'A very special lady': Tributes paid to matriarch of Edinburgh restaurant empire

Tribute have been paid to Giacinta Crolla, the matriarch of the Crolla family. <i>(Image: Crolla family/Facebook)</i>

(Image: Crolla family/Facebook)

Tributes have been paid to the matriarch of an Edinburgh restaurant dynasty.

Giacinta Crolla, the co-founder of the city’s Vittoria Group alongside her husband Alberto, died on September 27, her family said on social media.

Three generations of the Crolla family have operated restaurants in the capital since 1970, including Vittoria on the Walk and Vittoria on the Bridge.

The family also owns Taste of Italy, Brunswick Book Club, Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips and Landy’s.

Giacinta’s son Tony and grandsons Alberto and Leandro continue to run the business, fifty-six years after it was founded.

eateryThe family's flagship restaurant Vittoria on the Walk. (Image: Google Maps)

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Nonna Dina,” an Instagram post from Vittoria Edinburgh said.

“Nonna Dina, along with her husband Alberto, founded Vittoria in 1970. Their hard work and sacrifice made The Vittoria Group what it is today.

“Nonna was so much more than a Nonna to our family, she was a Nonna to everybody, and a friend to everybody, she will be deeply missed.”

A Requiem Mass will be held at St Mary’s RC Cathedral on Thursday October 15 at 10 am.

“We would like to thank everyone for their love, support and kind messages during this difficult time,” the family said.

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“I have such fond memories of them both,” Joyce Cochrane said on Facebook. “May Nonna Dina rest in peace - reunited with Alberto. The end of an era, but what a legacy they leave.”

“She was a very special lady,” added Maureen Morris. “I used to love seeing her enjoying a coffee in the cafe and having a chat with her.”

“So sorry to hear of this very sad news. She was a lovely lady who I remember seeing in Vittorias on many occasions down the decades,” Lawrence Lettice said.

“She was the loveliest, warmest woman. I have such happy memories of her and Mr Crolla at the Vittoria where I spent many happy hours as a kid,” added Debbie McKinnon. “My deepest condolences to all on such a loss.”