Sara’s dream becomes reality

Redcliffe has a new waterfront venue with the Bottega Bar officially opening its doors.

Bottega Bar, at 73 Redcliffe Pde, is an 18-plus venue about “family, tradition and memories”, says owner and licensee Sara Ciancio.

It will have cocktails and a full menu, with influences from southern Italy, pasta made in-house and cooked in the middle of the restaurant.

Having a licence to trade until midnight, the venue will also fulfill owner Sara’s dream to bring nightlife to the area.

“I grew up in Redcliffe and I love Redcliffe,” she said, “but there’s no nightlife in Redcliffe. It’s been one of my dreams to bring a night-time venue here.”

Sara’s parents moved from Italy to the peninsula in 1982, opened a business and Sara started working in the restaurant industry as a teenager.

“I’m excited and nervous (about opening Bottega Bar), which is strange as I have done this job since I was 13,” she said.

“I’ve done this before, but this time it is actually on my own. Mum’s proud, dad would have been proud … and I’m excited.”

Bottega Bar (which seats 22 diners inside and 14 outside) pays homage to Sara’s parents and to her own working history.

The table numbers on her father’s playing cards and the ex-Ansett flight attendant will cook pasta on top of a former airline trolley.

Sara said of her new venture: “It’s not a vibe. It’s more, this is who I am. It’s the things I love. It’s antiques, it’s food, it’s wine.

“You don’t have to just come here to eat and drink. You can buy fresh pasta and pasta sauce, biscuits and chocolates, then take that home and cook it.

“You can also get food takeaway. It is an 18-plus venue though, so keep that in mind.

“There’ll also be lots of blood orange and citrus, because Sicily is famous for blood oranges.”

At the time of writing, Sara still had vacancies for experienced staff. For more details visit Bottega Bar on Facebook.