Don Beppino's Restaurant

Don Beppino’s is a long-running Italian restaurant on Railway Street in Merewether, Newcastle, with a history stretching back to September 1973. The business was established by local Sicilian artist and cook Guiessepe Riscato in a building that had previously been a laundromat. Over time, the former shop became a trattoria known to Newcastle locals and visitors, and its story continued when long-time employee Jacqueline Masia took over in 1993.

The menu centres on traditional, home-style Italian cooking, with a substantial selection of pasta, pizza and baked dishes. The website says the sauces are still made by Jacqueline using methods taught by the original cooks, alongside Italian oils and condiments and fresh local produce. Pasta choices include spaghetti bolognese, carbonara, ravioli, tortellini, gnocchi, lasagna and zucca, while the menu also includes dishes such as chicken Siciliana, saltimbocca, Italian vegetables and garlic potatoes. The restaurant’s pasta selection also reflects Jacqueline’s Sardinian family heritage.

Pizza is available from 5.30pm, with classic and more elaborate options ranging from Hawaiian and vegetarian to marinara, quattro carni and Christiaan. For an easy meal at home, the takeaway menu includes garlic bread, garlic and cheese bread, individual pasta dishes and larger mixed pasta or party trays designed to serve four to six people. The latter make the venue a practical option for family dinners or relaxed group meals, while the broad pasta range gives diners plenty of choice without needing an elaborate occasion.

Dessert is covered by a selection of Italian-style gelato and chilled sweets, including cassata, spumoni, lemon and mango delight. Don Beppino’s suits diners looking for familiar, traditional Italian food in a family-run setting, whether dining in at the Merewether trattoria or taking dinner home. The restaurant notes that it does not offer gluten-free options, so guests with dietary requirements should keep that in mind before visiting.