Newcastle's Punto Italian Kitchen confirms closure as traditional family business makes 'heavy heart' announcement
A popular family restaurant which has been a long-established favourite in Newcastle for its authentic Italian fare has now announced its closure, feeling it has not managed to change enough to suit the times.
Punto Italian Kitchen - which opened in Heaton in 2021, continuing a family tradition born there in 1981 - says it is "not what Heaton of 2025 onwards is calling for". The shock news of its closure - which it announced with "a heavy heart" - comes just ahead of its third birthday and despite having receiving three new awards.
Brothers Damiano Rea and Zeno Meynell-Rea, who founded it, say they are closing 'on a high' and remain optimistic for the future, with aims to redevelop the site. The corner building in Heaton Road has been owned since 1981 by the Rea family who first ran it as Out of Town.
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The Italian restaurant then became Arlecchino Café Bistro, from 1998 until Damiano and Zeno's parents retired in 2005. The venue later became La Vita and Rustico but when its-then leaseholders were forced to close by the pandemic, the family decided to run a restaurant there themselves once more and Damiano and Zeno - who had helped their parents out at the first restaurant when they were young - were back in business with the new-look Punto Italian Kitchen.
And they brought their Italian heritage, growing up in Lazio, to bear at the restaurant, to create classic dishes including fresh egg-based carbonara and pizza from hand-stretched dough. But it closed its doors for good on Sunday, September 29, just as they confirmed receipt of three awards: a TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice 2024; Good Food Award 2024-25 Blue Ribbon and Best Modern Authentic Italian Restaurant 2024 at the Lux Life Hospitality Awards.
In a joint statement Damiano and Zeno said: "We were delighted to be able to regain control of the building that our family operated from 1981. During the challenges presented by Covid, we defaulted to what we knew best - excellent quality authentic Italian food and ensured that this site was never prevented from being successful.
"Over time, one of the clear facts is that operating this building in the way it was developed in the mid-nineties, even with the changes we made in 2021, is not what Heaton of 2025 onwards is calling for. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart, but optimistic focus on the future, that we announce the closure of Punto Italian Kitchen."
They added: "It has been our immense pleasure to be a continuing part of this wonderful community particularly as Heaton Road becomes a destination for excellent business. We have seen faces old and new and have been honoured to be part of many families celebrations over the last three years.
"We thank all of our team, customers, and everyone who appreciates an authentic carbonara and look forward to redeveloping the site to ensure the viability and success of this part of Heaton in years to come." There is no detail yet about future plans but they are expected to see a major redevelopment of the property.
In the meantime, comments on the restaurant's Facebook pages following the news included: "So sorry to see this"; "We have loved visiting your restaurant. Your food is delicious" and "best pizzas ever". One, Simona Lenoci, wrote: "Oh wow this is a shock. Loved the food, made me feel I was back home again. Hopefully we'll see a new version of Punto soon." And a James William Stephenson called it "best restaurant" in the North East.