Celebrating Football Italian Style: ‘Wave your Flag’ at Regina Margherita!

An abundance of Cheer, Games, Freebie F&B galas, and 30-40% off your final bill

Sri Lanka’s celebrated ‘Ristorante italiano’, and the only Sri Lankan Restaurant to win recognition as one of Asia’s finest restaurants in The Miele Guide 2009/2010, Regina Margherita will host an exciting array of Football World Cup 2010 nights starting June 11th.

 

 

“It doesn’t matter whether you are British, German, Brazilian or even French. We forgive you” says Milano born Barbara Avossa with a twinkle in her eye, whose passion for authentic Italian food and life resonates in the warm and authentic restaurant “Even though football is very serious business to us, we are also in the business of making good friends and feeding them. That’s what being Italian is all about!”

 

 

In association with a popular local brewery that is ‘probably the best’, the restaurant will broadcast all World Cup games live and offer patrons an exciting ambience of warmth, cheer, games, freebies and opportunities to win a 30 to 40 % discount on their final bill.

 

 

In addition to football décor, merchandise (team jerseys, footballs, etc) and individual country flags served with your food, there will be two dartboards that will feature the faces of the team captains competing in the games of that day. “So if you’re disappointed your favourite team didn’t win, feel free to pepper your frustration on the dartboard of your choice” says Barbara with a laugh.

 

 

As a further incentive to help guests get into the ‘spirit’ of things, the restaurant will also hold a free gala of ‘Probably the Best’ Beverages for every goal scored from June 11th – June 14th, where tables of 4 guests or more will receive a Free Pint for Each Goal scored on the match that is showing. Not excluding individuals or parties of less than 4, the restaurant will also provide individual mugs of the beverage to smaller tables.

 

 

Regina Margherita is unashamedly Italy’s biggest football fan and is ardently supportive of Italy’s own die hard campaign to defend her world cup title. As Barbara herself enthusiastically says, “How better to celebrate with fellow fans on Italian game days than by giving all patrons desserts or appetizers on the house?” To kick things off for Italy’s first game with Paraguay, each guest will also receive a complimentary glass of wine to toast ‘La vittoriaa Italia!’

 

 

For ‘Big Matches’ (matches between high ranked countries), a special game board will be available for each table to predict the outcome of the day’s match at the game’s onset. For example, Italy4 – Slovakia 0, or France 1 – South Africa 2, etc. Tables that get it right will get 30-40% of their final bill waived off.

 

 

In the wake of their latest ventures’ tremendous success – their outdoor catering sector and private function area within their premises, Regina Margherita seems to have got it right once again and is all set to delight Sri Lanka’s football fans with Italian charm, exceptional dining and a sensational experience.

 

 

Commenting on the success of her core business and its latest expansions, Barbara proudly stated that she didn’t have a single customer, claiming her most outstanding achievement in 18 months of operations to be the fraternity of patrons who have turned from diner to friend within minutes of walking through the restaurant door. “I’d have to say though that the greatest contribution to my success is my heritage. Italian cuisine cannot be learned in days, months or years - handed down from generation to generation, it is a treasure of culinary exclusivity that most Italians guard jealously. Like all cultures have their traditions and idiosyncrasies, food for Italians is an art, passion, history and tradition. Because of this I sincerely believe that to get Italian food truly right, it has to be made by Italian people.” She elaborated, “The legendary recipe book I use at Regina Margherita was inherited by my grandmother from my great grandmother who herself ran a restaurant back home that in turn was passed onto my grandmother and then my mother. I’m a 4th generation Italian chef and I think it is the art of a lifetime and more of Italian perfection and genetic influence that deserves credit for what my restaurant is today. I can’t wait for the time when my little trio will be ready to put on their chef’s hats and become our family’s fifth generation of Italian chefs” she adds with a smile.

 

 

About Regina Margherita: Regina Margherita is a family run restaurant renowned for authentic Italian cuisine and is the only Sri Lankan Restaurant to win recognition as one of Asia’s finest restaurants in The Miele Guide 2009/2010. Owned and managed by Milano born Barbara Avossa, her passion for authentic Italian food and life resonates in the warm and authentic restaurant.

 

 

A veritable little Italyin Sri Lanka, Regina Margherita has seating for 62 diners with an open smoking area outdoors. The popular restaurant boasts Chef Luigi from Southern Italy and features a wood burning traditional Italian Pizza oven, which was built within one month by Italians who came down specifically for this task: this is claimed to be the only authentic Italian Pizza oven in the whole of the Island. In true Italian style, all dishes are cooked in olive oil, where most ingredients (with the exception of a few vegetables and fresh seafood which is available aplenty in Sri Lanka) are imported from Italyevery ten days. The restaurant also serves much loved Italian wines and desserts.

 

 

 

Regina Margherita is open for dinner all days of the week from 6 pm onwards at 151, Park Road, Colombo 5. Call 0117394440 for further information.