CHE buono ­— an iconic Whitefield restaurant is celebrating a milestone birthday.

Peppe’s Pizzeria, in Bury New Road, this week turns 30-years-old.

The family run restaurant, first opened its doors on March 22, 1989, and was founded by Italian-born Giuseppe Vecchione.

Around four decades ago, Mr Vecchione was visiting the UK on holiday from Naples when he met and fell in love with wife, eventually settling in Bury.

Although he had never run a restaurant before Mr Vecchione learned all his popular recipes from his mother, and seeing that there were not many traditional Neapolitan pizzerias in this part of the world decided Whitefield would make a great location.

Peppe’s was a runaway success and has been cooking up a storm and feeding happy diners ever since.

Mr Vecchione said Peppe’s success is down to “good management, good staff, great food, and we try to please everyone”.

He added: “We are a family and friends run business, small but established, we have always used the genuine Italian recipes from my home town of Naples. Using the best products our reasonably priced and food is made fresh to order, we even still make and roll our own hand made dough daily. I have great staff who work well for me too.

“My son in law Mike runs it five nights a week now, as at 72-years-old I am a bit slower. But I still do the occasional night ,and I’m always on stand by if needed.”

To mark the occasion Peppe’s is having a birthday service on Friday, and Mr Vecchione has had beautiful souvenir pens made for diners.