Coming Soon: Palazzo Salato Is Clarence Street's New 120-Seat Trattoria From the Ragazzi Team
The Love Tilly Group's biggest and most-ambitious opening is coming to the CBD in April.
Sydney CBD's Clarence Street is set to add another much-hyped venue to its already stacked hospitality offerings. Nestled within the YCK Precinct, the bustling city street will welcome an expansive new venue from the team behind Ragazzi — a 120-seat trattoria called Palazzo Salato.
The Love Tilly Group, which is also behind Fabbrica, Love Tilly Devine and Dear Saint Eloise, has previously operated in the world of intimate wine bars and small-scale eateries. That's all changing with Palazzo Salato, the acclaimed hospitality group's largest and most-ambitious offering yet.
Set to open in April, this inner-city haven for all things pasta will pull inspiration from New York's Gramercy Tavern and the trattorias of Rome into the heritage-listed former Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe building. Expect a multi-space venue featuring a walk-in-only bar overlooking Clarence Street, a lavish dining room and a 20-seat space dedicated for private bookings.
Alex Major, Scott McComas-Williams, Adam Fogwell, Bora Biyiklioglu, Julie Barbero, Matt Swieboda, Gabriele Lackerer Villabruna and Jordan Grocock.
"I realised this was the site for our first proper restaurant the moment we walked into the space," Group Executive Chef Scott McComas-Williams. "For the first time, we have a kitchen with enough room to swing a cat, allowing us to produce some of my favourite hand-shaped pastas like agnolotti dal plin, scarpinocc and fagottini while still being able to grill, roast and braise cuts of meat, veg and fish from our long-time producers."
An impressive 500-bottle wine list has been curated to compliment the classic Ragazzi-style pasta menu, pulling together drops from across the world. Expect a wide span of varieties and blends, ranging from the expected through to vintage 60s and 70s amari and rare Italian wines.
"While we've previously focused on a single country's wines at each venue — for example Australian at Love, Tilly Devine and France at Dear Sainte Éloise — this one will, excitingly, be a lot more international," says Love Tilly Group's Matt Swieboda.
Ragazzi, Nikki To.
Inside, the heritage-listed space will be transformed with brass pendants, leather banquettes and luxe velvet backrests. Framed artwork and silk prints will add a burst of colour, while the branding featuring otherworldly characters will inject a playful touch to the restaurant.
An all-star roster of hospitality mainstays heads up the venues. Alongside McComas-Williams, Executive Chef Alex Major (ex-Head Chef at Ragazzi) and new Head Chef Vincenzo Romeo (ex-Casoni) are behind the exciting new venture. Former Ragazzi Restaurant Manager Adam Fogwell and Bora Biyiklioglu (Hong Kong's Honky Tonks Tavern and Shady Acres) lead the front of house, and Bar Manager Jordan Grocock has moved over from The Baxter Inn to head up the drinks offerings with Love Tilly's Group Sommelier Jabe Febvre and the venue's Head Sommelier Julie Barbero (formerly London's Frenchie Covent Garden and France's Michelin-starred La Chassagnette).
The Clarence Street bar and trattoria will be the first to open in April, followed by the large bar and dining room with access from Kent Street later this year.
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Palazzo Salato is set to open at 201 Clarence Street, Sydney in April.
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