It’s hard to find authentic Italian food in Sydney for this fussy author, who has grown up with homecooked Sicilian food.
Sale Pepe, located in the bustling Brookvale brewery district, is an absolute gem of a restaurant. It combines my love of food from Italy’s islands, Sicily and Sardegna, regions known for their quality produce and cooking. Owners Claudio Lo Pinto and Enrico Sini are from these islands and had worked together as chefs in Sydney. Sardinian Enrico had already opened Sale Pepe in Seaforth and was looking to expand into a suburb with more parking. Brookvale in 2015 was just that – an industrial area, quiet by night – and when Sale Pepe opened there, with Sicilian Enrico at the helm, it was the only eatery. Today, Brookvale is like Manly, full of places to eat, drink and be merry. And Sale Pepe led that push to create a ‘destination’ suburb for locals to have an entertainment district close to home.
The duo have brought all the food experience from their lives in Italy onto the Sale Pepe table. As a child, Enrico’s family ran a pizzeria in Sardegna, so he grew up learning the trade. Claudio was raised making pasta with his nonna. “We just keep it simple, with real food,” Enrico says.
Simply stunning is how I would describe the food! Start with the tasting plates, which are a feast for meat lovers or vegetarians, with treats like arancini, meatballs and zucchini croquettes. For mains, enjoy pasta made fresh on the premises with toppings like king prawns and calamari, smoked eggplant and ricotta and slow-braised veal and beef ragout. The pizza menu has all the Italian and Australian classics – dream of premium San Daniele prosciutto and cherry tomatoes or Hawaiian. Or be bold and try the incredibly lush calzone, which is like a folded pizza stuffed with fillings like mozzarella, mushrooms and ham. You may never go back to flat pizza again!
Seventh Day Brewery went into partnership with Sale Pepe in 2018, and the restaurant provides all the food for the popular venue, and benefits from the live music on offer. Sale Pepe also provides alcohol, with a new monthly cocktail to try. You can’t go past a Limoncello Spritz, with the liquor also made in house.
Octoberfest is coming up, on the weekend of 5 October, so look out for all the action on Sale Pepe socials. The restaurant is open every night except Tuesdays. Buon appetito!
Sale Pepe 9 Powells Road (next to Seventh Day Brewery) Phone: 9160 0955 salepepe.pizza