Ristorante Paradiso

Ristorante Paradiso (リストランテ・パラディーゾ), also known as Rispara (リスパラ), is a manga series by Natsume Ono, detailing the daily lives of the staff of a Rome restaurant. The first iteration of the series was serialized in Ōtashuppan's Manga Erotics F manga magazine between May 2005 and March 2006; it spanned one volume. A continuation, Gente ~Ristorante no Hitobito~, is currently being serialized in the same magazine, with three volumes published. An anime adaptation, produced by David Production, aired on Fuji TV's late night Noise programming block from April 5, 2009,   the anime was also officially streamed with English subtitles by Crunchyroll. Both manga, Ristorante Paradiso and Gente, have been licensed by Viz Media for an English North American release.

Plot
Ristorante Paradiso follows the protagonist, Nicoletta, as she comes to Rome from the Italian countryside and becomes an apprentice in Casetta dell'Orso, a restaurant owned by her mother Olga's new husband, Lorenzo, and meets its colorful staff.

Characters

 * Nicoletta (ニコレッタ)
 * The protagonist of the series. 21 years old, Nicoletta is an energetic girl whose parents divorced when she was young and was as a result raised by her grandparents. Upon graduating from cooking school, she began working as an apprentice at the Casetta dell'Orso restaurant and is its only female staff. She has a crush on Claudio.
 * The protagonist of the series. 21 years old, Nicoletta is an energetic girl whose parents divorced when she was young and was as a result raised by her grandparents. Upon graduating from cooking school, she began working as an apprentice at the Casetta dell'Orso restaurant and is its only female staff. She has a crush on Claudio.


 * Santo Claudio Paradiso (サント・クラウディオ・パラディーゾ)
 * The head waiter of Casetta dell'Orso. He and his first wife Gabriella separated a few years ago.
 * The head waiter of Casetta dell'Orso. He and his first wife Gabriella separated a few years ago.


 * Luciano de Luca (ルチアーノ・デ・ルーカ)
 * A waiter at Casetta dell'Orso. Surprisingly shy at times, his wife passed away and he is currently single. He has a grandson.
 * A waiter at Casetta dell'Orso. Surprisingly shy at times, his wife passed away and he is currently single. He has a grandson.


 * Vito (ヴィート)
 * A waiter at Casetta dell'Orso. A very jovial person.
 * A waiter at Casetta dell'Orso. A very jovial person.


 * Gian Luigi Orsini (Gigi) (ジジ)
 * A sommelier. A taciturn person, he is Lorenzo's half brother and cousin. He is currently single.
 * A sommelier. A taciturn person, he is Lorenzo's half brother and cousin. He is currently single.


 * Fulio (フリオ)
 * A chef. A friendly person. He is a devoted husband.
 * A chef. A friendly person. He is a devoted husband.


 * Teo (テオ)
 * A chef. Youngest member of the restaurant staff, he is a talented cook.
 * A chef. Youngest member of the restaurant staff, he is a talented cook.


 * Olga (オルガ)
 * Nicoletta's mother.
 * Nicoletta's mother.


 * Gabriella (ガブリエッラ)
 * Claudio's ex-wife.
 * Claudio's ex-wife.


 * Lorenzo Orsini (ロレンツォ)
 * Olga's current husband and owner of Casetta dell'Orso.
 * Olga's current husband and owner of Casetta dell'Orso.


 * Vanna (ヴァンナ)
 * A former chef of Casetta dell'Orso.
 * A former chef of Casetta dell'Orso.

TV anime
The Ristorante Paradiso anime adaptation aired on Fuji TV's late night Noise programming block from April 5, 2009. Produced by david production, being the studio's first TV anime production, the series is slated for 11 episodes.

Staff

 * Director: Mitsuko Kase
 * Art director: Yasufumi Soejima
 * Series composition: Shin'ichi Inotsume
 * Script: Shin'ichi Inotsume, Megumi Sasano
 * Character design: Itsuko Takeda
 * 3DCGI: Masato Taira, Takendo Kobayashi
 * Art settings: Junko Shimizu
 * Color designs: Keiko Kai, Hitomi Ikeda
 * Director of photography: Eiji Ueda
 * Sound director: Toshiki Kameyama
 * Music: ko-ko-ya
 * Editing: Kengo Shigemura
 * Animation production: david production
 * Production: Rispara Production Committee (Fuji Television, Shochiku, Movic, Yomiko Advertising, Sony PLC, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners)

Theme songs

 * Opening theme: "Marigold" (マリーゴールド)
 * Lyrics: Tomoko Nagashima, composition and arrangement: Kazuma Fujimoto, performance: orange pekoe


 * Ending theme: "Suteki na Kajitsu" (ステキな果実)
 * Lyrics: Yūho Iwasato, composition: Lisa Komine, arrangement: Rie Hamada, performance: Lisa Komine


 * Theme song: "Palette" (パレット) (episode 3 only)
 * Lyrics: Natsumi Kiyoura, composition: Shun Yoshida, arrangement: ko-ko-ya, performance: Natsumi Kiyoura