If you’ve grown weary of the current trend of burger, fried chicken and beer joints that have been popping up of late, and would be happy to find an authentic Italian restaurant to tuck into an honest bowl of pasta, then take yourself immediately to Tench Street in Kingston and beg for a table at Santa Lucia. Order a full-bodied red from the extensive wine menu and soak up the lovely black and white photos of patriarch Francesco Catanzariti and wife Caterina in their heyday while you await the arrival of your Spaghetti Bolognese, otherwise known as “The King” and needing no further explanation. Established in 1975, Santa Lucia Trattoria lays claim to being the first traditional Italian restaurant in Canberra, and as other restaurants come and go as quick as you can say quinoa, this restaurant stands firm, continuing to deliver with traditional Italian cooking and a family friendly atmosphere. To be fair, the original restaurant was around the corner on Kennedy Street and the current incarnation is barely a year old, but the tradition has remained unbroken through three generations of Catanzariti clan. Pasquale Catanzariti and wife Lorraine are now in charge; and along with cousin Steve, are determined to continue their grandparent’s legacy. The menu features homemade pasta, veal, seafood, risottos and chicken dishes and if that isn’t enough, the pizza options will add to your struggle to make a meal choice. Typical starters may be classic garlic prawns or South Australian mussels in tomato and chili. For mains, marinated spatchcock is grilled and served with garlic, lemon, wine and chili sauce; and tender veal slices are skewered with prosciutto and sautéed in a white wine and sage sauce for a classic Saltimbocca. A hazelnut or mango gelato to soothe the palate perhaps, or just for once indulge in the lasagna al cioccolato, a combination of homemade chocolate mouse and marscapone. SantaLucia offers all of this and a weekly specials board to boot.
CONTACT
9/15 Tench Street, Kingston
02 6295 1813
santalucia.com.au
OPENING HOURS
LUNCH
Tue–Sat 10am–2pm
DINNER
Tue–Sat 5.30–Late
CUISINE
Italian
See menu
PRICE RANGE
$ 12.0–34.0
LICENCE
Fully licensed
BYO Bottled wine only
Corkage $8.5 per bottle
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