Shepparton’s La Porchetta has a rich culinary story to tell.
And its new restaurant manager, Gino Cirillo, is writing its next chapter.
Over the past two months, renovations have breathed new life into the establishment.
Walls have received a fresh lick of paint, floors have been swept and scrubbed, and fluorescent signage outside the building that reads ‘under new management’ speaks for itself.
But as with all dining experiences, it’s what’s on the plate that matters.
There are the classics — coils of spaghetti nestled in either a tomato or creamy white sauce, pizzas topped with charred and smoky meats, and seasonings such as jalapeños that haven’t lost their uppercut.
In addition to Italian cuisine typified by spaghetti and meatballs, La Porchetta is serving variety.
“We’re making sure we’ve got everything on the menu,” Mr Cirillo said.
“We’ve introduced specials — a magnificent surf and turf, eye fillet, lamb shanks, pork bellies and lots of other things.
“(My personal favourite), well, the rib eye is to die for, and the pasta, honestly wow, the all’amatriciana, and the capricciosa pizza.”
La Porchetta is a family-style restaurant offering kids’ meals, seniors’ discounts and other incentives to make it affordable for its target market.
Given the tough economy, Mr Cirillo said he wanted to ensure the restaurant catered to all individuals.
His consideration goes further than the cost-of-living crisis, though.
In times of hardship for Shepparton, Mr Cirillo has turned what would have been a disappointing river of red sauce, gone to waste, into aid.
“The restaurant industry has been awesome to me and my family for years, and I want to give back,” he said.
“Whether it was doing meals for hospitals during COVID-19 and the floods or providing employment for the region’s youth, I want to continue to help the community, and I know it’ll come back in tenfold to support the business.”
La Porchetta employs more than 30 staff, including both part-time and full-time workers, many of whom are young people.
Like many industries, hospitality is not immune to a verbal jousting or two, and Mr Cirillo encouraged customers to respect that the workers were young and learning and to have patience.
Supporting young people’s development isn’t newfound territory for the restaurant manager.
As president of Shepparton South Soccer Club, Mr Cirillo plays an active role in encouraging its young guns to thrive on and off the field.
It’s no surprise that this ideal has been stirred into the business.
“La Porchetta is getting involved in community sporting groups, doing everything we can to support junior and senior sports clubs — vouchers and things, sit down and talk,” Mr Cirillo said.
“And it isn’t just clubs needing assistance; if we can help anyone, we want to be there.
“I want to do as much as possible since this will probably be my last hurrah in the industry.”
That’s not a throw-in-the-towel sentiment by any means.
Rather, it is a proud statement from a man whose name has become synonymous with Shepparton’s Italian dining scene.
“I’ve been in the business since I was 15, owned and ran restaurants (all hugely successful), but with La Porchetta, there’s a whole new feel to it,” Mr Cirillo said.
“We’re coming to be the best Italian food in the Goulburn Valley, and we’re succeeding.”
La Porchetta Shepparton is located at 257 Wyndham St, Shepparton.
For more information about the menu, reservations and group bookings or functions, call 5831 3603 or visit https://laporchetta.com.au/Shepparton/