The owners of two popular Sunderland restaurants are set to serve up two new venues in the city.
Vittorio Farigu and Tamer Hassan, owners of Vito’s Osteria and Ember, have signed leases on two ground floor units in The Beam at Riverside Sunderland.
Fit-out works are expected to be delivered over the coming months, and once work has been completed, the spaces will be transformed into two new high-quality venues.
No.32 will serve handcrafted pizzas and cocktails, while Riverside Café will be a more relaxed venue serving teas, coffees and dishes for early starters through to evening diners.
“I am thrilled to be teaming up with Vito to bring these two new concepts to the city this year,” said Tamer. “We have had a great relationship ever since we opened Ember and Vitos at Sheepfolds Stables, and we see these venues complementing our existing sites perfectly.
“They are just a short walk across the new Keel Crossing but will provide a totally different food and drink offering for the people of Sunderland, while fostering that same warm, friendly atmosphere that our restaurants have become renowned for.”
No.32 and Riverside Café will be the latest in a string of food and drink operators to have invested in Riverside Sunderland, building on the momentum already generated from Sheepfolds Stables, The Botanist, Black’s Corner, Flower Café and Keel Tavern.
Vito added: “We first came to the city in the summer of 2024 when Sheepfolds Stables opened its doors and in less than two years, the transformation of the area has been remarkable.
“We have the Keel Crossing, the new Maker & Faber office buildings, hundreds of new homes being built, and HICSA all on our doorstep.
“Premier League football has also returned to the Stadium of Light, and Culture House is taking shape in Keel Square ahead of its spring opening.
“All of this has already seen us welcome visitors to our restaurants from across the region and beyond and we are hopeful that, with even more developments set to rise from the ground over the coming months and years, No.32 and Riverside Café will prove just as big a hit with city residents and visitors alike.”
The Beam was built by Sunderland City Council and became the flagship development of Riverside Sunderland – one of the UK’s most ambitious urban regeneration projects – when it opened in 2019.
Ocado, North East Screen, Apexon, Asset 55, Richard Reed and RTC North have since relocated to the building, creating hundreds of jobs in the city centre.
Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business, said: “We are thrilled that Tamer and Vito are opening two new venues at the heart of Riverside Sunderland.
“Their two existing restaurants, Ember and Vito’s Osteria, may have only opened less than two years ago but have become real favourites, embedding themselves as part of the city’s community while winning numerous industry awards.
“We have every confidence that No.32 and Riverside Café will prove just as popular and will continue to build on all of the incredible progress being made at Riverside Sunderland as we look to create a vibrant city centre for everyone.”
Tamar and Vittorio’s expansion to The Beam was supported by Sunderland Council’s Business Investment Team, including identifying suitable space and providing ongoing advice and guidance.
