Riva Blu is delighted to overhaul its image within Liverpool

Italian restaurant Riva Blu has launched plans to overhaul its image in Liverpool.

Located on Castle Street no. 1, Individual Restaurants’ 130-cover restaurant takes its name from the Italian word for shore “riva” and “blu” representing the color of calm seas.

The location replaced celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo’s restaurant in January 2022, but changes to the decor were minimal, with many locals still referring to the establishment as “the old Gino’s”.

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Riva Blu plans to overhaul its static image in the city with a series of events, a new menu and invitations to the public to experience first-hand what the restaurant wants to achieve.

Aaron Richards, sales manager for Riva Blu, told the ECHO: “Over the last couple of years we’ve really focused on what makes Riva Blu an integral part of the city and a big part of that is how the venue looks , the services and most importantly the food.

“There are so many Italian places offering classic dishes but we have worked hard over the last two years to deliver what I would say is the most authentic menu in Liverpool. We know what other locations offer, but we wanted to do something different from what the city is used to, but still rooted in authentic Italian dining.”

Riva Blu has recently launched a Neapolitan street food menu that includes new biga dough pizzas, Delizie Fritte favorites and Baciata hearty ‘kiss sandwiches’. The location aims to turn the city’s understanding of Italian dining on its head while staying true to the culture and flavors of the region.

Aaron added: “We really want to push the boundaries of what we can do, which is why, along with the new menu, we have a number of events in the works. We recently had our first limoncello social and we’re looking forward to bringing more people to the venue, which isn’t just about food – we want it to be a social gathering for people to enjoy. We’ve teamed up with local organizations for Celebrating Castle Street and Liverpool Restaurant Week, but we’re looking to run a lot of our own events as well.”

Sister sites in the Individual Restaurant family have faced criticism recently, but Riva Blu says it is focused on providing top-notch food, service and atmosphere.

Aaron said: “A lot of people in Liverpool still see Riva Blue as the former Gino D’Acampo restaurant, but that’s why we’re excited to move forward with our own identity.

“We’ve had an incredible two years but we really want the city to see us in a new light and that’s for our authentic food, regular events and most importantly a place to enjoy and have fun. We want people to be able to visit. the anytime location for any occasion and we want to become more than just a place to sit down to eat. We want to be a strong part of the identity of Liverpool’s hospital scene.”

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