Il Padrino

Welcome to Il Padrino (and to save you looking it up, it means The Godfather) – the Italian restaurant which has taken Colchester by storm since opening in May 2013.

Mouth-watering food, a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and great value for money – everything you want from a dining out experience and it has been created by owner, Fausto Mazza. How appropriate that one of England’s leading Roman towns should play host to such a fabulous Italian experience!

Il Padrino is open for lunch and dinner (see contact details for exact opening hours).Whatever time of day you visit, the warmth of the welcome will never waver – and neither will the quality of the food.
Fausto has been head chef at some of the area’s top restaurants and has now realised his dream of owning his own.

“It’s a dream come true to have my own place. I was brought up in southern Italy before moving to England when I was 16 and much of my cooking has its roots in the amazing dishes cooked for me by my mother. My aim at Il Padrino is to offer dishes people are probably familiar with alongside some great authentic Italian dishes,” said Fausto, whose love of The Godfather films prompted the restaurant’s name.

The extensive menu combines some old favourite dishes with others which will soon become favourites, all complemented by some first-class yet reasonably priced wines. Click on the menus tab to really get those gastric juices flowing.

The 70-seat restaurant is spread over three floors, creating a cosy, intimate atmosphere. The lower floor is an old brick wine cellar, beautifully adorned with murals and perfect for those romantics among you. The ground floor allows you to people-watch while you dine or, alternatively, watch Fausto and his team prepare your meal in the open-plan kitchen. The upper floor allows you to hide away from everyone – except your waiter of course! – and is perfect for a group who might want a floor to themselves.