We’re so excited to be celebrating 20 years of De Luca restaurant in 2026!

We opened our doors as a restaurant in 2006, but the building has been in the family for more than 50 years, since 1972.

Before it was a restaurant, Paul’s father Mario De Luca bought the building a floor at a time and ran various businesses on the site, including a hair and beauty salon.

Due to the family’s Italian heritage, originating in Bovino in Puglia, Paul always wanted to open an Italian restaurant, taking inspiration from his Nonna’s recipes, and making delicious food, made on-site using fresh ingredients from local suppliers.

The theatre kitchen, with the chefs on show to the diners, was an original idea at the time, and a rare-in-Cambridge rooftop terrace was later added for the summer seasons.

In 2014, Paul collaborated with singer pianist entertainer Robin P-iano, to introduce an authentic Piano Bar concept to Cambridge. The Piano Bar won Best Bar in the Cambridge Food & Drink Awards in 2018, and will celebrate 1,000 performances on the weekend of 18/19th September 2026.

But regardless of the breadth of offering at De Luca, the quality of the food and warm welcome has always been a priority for Paul, and something that has developed a loyal returning customer base over the 20 years.

“When you’ve been somewhere as long as we have, you get to know the customers and experience their celebrations and special moments with them. It’s fantastic to be relied upon by so many people when they want somewhere special to go, whether for date night, a birthday, Christmas or New Year celebrations, or just to enjoy some authentic and delicious food,” said owner Paul De Luca.