New restaurant Ninello’s launches with city’s first Italian fine-dining experience

A brand-new restaurant has opened in Liverpool, offering the city’s first Italian fine-dining experience.

Ninello’s launched at 15 Duke Street this week below boutique hotel Lock & Key – and its owners say they can’t wait to bring an exclusive and intimate culinary adventure to diners.

Aurelio Petirro, who co-owns Ninello’s with his friend and Italian ‘brother’ Biagio La Via and his father Antonino La Via, says:

“We are really excited.

“We are looking forward to bringing an elegant and special dining experience to people in Liverpool.

“There will be a nice atmosphere in our restaurant and we promise excellent service, something that’s lacking in many places where you order your food via a QR code or on a tablet.

“We love our food and we love what we do – and we want to offer customers one of the best places to eat in the city.”

Aurelio, Antonino and Biagio - Ninellos — Aurelio, Antonino and Biagio

The three have spent more than three months refurbishing the restaurant which has a sophisticated feel, with tables dressed in crisp white tablecloths and plush petrol blue velvet booths filling the space beside a modern, natural brick wall.

Ninello’s will serve breakfast daily between 8am and 12pm, with freshly-baked Italian pastries and muffins alongside a more traditional English menu, as well as a lunch/all day menu until 7pm with pizzas and pasta dishes and more, from Monday to Wednesday. On Sundays it will offer a breakfast and brunch menu until 1pm.

But it’s from Thursday to Saturday that more magic will happen, because as well as offering a breakfast and lunch service during the day, from around 8pm the focus will be on fine dining, with a carefully created five course set menu offering the best of Italian cuisine.

For £79, you can indulge in the Menu a Degustazione, designed with care and thought to showcase the essence of Ninello’s – and chef Antonino’s – creativity. Courses include Arancino Al Ragu do Branzino, arancino with sea bass ragù & squid ink oil; Gamberone Con Crema Di Prosecco, king prawns with Prosecco cream & mashed purple potatoes, and Merluzzo Con Panatura E Gazpacho Di Vongole, cod fillet coated in breadcrumbs and clams gazpacho.

And for £44.95, you can add wine pairing with six quality wines, chosen by Aurelio himself, and including Champagne on arrival.

Aurelio, who’s originally from Naples, started his restaurant journey as a bartender in Sicily before coming to Liverpool and Piccolino’s where he had a variety of roles before rising to general manager.

He met Biagio and Antonino – who has worked in various restaurants in the city before more recently working as a private chef – in Sicily, where he holidayed throughout the summer from being a child. “They are family to me,” he smiles.

Aurelio adds:

“We are bringing something new to the city.

“Ninello’s is more than just an Italian restaurant—it’s a vision of three passionate individuals who share a love for Italian cuisine and hospitality. We have created Ninello’s to offer Liverpool a fresh and evolving take on Italian dining, and we will bring new dishes, new flavours and new experiences every month.”

Expert mixologist Aurelio says Ninello’s will also have a changing cocktail menu – his favourite is a Bruciato, with Glenfiddich 12yr whisky, Licor 43, lime, agave syrup, orange bitter and egg.

“Ninello’s is something that is missing from Liverpool,” says Aurelio. “We want to get back to a real and affordable dining experience, with beautiful Italian food served in an elegant and intimate restaurant, where guests are really cared for.”