Vote for Us!

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We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary this year and would love your vote in the Irish Restaurant Awards 2015.

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Giovanni Battista Rinuccini – Our Italian Restaurant Namesake

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Ristorante Rinuccini takes its name from Giovanni Battista Rinuccini a Florentine noble who spent four years living amongst the people of Kilkenny in the mid-seventeenth century. His father was Senator Camillo Rinuccini and his mother, Virginia di Pier Antonio Bandini, was the sister of Cardinal Ottavio. He was born in Rome and was a diligent scholar even during his very early years. He was educated by Jesuits in Rome then studied canon and civil law at the universities of Bolognia, Perugia and Pisa.

In the early 1600, Following a recommendation from his uncle Cardinal Bandini, Rinuccini was ordained as a priest and received a special dispensation to become Archbishop of Fermo in 1625. Despite Rinuccini’s lack of diplomatic experience, Pope Innocent X appointed him as Papal Nuncio to the Irish Confederation in March 1645.

Rinuccini was received with great pomp and ceremony at the Confederate capital of Kilkenny where he declared that his mission supported the rule of the monarchy but that his principal objective was to secure civil rights for the Irish people.

Rinuccini spent a four year term as Papal Nuncio in Kilkenny where he was held with great respect by the laity and clergy alike, for his refinement and patronage of the arts and fine food.

Rinuccini returned to Rome, where he wrote an extensive account of his time in Ireland, ‘The Commentarius Rinuccinanus’. His notes have been translated by Dr Billy Kelly with the Irish Manuscripts Commission. He wrote also a number of works, including books on philosophy, rhetoric, history and geography.

Rinuccini was reported to have coined the phrase ‘Tavola quattro chiacchiere gusto da tradizione Italiana’ while he was living in Kilkenny, which translates to ‘At the table conversation is an Italian tradition’. We try to deliver this sentiment with every meal and to live up to the Rinuccini name each day.

Experience our history and immerse yourself in the culture of Rinuccini’s by visiting our restaurant today or reserving a table for you and your friends.

Ristorante Rinuccini Receives Michelin Guide Nod

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We are delighted to announce that Ristorante Rinuccini is celebrating its fifteenth year in the renowned Michelin Guide. It gives us great pride to have been selected for the constant quality of our service in this year’s listing which states “this family-owned restaurant is well known locally” and cites our “classic Italian cuisine with home-made ravioli a speciality” as a one of the dishes of note.

We have just received our plaque which will take pride of place alongside the others on the exterior wall of the restaurant. We first featured in the Guide back in 2000! The family and the entire team at Rinuccini work very hard to maintain those standards throughout the year.

With Kilkenny now considered one of Ireland’s top dining destinations and as the cities longest established restaurant, here at Ristorante Rinuccini we constantly strive to live up to the reputation of the county and the Michelin Guide in our cuisine, service, décor and wine menu. Each menu is specially crafted by ‘Chef of the Year’ Antonio Cavaliere (also known as Dad!) while Marian (Mum) and I works front of house, to ensure that the family’s high standards of service are always met.

We offer a number of exclusive Italian wines, imported directly from our home surrounds of Lazio on the west coast of Italy. Each one is handpicked by the family from the very best local vineyards. Next time you visit the restaurant, be sure to check out the custom-made wine cellar that diners can view to choose their favourite wines through special glass floor portals.

All of the Italian produce is sourced and imported directly from Italy – including the finest olive oils, charcuterie, cheeses and coffee so that we can offer you authentic Italian flavours blended with the very best of locally sourced Irish produce including Knockdrinna Cheese, veal from Kilkenny Rosè Veal and fresh fish and seafood picked up on our weekly trips to Kilmore Quay to get the freshest catch straight off the boat!

As long-time supporters of Kilkenny and the South-East’s quality suppliers, Ristorante Rinuccini is the only city based restaurant to have been invited to become a member of Good Food Ireland for our commitment to using the best of seasonal, fresh and local produce.

Using these ingredients, we have launched our new winter lunch menu which includes – Antipasto Rinuccini, with Italian meats, olives and delicious garlic Ciabatta; Crostini di Salmone Affumicato with organic West Cork Smoked Salmon; and Tagliata di Filetto di Manzo with seared, chilled Irish beef and 24 month aged parmesan.

We are very passionate about delivering the very best food and dining experience for our customers. We really enjoy taking our time to find the best suppliers and indeed the best people to deliver the service that our customers come to expect. This latest nod from Michelin Guide is a fantastic achievement for the restaurant but it’s the happy faces of our diners that gives us the most pleasure and we will endeavour to offer the best service that we can once again this year.