I'm delighted to be the only Sunderland restaurant in Open Table's top 100
A restaurateur who set out to raise the bar for dining in Sunderland has been recognised amongst the top 100 in the country.
Vito Farigu opened his Vito’s Osteria restaurant in August last year as part of the major redevelopment of the once-dilapidated Sheepfolds Stables.
The Italian-born chef and restaurant owner, who was born in Lake Garda and raised in Sardinia, always had ambitions to elevate Italian dining in the city and he’s now been recognised amongst the most popular in the country according to customer reviews.
Open Table, a global platform for booking and discovering restaurants, has released its top 100 list in the UK for 2025 - and Vito’s Osteria is the only Sunderland restaurant to make the grade.
The top 100 is compiled solely from more than 780,000 verified diner reviews and metrics, with Vito’s gaining a 4.9 rating out of five.
“The first year in business is always tough and I remember when we opened, people saying ‘I hope you last’, but I think we’ve had a better response than people would have ever believed,” said Vito.
“I’ve been lucky because, although I put my face and name on this restaurant, the people who have put in so much effort are the staff. Some have worked with me for a very long time and customers come back because of the staff we have here.
“Top 100 is not a chart by area, it’s purely from customer reviews across the country, so to have a 4.9 is a solid achievement and is testament to the consistency we aim to deliver here. Being recognised by a platform like that only gives us extra drive and satisfaction.”
Vito’s isn’t the only Sheepfolds Stables restaurant to make its mark in the restaurant industry. Neighbour, Ember, this year made it into the Good Food Guide, with Calabash Tree also being nominated in national awards.
Pasta is all made fresh at Vito’s and is served alongside other classic Italian dishes with a twist. Lasagne has proved to be the most popular dish by far amongst diners and over its first 12 months in business, the restaurant served 5,000 of the hearty classic.
The restaurant is also having a strong Christmas, with bookings up 110% from last Christmas.
While Sheepfolds Stables was once a forgotten area of the city, it’s now in a prime position at the end of Keel Crossing and a core part of the Riverside development that’s changing the face of the city centre.
“The bridge has definitely helped make a difference,” said Vito. “And it also means we can network more easily with city centre businesses. It’s really connected the city.”
Looking to next year, Vito said: “Our aim was always to change the hospitality scene in Sunderland and set a different level. There’s still a lot of work to do, but we want to be a point of reference for Italian cuisine in the whole of the North East.
“This is just the beginning,” he added. “We always keep our feet on the floor and keep the bar high and we have lots of exciting projects planned for 2026.”