Capriccio Osteria | A Little Italian On Norton St
Leichhardt has long been known as the ‘Little Italy’ of Sydney. Throughout the years, the suburb has become more and more ingrained with a rich tapestry of cultures interweaving to form a bustling hub of food, culture, and entertainment. Still synonymous with quality and artisanal preparation, if you need to find the most authentically Italian experience possible, chances are you’ll travel to the lively line of restaurants on Norton Street Leichhardt. Capriccio Osteria is one of the many establishments keeping the heart and soul of ‘Little Italy’ bating proudly with red, white, and green.
Sydney may be changing all the time, but some traditions are mixed with the concrete foundations and not going anywhere anytime soon. There is a reason Norton St is famously Italian.
Historically Speaking
Leichhardt isn’t just restaurants and Norton Street. It started as a working-class suburb in Sydney’s inner west, descending from being privately owned for the most part. Once Sydney began to rise, the estates were sold and converted into units, housing, and businesses of all types.
The suburb became a haven for newly arrived Italian immigrants just after WWII which shifted the culture dramatically into what is now known as Sydney’s ‘Little Italy’. The culture was engrained with the establishment of several cafes and printing of the Italian newspaper ‘La Fiamma’. St Fiacre’s on Catherine street became the unofficial Italian culture centre for decades as the population grew more attached to the suburb’s new identity.
Over time there has been a slight decline in the European population as the city gentrifies across the board and gets larger every year. Rest assured, the Mediterranean spirit still resides in the bricks and mortar that built Leichhardt and won’t be extinguished anytime soon.
Italian IS Norton St
Norton street houses restaurants of the highest calibre with Capriccio Osteria standing proudly in its ranks. However, it goes so much deeper with the cultural identity than simply incredible food. The Italian Forum on Norton St and is a piazza in the same stylings and atmosphere as the homeland, walking through is akin to strolling through the pebbled roads of Tuscany. Established in 2000 it became an ode to tradition and community and still houses some of the finest cafes in Sydney.
Casa D’Italia which is home to Co.As.It’, the headquarters of cultural and social support. The infamous strip is also the home of the annual extravagant celebration of culture garnering tens of thousands of visitors a year – ‘The Norton St Italian Festa’, the once-a-year street festival is home to an array of stalls, performances, and collective celebrations of everything that makes the culture shine. Even the restaurants of Leichhardt and Norton street join in to help the community celebrate in style and authenticity, Capriccio Osteria being no exception.
Norton Street Restaurants Marrying Culture and Cuisine
Restaurants in Leichhardt and Norton street are as synonymous with the culture as wine, pasta and pizza, and with the famous district boasting an array of traditional establishments, it’s not hard to see why. There are many family-owned establishments who have been there since the boom after WWII, some are second or third generational adapters, keeping the spirit and heritage alive. Pioneers in keeping hospitality alive and boundaries pushed is a necessary trait for succeeding on the popular road, after all, it was in this ‘Little Italy’ that Alfresco dining was popularised in Sydney.
Through the piazzas and old factories lie small family-owned shops and cafes which still house the locals looking for a strong coffee and biscotti.
Taking a walk through the district these days is still a sight to behold, a cavalcade of Norton street restaurants keeps the founding spirit alive and well. In the heart of this wondrous piece of history is Capriccio Osteria, one of the truly authentic experiences you’ll find in the inner west. Located in the centre of the main hub, it’s sandwiched between a row of local cafes and businesses and since 2015, has fed a litany of satisfied customers looking for the genuine marriage of culture and cuisine.
Each dish is made to infuse the traditional tastes of the Amalfi Coast with the modern-day spritzes of Australian cuisine, offering the alfresco or intimate dining option, it’s the perfect way to sit a spell with an antipasti plate and spritzer as you watch the Norton St Italian life drifting by.
Some of the best edible experiences you’ll find in Sydney are found in the unique and culturally authentic Norton street restaurants, come have a wander and see what you find.