If you asked me for my first food memories, they would include my grandma’s baking, my grandad’s bacon, my other grandma’s porridge, and the first time I tried pizza and pasta at Vincenzo’s — then known as Peppy’s. I was ten years old when the owner, Vincenzo Zaroli, grew tired of my poor excuse for a salad that I would have the chefs make for me. He encouraged me to try a margherita pizza for the first time, and no pizza has ever quite lived up to it since.
A Staple of Heaton for Three Decades
Just off Chillingham Road on Addycombe Terrace, Vincenzo’s has been a staple of the area for the last 30 years. For many, like myself, it is full of fond memories. The exterior has had a colour change and now features lovely seating areas for guests to soak up the summer sun. But as soon as I step through the doors, the memories come flooding back. The layout is similar, and so is the warm greeting I receive from the Zaroli family and front-of-house staff member Emily, reminding me instantly of everything I loved about coming here as a child. It definitely felt like coming home, which is at the heart of Vincenzo’s.
From Peppy’s to Vincenzo’s: A Family Legacy
The doors opened in 1995 under the name Peppy’s, founded by Vincenzo and his wife Barbara Zaroli. They brought classic Italian cuisine to Heaton but, more importantly, embraced the family culture of Italy, being one of the only places that didn’t rush children out the door at 7pm. As a child, I loved the fact that I could stay up late and have ice cream at 9pm on a Saturday. I’m sure my family appreciated the flexibility of being able to enjoy a meal out without rushing home. Barbara retired in 2024, now enjoying the restaurant from the other side of the bar. She remains a regular face, supporting daughter Daniela after handing over the baton of Vincenzo’s dream. Daniela carries it proudly in the ever-changing landscape of hospitality in recent years.
Adapting and Thriving
Daniela said: “It’s been in the family since I was 14, and it was my dad’s dream, so I’m just trying to keep it going.” And she certainly is. She has adapted the restaurant to reach more customers than ever before by introducing Intimo, a deli within the restaurant that serves homemade classic Italian pastries for breakfast, sandwiches, and a selection of high-quality oils and pasta. The addition of the deli was a dream that Vincenzo and Daniela shared, and it is proving popular with locals. I had to sample a pastry myself before leaving, and what a treat they are.
So if you are passing through Heaton or live nearby, come off the high street and wander down to Addeycombe Terrace, where Vincenzo’s will be waiting with open arms.
