Eats

Sud reveals plans for new pasta joint after shutting all four Greater Manchester restaurants

The local favourite will be reborn.

Daisy Jackson - 20th December 2023

Sud, the pasta kitchen formerly known as Sugo, has announced a new chapter after saying it would be closing all four restaurants in their current guise.

The much-loved local Italian spot has said that Sud will cease to exist in Ancoats, Altrincham, Sale, and at Exhibition, from the end of this year.

But it’s not totally curtains for the restaurant group, with new plans for a brand new concept now confirmed.

The new restaurants will be called Rigatonti’s, and will serve hearty bowls of house-made Rigatoni from just £7.50.

The founders of Sud and Rigatoni’s say they want to bring ‘pasta to the masses’, with pasta made fresh daily at each site.

The pasta will be extruded through a bronze die, lending it a rough texture for sauces to cling to, ‘asciutta’ style.

Sauces to go with the rigatoni include nduja meatballs in Amatriciana (£13.50), brown crab in vodka sauce (£12.50), and Fazool white beans with garlic, fresh chilli and parm (£9.50).

Or to keep it cheap and easy, there’s a simple extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and parm rigatoni for £7.50.

For appetisers, there are dishes including a £6 fried mozzarella and pesto sandwich, salami and potato crocchette, and chickpea fritters, plus foccaccia toasts with toppings including Gorgonzola whip and hot honey, grated tomato and garlic, or black olive and caper.

Sud's new venture in Manchester will be called Rigatoni's — Sud’s new venture in Manchester will be called Rigatoni’s

The new restaurant will still be fronted by the Manchester-born brothers behind the original Sugo Pasta Kitchen, which launched in Altrincham way back in 2015 and expanded fast across Greater Manchester.

Alex de Martiis, co-founder, said: “Change has been a regular thing for us recently – that stops with Rigatoni’s. We want to build a sustainable business that allows us to serve the customers in our communities for years to come.

“The next chapter in our journey is all about creating an accessible, uncomplicated menu that makes Rigatoni’s somewhere that people come to time and time again.

“Whether it’s a quick lunch on a Tuesday, or a Saturday night with mates, pasta shouldn’t just be for occasions.”

The launch dates for each restaurant will be announced on Rigatoni’s social channels, with bookings open in January. For more information or to sign up to hear more visit www.letsrigatoni.co.uk.

Featured image: The Manc Group