Literally rising from the ashes of a malicious arson attack two years ago, the Spaghetti Tree, with branches in Warlingham and Shirley, has been rated the country’s best independent Italian restaurant
Simply the best: Loredana (left) and Maria Romano collect their award after Spaghetti Tree was named the country’s best independent Italian at the PAPA Awards
A family-run chain of restaurants based in and around Croydon has been named the best independent Italian restaurant in the country.
This is a massive endorsement for the owners and hard-working staff at the Spaghetti Tree Restaurants, who have come back from a malicious arson attack at their Warlingham restaurant in 2023.
Spaghetti Tree now has three branches – in Warlingham, at Walton-on-the-Hill and the newest addition on Wickham Road in Shirley – and last week at the PAPA Awards they landed the much-sought-after title of Best Independent Italian Restaurant.
It is the fourth time in eight years that Spaghetti Tree has featured among the plaudits in the Pizza and Pasta Association awards, having been a finalist in 2024, too.
This year’s accolade comes after a random visit by mystery diners to the Shirley branch.
“Clearly, they loved what they experienced!” a delighted Loredana Romano, the co-director of Spaghetti Tree, told Inside Croydon after attending the awards dinner at the Sheraton Grand on Park Lane last week.
It was Loredana’s grandfather, Luigi Romano, who started the business with their first restaurant in Sutton in 1985. Today, the business is run by Loredana and her mother, Maria, continuing three generations of family tradition.
“To be recognised nationally as one of the UK’s best independent Italian restaurants is not just an achievement for our business — it’s a symbol of resilience, family spirit, and community pride,” Loredana Romano said.
The victory is particularly poignant, coming so soon after an arson attack almost put at least one of the Spaghetti Tree restaurants out of business altogether.
The Warlingham branch suffered huge amounts of damage, with its recently installed ‘dining pods’ having been destroyed. The case is still not resolved, with the Crown Prosecution Service considering extradition procedures for the suspect, who fled to Brazil.
“It was a devastating blow — emotionally and financially,” Loredana Romano said. “For a moment, we thought it might be the end of our story.
“But with the support of our family, staff and community, we rebuilt it from the ashes, and have come back bigger, stronger and now with this award, prouder than ever before.”
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Great achievement and story, they should be proud.