Housed in a beautiful former bank in the heart of St Ives, Di Rita's Italian is more than just two distinct restaurants – Pizza Pasta Wine and the Da Vinci a la carte restaurant - it’s a hub for the community, a place to meet friends and family over breakfast, lunch or an intimate dinner – and to really appreciate what good food and fresh ingredients are all about.   

Di Rita's opened in its current location in 2021, but founder Andrew Di Rita was already an established face in the town with a restaurant on Bridge Street, and Bakery and Pizzeria on Merryland, where his passion for food and hospitality earned him legions of loyal customers.   

Both Di Rita’s restaurants offer traditional Italian dishes lovingly prepared by Andrew and head chef Luigi – co-founder of the Molise restaurant in St Ives - using seasonal, locally-sourced products as much possible.  

The menus are wonderfully authentic, yet accessible; from the comforting familiarity of pizzas and pasta, to the sophistication of the al a carte evening menu, in the recently opened Da Vinci a la carte restaurant. 

With its high-end contemporary décor, the Da Vinci a la carte restaurant is the perfect venue for a special night out. It is open Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm, serving tempting dishes that change with the seasons. 

The current winter menu offers five starters and mains, featuring mouth-watering classics such as merluzzo e pancetta, filetto di manzo, and tagliatelle ai gamberi, plus delicious Italian desserts (including of course tiramisu!). 

For more casual day time dining, the Pizza Pasta Wine restaurant opens at 9am each morning, Wednesday to Saturday, making it the go-to destination for breakfast get-togethers and brunches as well as evening dining (last orders 9pm). 

It also houses Di Rita's irresistible coffee house, bakery and deli which offers an amazing array of pastries, artisan breads and cured Italian meats and cheeses to enjoy at home.  Lunchtime diners can fill up on one of the restaurants delicious antipasti boards, packed with meats and cheeses, or garden vegetables, vegan cheeses and pickles, or indulge in one of their deli-filled sandwiches, made with freshly baked bread.  

On Sundays, the bakery opens at 10am, providing a coffee house retreat, serving light lunches and cakes. Look out too for the forthcoming well-being and meditation workshops and talks that will be hosted in the space. 

And for those cosy nights in, Di Rita's operates a takeaway service for their tasty, traditionally made Italian pizzas, which are a world away from your usual pizza shop offerings, with organic flour sourdough bases that are left to slow rise for up to 48 hours, and then topped with creamy mozzarella, juicy Italian tomatoes, and the freshest of ingredients – all culminating in a dish that takes pizza night to the next level.   

It’s not just about the food at Di Rita's though – their classic pre-dinner cocktail menu and impressive wine list is painstakingly curated to perfectly complement the dishes on offer, from crisp whites, to fruity roses, and velvety reds, as well as an excellent selection of well-priced bubbles for those extra special occasions, and lively Italian bottled beers, including alcohol-free varieties.   

To reserve your table for dinner in the Da Vinci a la carte restaurant, or for lunch, afternoon tea or an evening meal at Pizza Pasta Wine Restaurant, either book online at diritasitalian.com, or call 01480 465737.  

Special reader offer: Free glass of Prosecco for anyone booking a table using code Davinci1 

2 The Pavement, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5AD  

www.diritasitalian.com