Overview
For more than 20 years, Il Baretto has been a go-to for Sydneysiders. You could always rely on its great food — its heartwarming carbonara, porcini mushroom risotto, spaghetti alle vongole and signature pappardelle with duck ragu — and just the right amount of hipster charm. Whether you went for a midweek date night or a Saturday night pasta feast with mates, the much-loved Bourke Street restaurant was always packed wall-to-wall. Adding your name to the list and popping over to The Carrington for a pint while you waited was all part of the appeal.
It was a restaurant from another time, with handwritten menus and payments made in cash only. Best of all it was BYO — a rare find in gentrified Surry Hills — and a big bowl of pasta cost you about $20. Now, amid the global pandemic, it has closed its beloved Bourke Street digs for good.
Co-owner Gabriella Fedeli told Concrete Playground the closure was "bittersweet", but there is a silver lining. A new Il Baretto is in the works, with plans to reopen locally sometime later this year. "It's time to grow and embrace whatever the new normal will be," Fedeli said.
While many Sydneysiders — and Concrete Playground staff — eagerly await Il Baretto 2.0, the closure marks the end of a dining era. The Bourke Street institution has been serving up nonna's favourites since 1999.
Il Baretto has closed its Bourke Street restaurant, with plans to reopen in a new Surry Hills spot in the coming months. We'll be sure to keep you updated.
Images: Leticia Almeida