THE importance of steel girders and an abundance of pudding – first impressions of Tre Ciccio No3, which opens in Ramsbottom on Friday, March 1 after conquering lovers of Italian rustic food in both Altrincham and Bramhall.
First the puds. For £9.95 we finished a soft launch meal with a trio of desserts – an authentically sloppy panna cotta of thickened vanilla cream with poached Yorkshire rhubarb, warm chocolate tart with pistachio ice cream and classic tiramisu with a proper coffee hit.
This glorious bargain and a quality antipasti board of mixed salumi, cheese and pickles bookended a dinner focusing on Tre Ciccio’s speciality – award-winning Neapolitan-style pizza and Goosnargh roast chicken treated with simple reverence. A simple choice of two whites and two reds added to the lack of complication.
We were eating downstairs in sight of the wood-fired oven, source of our mains. It was straying upstairs to be shown the 140 cover restaurant proper with its rooftop views and retractable roof that the Wow Factor kicked in.
The former living quarters of Ramsons, the cottage restaurant that forged Rammie’s reputation as a foodie destination, have been gutted and restructured (with much steel) into a spectacular but also charming dining space. If you thought the Altrincham Tre Ceccio was a Tardis check out this was a revelation,,restoring and protecting beautiful features such as the original timber beams and brickwork and a unique fireplace on the first floor.
Add in artwork from Chris The Cunning Craftsman – a mural featuring Tre Ciccio’s trademark cockerel alongside the names of each of the three owners, who have committed serious investment to the project.
Tre Ciccio stems from the friendship of this trio (Tre Ciccio means ‘three chubby friends’ in the Neapolitan dialect): Francesco Scafuri from Campania – inspiration for the cuisine – Ramsbottom resident Alan Richie and hospitality veteran James Gingell. It deserves to succeed.
Tre Ciccio, 16-18 Market Pl, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9HT. 01706 497100. Also at Altrincham and Bramhall.
