Boss shares the one key to Birmingham’s ‘best’ Italian restaurant’s 14-year success

A ‘thriving’ Birmingham neighborhood has shared its one key to success after being named Italian Restaurant of the Year 14 years after opening. Cucina Rustica on Ludgate Hill in the Jewelery Quarter has been awarded the Midlands Award for Food, Drink and Hospitality.

Cucina Rustica first opened in 2010 and has since garnered over 1,200 impressive reviews on Google, giving it an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of a near-perfect five. It has the same score on TripAdvisor, with customers calling it “excellent”, “sublime” and “amazing”.

It was shortlisted for the regional awards alongside fellow Jewelery Quarter businesses Otto, Edgbaston’s Smoke and Ash and eight others, including restaurants in Nottingham, Leicester and Coventry.

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Now boss Roni Ferro has dedicated winning to staff and customers, sharing the secret to the success of the family business. Roni, who is from Sicily and also owns Pasta Di Piazza in the Jewelery Quarter, said: “We are delighted to win, it means our hard work over the years has paid off. We maintained a high standard and that’s what kept us going.”

I asked what was the key to success. “I was constant, to be honest,” says Roni. “Our customers are regulars and we are a family restaurant, so there is that level of customer service that we pride ourselves on.

“It seems like a lot of places have had business problems since Covid, but we haven’t felt that. I think that’s a testament to the team and the chefs who have kept up the good work.”

Cucina Rustica serves traditional Italian dishes as well as dishes with more modern twists. Roni says the family bought the restaurant during a difficult financial time and that helped.

“We bought the restaurant during the credit crunch and it was a time when no one was trying to expand,” explains Roni. “We had the knowledge and the courage and it gave us confidence over the years.

“I have been running Pasta Di Piazza since 1999 and therefore have a good knowledge of the industry. Since 2010 we have tried to maintain our standards and maintain them.

“Now, we are thriving. Winning an award gives our team encouragement, a boost of confidence. We dedicate this award to our staff as well as the customers who have kept us going over the years.”

You can find Cucina Rustica at 24 Ludgate Hill, Jewelery Quarter, B3 1DX.