RESTAURANT owners have paid tribute to a man described as the grandpapa of Glasgow's Italian dining scene who has died at the age of 71.

Mario Romano, who owned more than 30 restaurants across the city, was also the father-in-law of ex-Rangers and current AC Milan player Rino Gattuso who married Monica, one of his three daughters.

A tribute to Mr Romano was posted on the AC Milan website yesterday. It read: “Mario Romano has passed away. Great Milan fan and father-in-law of Rino Gattuso. Our most sincere condolences to Rino and Monica from all Rossoneri.”

Glasgow restaurateurs added their tributes to Mr Romano who died after a battle with cancer.

Domenico Crolla, owner of Bella Napoli in Shawlands, said Mr Romano would be remembered as a great ambassador for Italian cooking.

Mr Crolla added: “He was probably one of the first successful restaurateurs in Scotland and has been an inspiration for other Italians who came over. He was one of the best restaurateurs in Glasgow -- everything he did he did very well.”

Sandro Giovanazzi, who runs La Parmigiana on Great Western Road and other Italian restaurants across the city, said: “He was a very warm character, a family man. My father was very good friends with him.

“He was a very respected Italian businessman and did a great deal for the Italian community. He was old-school and he did things in an old-school way. He was very successful in what he did and I think everyone would have good words to say about him.”

Ryan James, owner of the Two Fat Ladies restaurants and chairman of the Glasgow Restaurant Association, said: “He was a big driving force on the Glasgow restaurant scene. It’s a very sad loss.”

Mr Romano, whose father was a head chef in Naples, came to Scotland in 1961 at the age of 21. He opened his first restaurant, called Sorrento, near the former Ivanhoe Hotel in Buchanan Street.

Over the years he also owned the Vesuvio dinner-dance restaurant, O Sole Mio, Spaghetti House in Sauchiehall Street, L’Ariosto, Mamma Mia, Sannino, Bar Milano and the North Rotunda.

Mr Romano’s most recent venture was Mediterraneo on Ingram Street which he opened in 2009.

In an interview in The Herald at the time Mr Romano said: “Glasgow has come a long way from the 1960s, when customers would smother their spaghetti bolognaise in tomato ketchup.

“When I started out Glaswegians were more used to steak and chips at Stakis or sausage suppers from their local Italian cafe and their diet was very meat-based, but I found them to be very willing to try out the fresh new dishes we were bringing in from the Mediterranean.

“I am not the head of a restaurant dynasty. I created and built up my empire all by myself. With Mediterraneo I am doing my own thing, just as I have always done.”

Mr Romano, who lived in Busby, East Renfrewshire, leaves a businessman son, Ciro, and three daughters; former STV and GMTV presenter Carla, Claudia and Monica who married Gattuso after they met during his time with Rangers. He is also survived by his wife Guiseppina.