A new restaurant that aims to offer a wide selection of dishes "oozing with flavours" has opened in Ely. 

Mangiare Ristorante Italiano opened its doors for the first time on Friday, November 15 and promises a "relaxed atmosphere" for a truly memorable experience. 

Owner Cezar Da Silva said he was "excited" to open his sixth restaurant, having founded the former El Guaca Mexican Grill on Downham Road and another Mangiare restaurant in Newmarket. 

Mr Silva has more than 21 years' experience in the restaurant trade, working as chef operations managers for Frasers before founding his first restaurant in 2012. 

After moving to the UK from Brazil at the age of 19 in 2002, he recently opened an all-you-can-east style steakhouse, Nelore Brazilian Steakhouse, on Exeter Road in Newmarket. 

Living in Essex, Mr Silva said the decision to open Mangiare was prompted by what he described as "shifting demographics" in the city and believed an Italian restaurant would "appeal" to a wide range of customers. 

He told the Ely Standard: "We had a great first year after opening El Guaca in Ely, but then we started to notice a change in our customer base. 

"With people suffering a lot with the cost of living and rising productions costs, we were having to put in a lot more effort which meant we were forced to pass on higher costs to customers. Mexican food is very labour intensive to produce.

"I decided to open Mangiare because an Italian restaurant is a more attractive, everday option. You can have Italian dishes easily two to three times a week, whereas you're not going to east Mexican food regularly."

He added: "The Mangiare restaurant in Newmarket trades very well, it doesn't fluctuate and knowing that I had 20 people working for me at the Ely branch of El Guaca, it made sense to transition to a type of cuisine that is more versatile."

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Mr Silva said one of the founding principles of Ely's Mangiare Ristorante Italiano is homemade food using fresh produce. 

The restaruant will serve a range of signature pasta dishes including gluten free and vegan options. 

He added: "We don't compromise on fresh produce and the day I have to do that is the day I close my doors and stop working. 

"All of our pizzas our wood-fired and all of our fresh pastas and sauces are homemade using high quality ingredients."

Mangiare is open Sunday to Thursday between 12pm and 10.30pm and Friday to Saturday between 12pm and 11pm. 

The full menu can be viewed here.  

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