After 20 years of working as a chef in both Italy and Kingston, Maria Branisteanu opened her own Italian restaurant in Surbiton last year - with a little push from her family.

Maria opened Maruzzella, which she co-owns with her brother Ionut, in March 2025. The restaurant is located at 115 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6AL.

Maria has always loved cooking, having started at home in Romania when she was just ten years old. She said she was "always cooking" and would find ways to improve and better the taste of her food.

"My parents were surprised at how often I cooked," she added.

The chef began her career in Italy, where she worked in various restaurants for several years before moving to Kingston to be closer to her family. Once in Kingston, Maria worked as a chef at Al Forno for 12 years.

Speaking about being a chef, Maria told Nub News:

"I love to cook and to make people happy.

"And when it comes to being a chef, you need to like what you're doing and have a passion for it – I have both."

Knowing her passion for cooking, her family eventually persuaded her to open her own restaurant.

Marzuella opened in March 2025 (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Maria says she chose to open a restaurant in Surbiton because she "loves" the area and because "the people are lovely".

She also chose to focus on Italian cuisine as it is what she knows best after living in Italy for years.

"Italian food is amazing – it's lovely yet practical and I love all Italian dishes," she said. "If you're a chef cooking Italian cuisine, you can't just like one particular dish. You have to put passion into all of them, and that is what I am doing."

Since opening in March 2025, Maria says business has been good, with positive customer reviews – many saying her pizza is "the best in the area".

Maruzzella offers a wide range of traditional Italian dishes, from pizza and pasta to meat and fish mains, as well as a chef's special that changes each week.

"For example, if I find fresh fish at the market, that will become the special for that week," Maria explained.

Everything on the menu is freshly prepared, and Maria has a large pizza oven at the back of the restaurant where she makes her now well-known pizzas.

She said the Tagliolini Al Cartoccio seafood pasta has become a customer favourite.

"People love it," she said.

The menu also includes Italian-style starters such as garlic bread and arancini, along with desserts including panna cotta and gelato.

To drink, Maruzzella offers a selection of wines, beers, spirits and aperitifs.

Freshly baked Maruzzella pizza straight from the oven – a true taste of Italy in Surbiton

The restaurant has a small but cosy interior, with a bar at the front welcoming guests. Maria describes it as a "family business with family vibes" and says she always does everything she can to make customers happy.

She is also considering introducing live music on Friday evenings in the future.

Maruzzella is open from 5pm to 10pm Monday to Thursday, and from 12pm to 10pm Friday to Sunday. (The restaurant is not open on Thursday mornings.)

The restaurant also offers takeaway and delivery, which Maria says is "very popular".

Customers can also find Maruzzella on Google, where the restaurant's page includes reviews, photos and opening times.