Salotto Bar closes its doors and welcomes Kodiak
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It’s the end of an era: after 47 years the iconic Italian restaurant Salotto Bar has permanently closed its doors and said ‘arrivederci’ to Canberra’s dining scene.
As one of the oldest restaurants in the city, the heartbreaking decision to close Salotto (originally known as Santa Lucia), came about after owners Pascoe and Lorraine Catanzariti decided they needed a change in their lifestyle and a well-deserved break from the bustling hospitality scene.
Running the family restaurant for 14 years, Pascoe—who brought the brand from his father— came to the decision to sell the Kennedy Street space six months ago.
“It was a tough decision,” he says. “But it’s just time for a change. I’ve been working there since I was 12 years old. I want a weekend to myself I think.”
Ever grateful for the endless well wishes the family has received, as phones are turned off and the website is decommissioned, Pascoe wants Salotto fans to know he’s thankful for all of their constant support, especially during Canberra’s lockdowns.
“With COVID everybody stayed loyal which got us through it,” says Pascoe.
“It gets a little bit emotional, obviously it’s a bit sad because we’ve always sort of been that family-style business. Everybody that comes in is like family… Just a huge thank you.”
Officially signing on the dotted line in early February, Pascoe is still processing the sudden change but he’s excited to see what the future holds and is happy to say the venue be in the hands of locals who will appreciate the space: Leeroy and Sophia Petersen from Caribou Kingston.
Taking over the venue and turning it on its head, Leeroy and Sophia are bringing Kodiak—a new cocktail bar— to life.
Planning to use the massive space to their advantage, we’ll soon see upmarket, New York loft styling, dark wood banquettes, a private dining room, and several seating sections overtake the Italian ambience.
Sophia says Kodiak will be the sophisticated cocktail bar the south has been begging for.
“We love being in Kingston…and we really want to balance the offering that surrounds. There are lots of really great pubs, lots of great restaurants and we wanted to create a nice, up-market cocktail bar for the inner south.”
With tapas on the menu and bartenders in bowties, Kodiak (which is named after the largest recognised subspecies of the brown bear) will be wholly different from their Canadian-themed “real” pub in Green Square.
From classic cocktails to a few cheeky inventions of their own, Sophia is excited to bring something new to the home of Canberra’s coolest old-school restaurants and laid-back pubs.
“I just don’t think we’re going to be able to open quick enough!” she says.
“In Canberra, we’re all ready for something new. It’s been a very tricky couple of years and we’re excited to bring something that I think Canberra is ready for.”
As construction begins on the space, keep an eye out for the official opening date. It’s shaping up to look like the perfect place for cocktail connoisseurs to enjoy.
But for those who can’t move on from Salotto, Pascoe has a cheeky reminder that he didn’t sell the business name, just the space.
“You never know what my plans might be in the future, so we’ll just see how we go.”
Cheers to that.
