AND THE WINNER IS … PORTOROSA FREMANTLE
CELEBRATE fine food, wine and winning service at Portorosa Fremantle.
Awarded best Italian restaurant in the 2024 Quality Business Awards, the Cappuccino Strip restaurant offers the best in European cuisine sourced from local fresh produce.
The secret to its success is Joe Napoli who created the iconic Portorosa brand honouring his Sicilian roots and mother Rosaria who passed away in July this year, just a few days before Joe’s father Salvatore also passed away.
As reported in the April 2016 edition, Joe was 14 when he arrived in Freo with his parents in 1969 on board the Italian ocean liner SS Guglielmo Marconi.
Born in the Sicilian town of Falcone, Joe worked with his mum in Cockburn before he accepted a barber’s apprenticeship in Freo. His dream was to be a cabinet maker but he couldn’t speak English, so in 1970 with his father’s help he took up his trade in barbering for 35 years.
During that time, he owned four unisex salons in different locations – the first in 1975 at the first unisex salon in Freo (Snip and Kick on High Street).
In 1977, Joe opened a barber shop at the Phoenix shopping centre which he managed for 25 years.
“The landlord persuaded me into the restaurant business across the road and I took over the Bella Napoli in Spearwood,” he told StreetWise.
The reluctant barber built up the Spearwood business (a Gold Plate award finalist restaurant for three consecutive years) until he sold it after seven years.
Tripling turnover within the first 12 months, Joe has stamped his brand of Mediterranean cuisine in Freo. Back in Spearwood, he re-opened the old Bella Napoli under the Portorosa name.
Portorosa is a combination of ‘porto’ or port and ‘rosa’, pink or rose – named after the biggest resort port in Sicily where Joe grew up before migrating to WA.
The classic Italian pizza restaurant is a must for seafood and pasta lovers.
Reservations at 94306126 or drop in and say hello to Joe and his friendly staff at 85 Market Street.
Visit www.portorosa.com.au for your dining experience with a view of Freo’s Cappuccino Strip.
