La Camera restaurant is a little touch of Italy located in Melbourne’s Southbank precinct owned and operated by Lino Scidone and managed by Joe Cannatelli (Cousin) and his brother Paul Scidone. The restaurant was originally located on Melbourne’s well known Chapel Street and was taken over by Lino in 1992. The restaurant moved to Melbourne’s South Bank over 18 years ago and still remains one of South Banks longest running and much loved restaurants.
Lino during the 1970’s was in the Real Estate game and spent much of his time on Melbourne’s Chapel Street and was constantly in and out of restaurants, he decided this was his passion and an industry he wanted to get into, so over the years he learnt the trade from his favourite restaurateurs.
Lino and Paul Scidone
The Scidone family originate from Roma with most of the family still residing there today. Unlike most Melbourne restaurants, that make Napolitano style pizza bases, La Camera is known for their authentic Roman style base. “A Roman style pizza base is thin and crispy and the texture is very unique”; Paul tells me, that he only knows of two restaurants in Melbourne that make this style base.
Roma is famous for the ‘Ponte Milvio Bridge’ where lovers from all over the world leave a padlock on the bridge and not far from here was a Pizza maker that taught the makings of this base to the Scidone family. The Pizza maker’s son was to come to La Camera and work as a chef with the family, however the arrangement did not come to fruition and so the recipe was handed over instead.
La Camera is a South Bank icon amongst the locals and Aperitivo hour is popular, between 4 and 5.30pm every day, this usually leads into diners staying to feast on the authentic Italian cuisine with antipasto, chilli calamari and beef arancini among the favourites which are made by head chef Seiji Tanaka.
La Camera also has its sister restaurant next door ‘Waterslide Bar’ which is also owned and operated by Lino Scidone. Both La Camera and Waterslide Bar offer uninterrupted balcony views of the South Bank Promenade including the Yarra River, Flinders Street Station and the City Lights during the evening.
La Camera also offers community nights including Jazz and Shiraz, Opera night, Italian Yum Cha and is currently part of the exciting South Bank Progressive Dinner – The Winter Trail, on until the 6th September.
For bookings http://www.lacamerasouthgate.com/
