Osteria Sanso Restaurant at Kanmantoo with Lisa: In the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia
Take the backroads of the Adelaide Hills and you'll come across Kanmantoo - an historic copper mining town dating back to when the district was called "The Cornwall of the Colony".
It was off the beaten track back then and still is today. But that didn't stop an Italian born chef, Tony Sanso from taking a punt and adopting the philosophy that "If I build it, they will come."
Tony has taken over part of what was once the Britannia Hotel. It was licenced for only six years from 1857 to 1863. Now, Tony, legend of the Adelaide restaurant scene has given it a facelift and he’s created a little piece of Tuscany in Kanmantoo.
From savoring bowls of mouth-watering spaghetti marinara under the balcony to admiring the murals inside which relive Tony's memories of Firenze - this friendly Florentine has the knack for creating special something. Once the owner of the legendary Adelaide silver service restaurant Villa Sanso, Tony has brought a wealth of experience to the back-blocks of the Adelaide Hills and has formed a winning combination with his Philippine born wife Zeni at Osteria Sanso.
Tony's been in the restaurant game for fifty-four years - first in Florence then Paris with the famous George V restaurant. He also worked at The Savoy in London. He’s played host to the rich and famous but after many busy and successful restaurants in Adelaide, he and Zeni were looking for something a little quieter and they've found it at Kanmantoo.
They're a formidable team who've created a magnet for lovers of Tuscan food on a quiet stretch of the Princes Highway - despite the doubters.
“A lot of people said who's gonna come - out here in the middle of nowhere. We said, well you wait and see.”
A packed restaurant midweek speaks for itself - and the secret?
“Put all your heart into it. Work hard - you can't do anything without hard work. And lots of passion for the food. That's very important.” smiled Tony.
Osteria Sanso is in Kanmantoo just twelve kilometres on from Nairne. To book contact 8538 5008.
Osteria Sanso
Kanmantoo, (Near Nairne)
Adelaide Hills
Ph (08) 8538 5008
