde. READ MORE: ‘I went to the charming country pub less than an hour from Manchester named the best in Britain and was blown away' READ MORE: The loss that changed the Curry Mile forever - and the Punjabi grill that kept its customers 'addicted' Mondo said the recognition was a ‘great achievement’ for him and his staff. “We work so hard and it’s a really nice feeling to be appreciated like this,” Mondo told the M.E.N. “I had a feeling we would win the day the judges visited us.
The restaurant was busy and full of families, the food was really good and the waiters were at the top of their game. It really was just a very good day." Bella Sera serves traditional pizzas and pasta dishes as well as risotto, steaks, and sharing platters. “We have a big menu,” Mondo admits. “We do pizza, pasta, halibut, calzones, fillet steak, lamb shank, arancini - you name it.