Trattoria Restaurant in the Nairobi CBD.
Trattoria, one of the most popular and iconic restaurants in the Nairobi city centre, has begun the process of moving out of its location after 44 years.
The restaurant, which has served locals and foreigners Italian dishes from Town House along Wabera Street, will now be operating from 20th Century House along Kaunda Street.
Trattoria Restaurant in the Nairobi CBD. It's set to move to a new location.
“We are currently having some relocation process, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused during this transition. Thank you for your understanding and trusting us to give you the best of our service,” Trattoria Limited told its customers in a notice on its premises.
The restaurant, owned by Gaetano Ruffo, opened its doors in 1981 serving Italian cuisine accompanied by selected wines, before finally expanding to serve other meals.
Trattoria Restaurant Managing Director Gaetano Ruffo.
Mr Ruffo, an Italian national, first visited Kenya as a tourist in 1975 before deciding to stay long-term.
He told Nation in a 2014 interview that he relocated to Kenya in 1977 and set up several businesses which he later closed down, before settling on the restaurant business in 1981.
Legal row with landlord
The restaurant owner, however, has been embroiled in a legal tussle with the landlord since 2013 over the tenant’s move to block exit passages and fire assembly points by placing gas cylinders and water tanks.
The landlord, Joanina Wanjiku Maina, wanted the restaurant evicted from the premises in 2015 for occupying more space than it is paying for. It is set up on 7,303 square feet while only paying for 5,801 square feet.
She also claimed Mr Ruffo had increased the size of the restaurant's kitchen, part of which now sits over a sewer line thus posing a health hazard.
The court ruled in favour of Mr Ruffo, thus allowing him to renew his lease for a further period of 10 years which was set to expire this year.
