Tag: Divino

Come Dine With Me comes to Edinburgh featuring Divino

Channel 4’s ‘Come Dine With Me: The Professionals’ ventures to Edinburgh this week to experience some of the Scottish capital’s finest establishments. Italian restaurant Divino, part of the family-owned Vittoria group joined foraged food eatery Bijou Bistro and modern fine dining establishment Aurora to represent the capital in the hit show.

The long-awaited episode airs as the 11th instalment of series two, showcasing the camaraderie between Edinburgh’s dining establishments and the level of quality characteristic of the city’s food scene.

The episode airs following a year of great successes for Divino with triple wins at the Scottish Italian Awards, and recognition from Italy’s Ospitalita Italiana tourism certification for quality as ambassadors of Italian cuisine.

These accolades follow a full refurbishment of the restaurant with an improved food and drink offering that has drawn in esteemed guests and celebrities like Gerard Butler and Prince Albert of Monaco in the past year. Vittoria Group has also recently opened their newest venue, Brunswick Book Club, on Leith Walk offering a lively venue for all-day dining and local entertainment.

Divino’s ethos of serving authentic, modern Italian cuisine was reflected within the menu curated for ‘Come Dine With Me’, developed by Head Chef Andrea Calistro. Calistro justified his recent win of ‘Scotland’s Best Pasta Chef’ at the Scottish Italian Awards with a flavourful starter of spaghetti with king prawns and courgette, followed by a stand-out main course featuring beer-braised beef cheek and oyster mushrooms, and a Piccola Caprese Cake with orange and strawberries for dessert.

The menu from Bijou featured a starter of pan-fried scallops with black pudding ‘soil’ and, in direct competition with Divino, a similar beef cheeks main with polenta and seasonal vegetables before a lemon meringue pie for dessert. Aurora showcased vegan cuisine through a salad of heritage tomato and broad beans to begin, a cashew ricotta stuffed courgette flower main, and cherry tasting plate with red wine ice cream for dessert.

After each team had presented their feast in a tight competition, Bijou Bistro took home the win with 30 points, with Aurora and Divino following closely behind with 29 and 26 points respectively. Filmed in September 2022, Edinburgh’s dining scene has transformed since the show’s recording, with a blow to the city as Aurora shut its doors in 2023, and Bijou changing hands in the time since.

Co-owner Alberto Crolla said of the experience: “After keeping the secret for 18 months, we’re over the moon to see Divino and our friends in Edinburgh hospitality on the screen. It was such a joy to film alongside local restaurants in the dining scene and learn the techniques and ethos that make them special.

“It’s been quite an exciting time for Divino and the Vittoria Group, with a few new award wins, new openings, and exciting milestones under our belt since the time of filming – we’re looking forward to welcoming in the guests that liked what they saw on the show to experience our unique brand of Scottish-Italian hospitality.” 

After airing live on 20th May at 5pm, the episode is now available to stream online at: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/come-dine-with-me-the-professionals/on-demand/

For more information on Divino, visit https://divinoedinburgh.com

Edinburgh’s Divino is triple winner at Scottish Italian Awards

This year’s Scottish Italian Awards saw one Edinburgh restaurant standing above the rest as Divino Enoteca became a triple winner, receiving accolades for ‘Scotland’s Best Wine Selection’, ‘Scotland’s Best Pasta Chef’, and ‘Scotland’s Best Chef’, alongside a ‘Highly Recommended’ commendation for Best Restaurant in the East. 

The 10th anniversary of the Scottish Italian Awards welcomed over 750 guests to the Double Tree in Glasgow on 26th November for an evening celebrating the best of the Italian hospitality community, who have all made an incredible impact on Scotland’s food scene. 

Divino flew the flag for Edinburgh well through the evening, as the sole winners from the capital city. The awards cap off a successful year for the restaurant, with milestones including visits from Prince Albert of Monaco and actor Gerard Butler, following a £100,000 renovation at the end of 2022. 

Tucked away on Merchant Street in Edinburgh’s Old Town, Divino is known for its high-quality food that provides a modern and creative take on Italian cuisine. Seasonal menus, with dishes ranging from fresh pastas with silky sauces to succulent braised meats. are imagined by Chef Andrea Calistro – honoured with awards for ‘Scotland’s Best Chef’ and ‘Best Pasta Chef’. 

The award for Best Wine Selection reflects Divino’s dedication to curating an impressive assortment of world wines, with regular wine tasting evenings and a unique ‘enomatic’ machine allowing guests to sample rare wines from the bottle. 

Vittoria Group’s other celebrated restaurants were also honoured in the awards, with Vittoria on the Bridge also ‘Highly Recommended’ for Best Restaurant East, and Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips ‘Highly Recommended’ for the Best Fish and Chips Award.  

Co-owner Alberto Crolla was delighted with the awards recognition, saying:  “While we strive for excellence each day of the year, awards like this are a testament to the team’s dedication to providing an incredible experience for each customer that visits our restaurant.

“This hat-trick of award wins makes a wonderful ending to an exciting year at Divino that began with a freshly unveiled restaurant and saw a myriad of exciting events like regionally themed nights and celebrity guests that keep our team energised to keep up the remarkable work they’re doing.” 

