Palazzo Salato
Sydney
At a glance
Palazzo Salato, situated on Clarence Street in Sydney's central business district, captures the essence of Rome's iconic trattorias with a refined elegance suitable for diverse occasions. With its generous space, the venue seamlessly accommodates a vibrant bar, an inviting dining room, and a secluded private dining area, designed for intimate gatherings. The cuisine at Palazzo Salato celebrates the essence of Italian dining, featuring a menu curated by Executive Chef Alex Major and Head Chef Matthew Goddard. Offerings include hand-rolled pasta dishes and sustainably sourced proteins from top Australian producers, ensuring a mix of seasonal innovation and timeless culinary classics.
The venue is known for maintaining a select few beloved menu staples, creating a consistently excellent dining experience. One of its distinct highlights is the extensive wine list, which comprises over 800 varieties, emphasizing Italian, Australian, and French selections.
Below the restaurant, Letra House offers an additional dimension to Palazzo Salato, infusing the space with an element of discovery. An ideal setting for both leisurely dining and special events, Palazzo Salato is a versatile choice for those seeking an authentic yet modern interpretation of Roman cuisine in Sydney.
Reviews
Palazzo Salato delivered a fantastic dining experience from start to finish. The Beef Crudo was fresh, delicate, and a great way to begin the meal. My favourite dish was the Ricotta Gnocchi with black truffle the gnocchi were incredibly soft and light, while the truffle added a rich, earthy flavour without being overpowering. For the main course, I chose the sirloin, which was cooked exactly as requested and was juicy, tender, and full of flavour. The Brussels sprouts were also a standout side dish, perfectly cooked with a nice balance of texture and seasoning. The restaurant has a warm and stylish atmosphere, making it ideal for a date night or special occasion. Service was friendly and professional, and the overall experience felt polished without being pretentious. Definitely a place I’d return to when craving quality Italian food in Sydney.
An excellent Italian restaurant on Clarence Street. The restaurant interior is stunning. Service are friendly and efficient, always keeping an eye on our water glasses which was appreciated. Bread was complementary which is unheard of these days. Entrees of snapper crudo and Wagyu bresaola were both excellent. The pastas of mafaldine and busiate did not disappoint. Dessert included a chocolate tart which was an unbelievable textural experience. Had to add three scoops of gelato to maximise our tasting of the six flavours available (vanilla gelato came with the tart so we tried four flavours). An excellent restaurant overall.
This Italian restaurant was an absolute winner. Between the three of us, we somehow managed to demolish 4 pasta dishes, 1 steak, 5 starters, and 2 desserts — and not a single plate went back with food on it. That alone should tell you how much we enjoyed the meal. I’m not here to debate whether the food is authentic Italian or not. What I can say is that it was incredibly comforting, flavourful, and satisfying. Every calorie was worth it, and I have absolutely no regrets. The standout for me was the pasta. Great pasta should have a slight bite to it — cooked al dente, where it remains tender but still offers a gentle resistance when you chew. It shouldn’t be mushy or soft. Here, the pasta was cooked beautifully, with the perfect texture to carry the sauce without being overwhelmed by it. The sauces were rich and flavourful, yet restrained enough to let the pasta itself remain the star of the dish. My personal favourite was the pesto gnocchi with escargots, which was both comforting and memorable. The ambience was lively and buzzing without feeling chaotic. Even at 9 pm, the restaurant was still packed, with groups continuing to arrive. Looking around, every table seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Reservations are highly recommended because walking in without one is likely to end in disappointment. Service was another highlight. The team was warm, friendly, attentive, and professional. Food arrived at a comfortable pace, allowing us to enjoy the evening without feeling rushed or forgotten. This is the kind of place that’s perfect for celebrations, gatherings, and entertaining friends and family. Large groups are welcomed, the atmosphere is energetic, and the food is consistently satisfying. It’s the sort of restaurant I could happily return to again and again. One of the easiest recommendations I’ve made in a long time. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, and absolutely no regrets.
Tried the traditional tasting menu $90 and we enjoyed all of them except for the ham with hot sauce. Everyone’s fave was the stracciatella with cantabrian anchovies! Loved the scarpinocc over the amatriciana for secondi. For mains, top sirloin was good but not the best we’ve tried. Good ambiance and service
Was a lovely meal and would love to return for more pasta! We were torn between the sampling menu or ala carte and decided to go with the latter as we were not confident of finishing all the food. Swimmer crab pasta 4.8/5 - absolutely delicious and I scraped every bit of sauce off the plate. I did think it could do with bit more salt to bring out the flavours a little more but otherwise was amazing. Cheese with anchovies 5/5- I’m so terribly blunt with the name but can’t recall what it’s called in full. Though I will tell you it is very very good. Bits of anchovies paired with the cheese and smothered on the sourdough that came at the start (and that very tasty EVOO & salt!! One of the most fragrant EVOO I’ve ever had) Sirloin Steak 4/5 - the steak itself was cooked medium rare. Bit more medium than rare but nonetheless tender and juicy. The winner was the kombu (?) butter that was served alongside that gave a pop of the sea. Onions were also well cooked (I think in red wine). Service was fast and mostly smiley.
