An acclaimed Italian restaurant in Southport has submitted plans to expand – and local people are all saying the same thing.
Volare, owned by Onofrio Maimone and Cinzia Lopalco, has proudly served authentic Italian food since it opened in 2007.
The family has just submitted a planning application to Sefton Council, looking to expand into the former Claire House Hospice charity shop unit next door.
Volare is rated as the top Italian restaurant in Southport on the TripAdvisor website, and the 9th best out of 288 restaurants in Southport.
The story enjoyed a huge reaction after we published it on Stand Up For Southport last night, reaching over 12,000 local people, with over 300 Likes on Facebook alone, and 65 comments.
Writing on the Stand Up For Southport website, Adele and Will Bradley said: “Our favourite restaurant in Southport, attentive service, awesome cuisine, great ambiance, Would highly recommend this restaurant.
“Good luck on the extension Cinzia & Onofrio”
Caterina Cookson wrote: “Delightful news!You can’t have too much of a good thing and Volare is that good thing.I know Italy and Italian cuisine very well and Volare is up there in the echelons of excellence in its authenticity.”
On the Stand Up For Southport Facebook group, Neil Walsh said: “Great news we thought it might be them ! Best of luck to them both.”
Dan Johnstone said: “Brilliant news Onofrio and family…. One of the few authentic restaurants producing top quality food with the best ingredients!”
Suzy Walker said: “Our fave! Love the food & atmosphere.”
Mariella Davidson said: “Fantastic news, well done Cinzia and Onofrio.”
Georgina Gillen said: “Love this restaurant, great food. Great to hear.”
Sandra Halsall said: “The best Italian this side of Italy.”
Lorna Cranston said: “Our favourite restaurant. Such fantastic authentic food and amazing service.”
Mary Hefferan said: “This is just fantastic news. The food is amazing ,all the staff and owners are just lovely. They truly deserve this and I am so happy, well done.”
Geoff Heyes said: “Wonderful news and l hope their planning application is approved. Volare serves great food and the service is very good also. Wish them well with their planned business expansion.”
The proposals have been lodged by Jason Maimone of Volare Restaurants Limited, who said in the application: “The ground floor of the premises is to be used as an extension of the existing restaurant next door, and therefore will be a restaurant including a kitchen.
“The retail shop (charity store) has been in existence for many years and in excess of 10 years.
“We do not hold any planning information on the premises but it appears in the 2010 rating list which is over 10 years of use.”
Volare Restaurants Ltd has been trading since 2007, and continues to improve the customer experience as the venue has been refurbished with a new suspended ceiling and a new bar.
The Maimone family strives to give diners “the best Italian produce at good value for money during these times of economic hardship.”
Partners and hosts Onofrio Maimone and Cinzia Lopalco say: “When you come to our place, we’ll make all efforts to make sure you feel like you are on holiday in Italy for as long as your stay!”
Onofrio is from Sicily and has extensive experience in catering.
He has been working in the trade all his life and is the chef / proprietor of the establishment.
Cinzia is from Puglia and has been managing holiday farms, where she’s learnt the trade and all the aspects of day to day running of kitchen and front of house.
In the kitchen, Jason Maimone is the head chef in the kitchen and has followed in Onofrio’s footsteps. He has learnt everything there is to know from his father. He is very talented, very motivated to keep high standards and eager to take over one day along with his wife Victoria Maimone who is once again very talented in the front of house and she strives to make everyone feel welcome and enjoy their meal or special occasions.
Volare sources its ingredients locally and the rest is imported from Italy through a network of leading distributors. All this mixed with family style service gives diners a true authentic taste of real Italy.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
