Our Story
Inspired by an idyllic day in Florence and fronting the High Street in the heart of Bawtry’s pretty market town, Ziniz has been wining and dining its loyal guests for over two decades.
The first and flagship restaurant to open under The Ziniz Group umbrella, our 150 seats are spread over two adjoining buildings of lovingly designed interiors and an al fresco courtyard.
Our story starts with the Calzini family, originally from Montepulciano and Cortona in Tuscany, Italy, who have been introducing the flavours of Italian cuisine in England since 1960 when Dante came over to the Northeast of England and opened Newcastle’s first Italian restaurant.
A Family Tradition
Continuing the family tradition, our director Alessandro, son of Olive and Florentine chef Dante, launched his first restaurant Ziniz in 2000, then a humble 40-seater which made The Times list as “One of the top ten Italian restaurants in the UK” in its first five years, before going on to open Roccos Italian Kitchen, Dante’s Italian, and The Herbalist.
The family moved back to Italy in 1967, the year Alessandro was born. They lived in Florence, with him and sister Manuela spending most of their childhood years between here and in Sinalunga with their Nonnas learning to cook, whilst Dante and Olive ran a busy Italian pensione. During their teenage years, the family permanently relocated back to the North-East of England and reopened their Italian restaurant and a hairdressers. Manuela would later return to Italy, and Alessandro chose to stay.
Brought up in the industry, he worked between the family business and his uncle’s public houses, before joining one of Britain’s largest brewing dynasties ‘Joshua Tetley’ at the age of 22 and a move which eventually brought him to Doncaster in 1992 at the age of 25.
What was meant to only be a one-year placement turned into more as he turned ‘Scruffy Murphys’ and ‘AD Forty-Three’ into two of the town centre’s most popular pubs, before going on to open his very own first business venture – an Italian coffee shop – in 1998.
But with a passion for food ignited growing up in the heart of Tuscany and every summer spent in Siena, known for its rolling hills and infinite flavours, his dream was always a restaurant.
Generations of Italian Food Makers
Working six and seven days a week, this became his driving force and in 2000, he passed through a then-sleepy little town called Bawtry whilst on his motorbike heading to Market Rasen. Noticing a fish and chip shop up for sale, he returned to have a look the next day, and the rest is history!
Since then, Alessandro has dedicated his brand to the family history and their recipes which have been inherited from generations of authentic, artisan Italian food makers, and the group of award-winning restaurants has grown in its two decades, now joined by third generation of the Calzini family and employing more than 100 people locally.
Children Claudia, Sofia, Marco and Rocco all work within the company and share the same pride and love for the business that Alessandro and wife Jules have built.
“All our dishes are made fresh in our kitchen, the same way my nonna Cleofe and father Dante taught me. Skills and passion I have passed onto two of my children, Sofia and Marco, who are now at the helm of the family business kitchens”. Claudia also works closely with Alessandro heading operations and learning the business side of the company, whilst Rocco has just started his first weekend job at Roccos Italian Kitchen.
When we say we’re family-run, we really mean it, and we are so happy to share our journey with you.
