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Claremont Scores a Chic New Osteria From the Il Lido Crew
Think handmade pasta, Shark Bay prawn sandwiches, classic cocktails and interiors so chic you’ll immediately want to cancel your plans and settle in for the evening.
Great news for aperitivo lovers, the team behind Perth faithfuls Il Lido and Canteen Pizza are opening a charming new wine-led osteria in Claremont, brimming with Italian comforts.
From the moment you arrive, Il Santo radiates warmth, thanks largely to the elegant interiors by Studio Gram. Travertine finishes, rich timber tones and soft ambient lighting sit against rough-textured walls and brushed bronze accents, creating a space that feels at once refined, relaxed and effortlessly lived-in.
That same balance carries through to the venue’s overall approach, with the team leaning into a more relaxed, wine-led style of dining centred around good drinks, share plates and comforting Italian classics.
“We’ve had this restaurant in mind for quite some time for this space,” explains the group’s accomplished operator Lyndon Waples, “and it reflects a lot how people want to dine these days.”
“Quality drinks and very good snacking will be the key features, as well as a rotating pasta and main selection derived from the classics that will keep you coming back day after day.”
At the pass, Executive Chef Nicola Lunardi brings classic Italian recipes backed by a signature Italian sensibility around local, seasonal produce, with handmade pasta central to the menu.
“The pasta will be Il Santo’s version of Italian classics,” says Lunardi. “A popular dish from my hometown will be served, mafaldine e fagioli — traditionally a pasta soup with roots across Veneto, Tuscany and Campania — my version is the perfect comforting dish as we head into the cooler months.”
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Alongside seasonal pastas and mains, you’ll find a banging aperitivo-friendly snack line-up designed for sharing over good drinks. Think Shark Bay prawn sandwiches, house-made tartare, mortadella skewers with quince and local octopus with gremolata.
As for the drinks, Wine Director Michael Mori will be reaching into the award-winning Il Lido cellar, serving up 100 labels, most of which from Italy, with over 30 varieties by the glass. While bartenders Ivan Ivanov and Sally Lovell will be mixing all the aperitivo classics to take you through golden hour and beyond, with the drinks list’s non-alc options just as considered.
“Our drinks programme is dedicated to the classics,” says Sally. “Get settled into Il Santo with a Lemon Drop Martini with a refreshing yuzu kick or a Milano Torino, a delicious aperitivo with Campari and Punt e Mas. My pick would be a savoury Tomatini with the beef carpaccio.”
Oh, and before you leave, Lunardi tells us Cantucci e Vin Santo — the Tuscan pairing of almond biscotti served with sweet dessert wine — is a must.
“This is the best way to end a meal,” says Lunardi. “You don’t just eat the cantucci, the crunchy biscotti must be dipped into the wine, and it softens beautifully. The almond flavours are perfect with the wine’s caramel sweetness.”
Il Santo opens from 4pm this Thursday May 14th at 16 Bay View Terrace, Claremont.
Now that you’ve caught up on Il Santo, read more of Perth’s latest food news and tick off all of our favourite new Perth restaurants.
