MARCO Greco, owner and chef at Pranzo Italian in the centre of Ilkley, recently gathered the team together to celebrate and reflect on the Pranzo journey to date.
The Italian restaurant in Ilkley now employs over 40 people.
"I can’t believe it's been six years since Pranzo opened. I’m so proud of how far we’ve come,” said Marco. “In 2018, we opened Pranzo in Ben Rhydding. We started as a humble Italian lunch bar. I employed six people, and it was me and my dad in the kitchen. Now we’re in a great location, with 40 employees, in the centre of a bustling town.”
Growth has been possible thanks to hard work and support from loyal locals.
“From opening in 2018, to supporting us through the pandemic to where we are now, there’s been amazing support for Pranzo and I’m so grateful to every single person who backed us from the beginning. I’d like to think that we have had a big impact on the restaurant scene in the area," said Marco.
“The Ilkley restaurant scene is constantly evolving, and as well as a lovely place to live, the town is now a popular tourist destination. We are determined to be renowned for exceptional customer service and to keep pushing the standards in the hospitality industry.”
Pranzo is known for homemade pasta, made fresh every day at the restaurant, authentic Italian ingredients and carefully selected imported wines. It’s these three aspects Marco believes sets Pranzo apart from other restaurants.
“We focus on quality. By using the best ingredients available, we can produce great-tasting food and all our wines are sourced from family-run vineyards who care about the quality of the end product. Our Light Lunch menu is also a great value option,” Marco said.
In 2020 Pranzo opened their second restaurant in Harrogate. Across the two restaurants, Marco now employs 73 people.
Employees range from experienced individuals to newcomers to the hospitality industry.
All new team members are given training. Central to this training is to involve all new team members in the Pranzo story and Marco’s family history.
“I started cooking in my childhood with my Nonna (grandmother) at our family home in the Calabria region of Italy. Hopefully, Nonna would be proud of how many people are enjoying her recipes now," added Marco.
In October 2023, Pranzo Italian moved into the centre of Ilkley and is now located at 2- 3 The Moors, South Hawksworth Street, Ilkley.
For more information visit – www.pranzoitalian.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel