Step into the many regions of Italy in the heart of Nelson Bay at Sirena Seaside.
Sirena Seaside owners Veronica Rohan and Giovanni Calvi's vision was to bring Italian cuisine from the many regions of Italy, from Piemonte in the North to Sicilia in the South, to Port Stephens.
The casual, yet elegant restaurant is located by the waterfront at d'Albora Marina and it has been serving up authentic Italian cuisine, crafted by chef Stefano Grano since June last year.
Veronica and Giovanni first came to Port Stephens in 2019 and opened Laguna Blu Bar and Dining at Oaks Pacific Blue on New Years Eve of 2020.
In 2022, the building at d'Albora Marina became available and Veronica said they had always wanted something on the waterfront.
"Sorrento has a very special place in my heart and I wanted to bring that here," she said.
The pair are both of Italian heritage and Veronica said everything on the menu is very traditional.
"Our dishes are prepared the way that I remember my grandmother and my mother preparing it and it's the way that I was taught to prepare it," she said.
Head chef Stefano is from Italy himself and Veronica said he's got a boundless depth of knowledge when it comes to Italian food.
"He's familiar with the Italian regions, he's cooked in the regions and he's studied the regions," she said.
When it comes to the menu, Veronica said her and Giovanni's vision was to have an Italian tapas styled menu.
"It's about sharing and that's what Italy is all about," she said.
"We wanted it to be a little slice of Italy in every bite."
Sirena Seaside is open for lunch and dinner and their dishes are also complimented by their uniquely crafted cocktails and fine wines, offering both Italian wines and local Hunter Valley wines.
"We also offer a mimosa and graze, which consists of cheeses, charcuterie meats, breads and a traditional Italian dip," Veronica said.
Sirena Seaside has also recently started hosting monthly events that have a focus on a culinary journey throughout Italy, giving their guests the ultimate Italian experience.
Their first event explored Rome in June, followed by Tuscany in July.
"Tuscany is known for its truffles so we did truffles through Tuscany," Veronica said.
"We do some dancing, we get the music cranked up.
It really is the full Italian experience."
Veronica and Giovanni own an Italian restaurant in Sydney and when it came to relocating to Port Stephens, Veronica said Port Stephens kind of chose them.
"The first place we went into, they came looking for us to open a new restaurant."
To make a booking or to browse Sirena Seaside's seasonal menu, visit: https://sirenaseaside.com/.
