Napoli loses a piece of its culinary history: SUD, the Michelin-starred restaurant of chef Marianna Vitale, will close its doors.
The announcement comes directly from the owners, Marianna Vitale and Pino Esposito, through a touching post on Instagram that marks the end of an era that lasted sixteen years.
“We will be operational until Saturday, June 7, 2025, to grant the experience one last time to those who want it. Thank you all, thank you for everything,” the two write, with a tone that mixes gratitude and serenity.
“Dear friends, relatives and acquaintances, after sixteen years SUD is closing. Do not fear, it is a conscious and happy choice”, we read in the message. A decision that does not seem to be dictated by difficulties, but by the desire to turn the page: “We want to start new projects, in continuity with the evolutionary approach with which our restaurant was born”.
Marianna and Pino assure that their bond with the kitchen will remain alive: "In our hearts there will always be a table set and a glass of wine for you. The cuisine of SUD will continue to exist, in the influence of our dishes and in the pots of the many chefs we have trained".
The announcement, while offering glimpses of the future, cannot fail to sadden the admirers of what has been a true gastronomic institution. Inaugurated on May 12, 2009 in Quarto, on the outskirts of Phlegraean Fields, SUD was born as a bold gamble: a talented self-taught chef, Marianna Vitale, and a visionary sommelier, Pino Esposito, gave life to a project that immediately won over the public.
Their cuisine, rooted in local tradition but never nostalgic, led the restaurant to obtain a Michelin star just three years after opening, in 2012.
Marianna Vitale's success didn't stop there. In 2015, she was named best Italian chef by the guides "l'Espresso" and "Identità Golose", a recognition that consolidated her fame.
Since then, the expansion: Angelina in Bacoli in 2019, then in Pozzuoli in 2021, and Mar Limone, also in Pozzuoli, in 2022. And yet, it is SUD that remains the symbol of an extraordinary journey, capable of transforming Quarto into a destination for lovers of good food.
Now, with the closure set for June 7, 2025, a chapter of waiting opens: what will be Marianna and Pino's new projects? For the moment, the world of Neapolitan gastronomy is preparing to say goodbye to an icon, with the promise that the flavor of SUD will continue to live beyond its walls.
Article published on 5 April 2025 - 09:09
It's a real shame that SUD will close, it was a restaurant that marked the culinary history of Naples. Chef Vitale created unique and memorable dishes. I wonder if they have new projects in mind for the future.