Almost every day you’ll find the D’Amico family sitting down for lunch together at their Gateway restaurant, a sure sign that Primi is the real Italian deal.
“The future is tradition” is the new Primi tag line and the revamped Gateway restaurant certainly lives up to this ethos. The glitzy, neon decor has been replaced with a much warmer, natural earthy look which better reflects the restaurant’s focus on artisanal food.
“We may be part of a national franchise, but our products are still hand-made from traditional recipes,” says owner Pepe D’Amico. “The food trend worldwide is going back to hand-crafted products rather than those that are mass produced. Local bakeries and corner cafes are making a huge comeback – it’s all about the personal touch.”
And it doesn’t get more personal than this close-knit family-run restaurant, which Pepe opened at the young age of 25. Sixteen years later he is still at the helm with mom in the kitchen and brother and dad also giving a hand.
“I grew up in the restaurant business, working in my mom’s various restaurants and coffee shops at weekends and during school holidays, so it seemed natural that this is where I would end up,” he says. It’s in my genes, so it’s more a lifestyle than a job.”
The family’s roots are in Naples, Italy, which is said to be where pizza – as we know it today – first originated. It is this tradition that makes Pepe so passionate about his pizzas which he says are made from low-gluten flour using a natural fermentation process.
“All our bases are hand rolled with imported flour and baked for only 90 seconds in a 400°C wood-fired oven, and I am proud to stamp my signature on every single one – we’ve spent a long time developing the dough to get it just right.”
He also fully endorses the fact that the restaurant uses free-range products sourced locally and only the freshest ingredients. “Everything is made fresh to order – there are no pre-made pastas or sauces.”
Worth noting is that the restaurant’s menu also offers gluten and wheat-free pizzas and pasta, a wide range of vegetarian dishes and “comfort food” options.
“Like our new mural reflects … we want to cater for everyone, so that our guests can enjoy a meal together assured there is something for all tastes and preferences. It’s about honest, fresh, down-to-earth food for everyone.”