The family behind La Famiglia, an award-winning Italian restaurant on Stanley Street in Liverpool's Pride Quarter, have spoken of their excitement after actor Álvaro Morte visited their venue. Morte, best known internationally for playing The Professor in Money Heist, is also the new antagonist Felipe Guzman in the BBC crime drama This City Is Ours.
A Special Visit for the Owners
Giuseppe Spinuso, 43, and his wife Marta, 41, own La Famiglia, which serves "traditional dishes with a twist" across two floors, including pappardelle burrata and caserecce all'arrabbiata. The couple said they never wanted to create a "copy-and-paste" Italian restaurant when they first opened, instead aiming to reflect their Italian roots, traditions and family heritage.
Giuseppe said: "Having someone as well-known as Álvaro Morte visit La Famiglia means a lot to both of us. It's a lovely feeling to receive this kind of recognition for all the hard work, dedication and passion we have put into our business."
Signature Dish and a Night Out
During his visit, Morte chose the Fettuccine al Pistacchio con Pancetta Affumicata, a dish of freshly made egg fettuccine with a homemade pistachio sauce and smoked pancetta. Giuseppe noted: "What makes this visit particularly special to us is that he chose something a little different from the traditional Italian dishes that people might normally expect."
Giuseppe said the staff were shocked when Morte came in, and the two spoke in Spanish, as Giuseppe is from Alghero, Sardinia, where the first language is Catalan. After the meal, they went for drinks at the Cavern Pub, which Giuseppe described as "a symbol of Liverpool."
Building a Family Business
Giuseppe, who has strong family connections to Sicily and Sardinia, moved to England in 2005. After working as a bar manager and general manager for several Liverpool businesses, he opened La Famiglia in September 2019. The name, which translates as "the family" in Italian, reflects the importance of working together.
Giuseppe said: "We are incredibly proud of what we have built over the past seven years: a proper family restaurant with a genuine Sardinian identity and atmosphere. Our dishes are unique, inspired by Sardinian cuisine and our family heritage. You won't find anything quite like La Famiglia elsewhere in the North West of England."
Overcoming Challenges and Awards
The restaurant's early success was stunted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with repeated closures proving difficult for the family. Giuseppe said: "It was really hard. We came here with nothing but each other, so when we had to close down a couple of times, it was scary."
Family remains central, with Giuseppe's children, Mario and Maya, regularly spending time at the venue. La Famiglia has secured six Italian Awards titles, including "best new restaurant", "best chef" and "best family-friendly restaurant", as well as "best wine selection", "best restaurant dessert" and "best pasta chef". The restaurant is located at 12 Stanley St, Liverpool L1 6AF.