The Crolla family have been at the forefront of Italian hospitality in the capital since Vittoria on the Walk first opened in Leith more than 50 years ago.

Now three generations of the family have expanded the Vittoria group across the city, each offering something unique while honouring the traditions of great Italian hospitality. 

For more information on Divino, visit https://divinoedinburgh.com

Taste Italian Summer nights at Divino in June

Some lovely events happening at Edinburgh’s award-winning restaurant Divino this month, designed to soak in the summer sun, all in a space that will make guests feel as if they’ve left Scotland behind for an evening on the Italian coast.


Divino Summer Garden Party

25th June, 5pm, £25

Our new terraza is the perfect spot to come enjoy the sunshine over some wine and food, and we’re showcasing this new space with a summer garden party! 

Manager James and sommelier Davide will explore the best Italian wines to enjoy whilst soaking up the sunshine, guiding you through the grapes, regions and styles.

A Divino Spritz to welcome you and start the party, followed by some crisp whites, juicy rosés, and elegant sparkling wines. 5 wines to taste, with some matching summer nibbles. 

A celebration of Campania: Regional Menu Night

29th June – all evening; 3 courses for £39, matched wines additional £26

With its 3000+ years history, over 10 UNESCO Sites, an outstanding Coast line figuring towns like Amalfi and Sorrento and one of the World’s most amazing volcano, il Vesuvio, Campania has a lot to show off.

Our Head Chef Andrea will guide you through the “500 Domes” that makes Naples one of the most exciting cities to visit, bringing authentic and original flavours that will make you feel like you’re basking on the beaches of Capri.

All of the above events can be booked here. 

Divino unveils new summer menus overflowing with seasonal Italian favourites

Award-winning restaurant and wine bar transports guests to an Italian summer holiday from the heart of Edinburgh

The award-winning Italian restaurant hidden in Edinburgh’s Old Town, Divino, is welcoming the changing seasons with an array of new summer menus filled with vibrant dishes perfect to see in the longer days and warmer nights.

Divino has revamped their lunch, dinner, and drinks menus to introduce new showstoppers and elevated favourites inspired by the celebrated ingredients of the season. The menus boast authentic Italian cuisine, where undying tradition and modern flair runs through each fresh, vibrant dish for a unique experience to see guests through the summer months.

To fuel summer nights with bountiful fresh and colourful ingredients, Divino’s new dinner menu offers a variety of dishes including soft gnocchi served with fresh clams and beef cheek braised in Barolo wine. A range of vegetarian and vegan options are available including a southern Italian delicacy of deep-fried aubergines slow cooked in tomato and basil sauce.

For sociable souls this summer, Divino have introduced an array of new sharing dishes including crispy roman-style focaccia and platters of Italian cheese and charcuterie to be paired with a selection of drinks from its new drinks menu featuring cocktails of ‘Sicilian sun’ and fruity, fresh wines, all best enjoyed on the newly renovated outdoor patio, perfect for soaking up the sun.

Available every Saturday, Divino’s new lunch menu features indulgent starters like an Apulian burrata with pickled wild mushrooms and mains like roasted chicken with pancetta wrapped asparagus and desserts. Guests can enjoy two courses for £22 or three courses at £30, offering great value in a beautifully refurbished and relaxed dining experience.  

Alongside a la carte options, Divino has curated three set menus all available for groups over 8, each offering an array of antipasti, mains and desserts to suit any pallet and budget. The Montepulciano menu a compact selection at £29 per person, while the Chianti menu priced at £45 per person elevates this offering to include options like Beef cheek braised in barolo wine. For those who prefer to sample from a wider range of dishes, the Barolo menu priced at £60 per head provides the widest variety.

Divino pride themselves on a truly immersive Italian experience, which is why guests can also enjoy monthly dedicated regional and wine nights, showcasing the very best produce and wines from different regions of Italy’s diverse culture and cuisine. For non-stop entertainment, Wednesday nights present Jazz Night at Divino, where guests can enjoy the finest Italian cuisine and an evening of jazz sessions from some of the best musicians in the city.

What’s on at Divino in April 

Edinburgh Restaurant Named Venue in AA Restaurant Guide 2023

Award-winning Italian restaurant Divino has just been named a top destination in the prestigious AA Restaurant Guide 2023.

There are some great events happening at Divino this month, all offer a unique night out and a fun way to get together with friends or family and enjoy great food and wine without the need for a special occasion to celebrate!

Veneto Regional Menu Nights – April 20th and 27th – Chef Andrea has developed a three-course menu with canapés, mains and petit fours for £39 celebrating the northern region known for its fresh seafood and famous cicchetti. Guests can add paired wines for an additional £26.

Sardinia Wine Night – April 30th – Featuring 5 fabulous wines from the island of Sardinia paired with matching canapes, guests at Divino will experience the rich & complex flavours of the region for just £25 beginning at 5pm.

Wednesday Jazz Nights – Every single Wednesday, enjoy live jazz from 7:30pm onwards, the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine and good company.

Events can be booked here.