A family-run restaurant will celebrate 37 years of business later this month.

Staff at Adriatico in High Road, Woodford Green, will crack open a jeroboam of champagne on May 26 to celebrate with diners.

Opened by Mario Zeppa in 1976, Adriatico takes its name from the Adriatic Coast in Italy where Mr Zeppa grew up.

He still takes an active role at the restaurant although it is now run by daughter Susie.

She said: “Dad was a young man when he came to England with a suitcase held together with string, and a love of Italian food and of his country.

“He’s been here such a long time he’s a bit like the Carluccio of Woodford Green!"

The restaurant is now offering a new lunch menu with two courses for £13.50 and three for £17.50.

Susie said: “Your meal at Adriatico is cooked by Italian chefs and served by Italian waiters. Not all Italian restaurants can say that!”

The anniversary celebrations are not the only event planned for Adriatico; in October the restaurant will hold a Fawlty Towers evening for charity.

Susie explained: "Manuel came for a photo shoot with the Daily Mail many years ago.

"We still have the photos and some of the customers from then.

"I will be doing it for a charity probably the Breast Cancer Clinical Trials unit in St Margaret's Hospital in Epping where I used to work as a nurse."